Steep-sided valley with dramatic cliffs, black sand beach, waterfalls, and taro fields, accessible only by guided tour or from a scenic public lookout.
General Information
Hours:
Waipiʻo Valley Lookout: Open daily, sunrise to sunset
Valley floor access only via guided tour
Tours operate during daylight hours
Valley floor access only via guided tour
Tours operate during daylight hours
Fees:
Lookout: Free
Guided valley tours: Typically $70–$100 per person
No private vehicle or pedestrian access to valley floor
Guided valley tours: Typically $70–$100 per person
No private vehicle or pedestrian access to valley floor
Pet Policy:
Pets are not allowed in the valley or on tours
Closest cities with hotels:
Honokaʻa (8 mi), Hilo (50 mi)
Seasons:
All year
Location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8ZkqvXzYzvWaipio88
Website:
How to Get There
From Hilo (50 mi): Take Highway 19 north to Honokaʻa, then turn onto Waipiʻo Valley Road and follow signs to the Waipiʻo Valley Lookout.
Overview
Waipiʻo Valley (“curved water”) in the Hāmākua District was the capital and home of many early Hawaiian aliʻi (chiefs) up until the time of King ʻUmi, and it remains a place of steep cliffs, waterfalls and taro farms. Its valley floor lies almost 2,000 feet below the surrounding terrain, with a black sand beach popular with surfers.
Getting In
- A steep paved road drops 800 feet in 0.6 miles at a 25% average grade from a lookout on the valley’s southern wall. It is open only to four-wheel drive vehicles and is the steepest road of its length in the United States.
- The Waimanu (Muliwai) Trail leads down to Waimanu Valley, reachable only by trail or boat. Hikers need a state camping permit unless doing it as a strenuous day hike.
History and Folklore
- Famed for the sacred nioi trees of Paʻakalana and the grass palaces of ancient Hawaiian kings. Kahekili II of Maui raided the valley in the 18th century and burned the four sacred trees.
- Legend says the gateway to Lua-o-Milu, the Underworld, is hidden here by sand.
- The final scene of the 1995 film Waterworld was filmed here.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Waipio Valley", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
