Big Island Hiking

Hiking on the Big Island is one of the favorite island activities our guests at Aloha Vacation Cottages love to do when not relaxing, sunbathing, boogie boarding or snorkeling on the Kohala Coast beaches. Pololu Valley (North Kohala) and Waipio Valley (Hamakua Coast) are in short driving distances and offer moderate and challenging hikes.

There will be hiking books in your vacation cottages. However, we intend to develop this page in order to give our guests or other Big Island visitors to the Kohala Coast already a taste of a few easy hiking adventures. Those hikes or walks can also be managed with children and one doesn’t need a permit. If you want to go for the more ‘challenging’ hikes, you’d better join for your own safety one of the guided tours from Hawaiian Walkways Find more info below.

Waipio Valley Rim Hike (also known as White Rd Hike) – about 2 hr round trip
Follow Hwy 19 through Waimea town in the direction of Honokaa. About 3 miles out of town, look for White Rd and turn left. Proceed to end of White Rd where you see cars parked on right hand side. Walk through cattle gate and follow trail past water reservoir, through ‘singing’ bamboo forest, blooming impatients, rainforest ferns…till the view suddenly opens up to a panoramic vista of the back end of Waipio Valley, waterfalls (if it had rained recently) and pacific ocean views. Leave your flipflops at home and put on some sturdy shoes instead. The passionate hiker can keep following the rim trail (gets quite narrow and slippery – caution advised!) and experience many more hours of continuous hiking. Take a good supply of sunscreen, water and snacks on your way. Choose a clear day and start your hike early. Have fun hiking the Big Island.