Onomea (Pepe’ekeo) scenic drive is the most famous scenic road on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a short 4 mile stretch of the Old Mamalahoa Highway. This scenic road snakes from one beautiful spot to another through old bridges and lush tropical forest.
STATS:
Where:
Starting point: Between mile marker 7 and 8 on Highway 19 north from Hilo.
Coordinates: 19°47’29.2″N 155°05’40.5″W
Restrooms:
There are no restrooms.
Distance: 4 miles
Level: Easy
Estimated Completion Time:
30 minutes – however long you want to spend there.
Ideal Weather:
Bright, sunny day. You shouldn’t do this road if it is raining.
Ideal Time:
Morning is best since it gets darker along the road because of the dense foliage.
THE ADVENTURE:
Five years ago, Dustin and I took this road by accident as we were trying to get to Akaka Falls. We couldn’t spend a lot of time here as it was getting late. All I remember was the dense, green tropical foliage, singing streams, and mossy old bridges. This time around, we wanted to spend more time exploring this gorgeous Onomea scenic drive.
To get there, you’ll want to head North from Hilo on Highway 19. The scenic drive starting point is between mile marker 7 and 8. The coordinates up above will be able to get you there. You will see a sign for the Scenic Drive. From here, you’ll make a right onto the Old Mamalahoa Highway to start your 4-mile stretch of the Onomea scenic drive. After 4 miles, it will take you back to Highway 19.
Make sure to take your time on this road. While it is a paved road, it is also narrow and has many tight curves and one-lane bridges. DO NOT SPEED on this road. There is no reason to. Take your time to be safe and enjoy the scenery. It is best to take this drive from the Hilo direction. Most of the views on this drive are towards the ocean, which would be on your right if you come from Hilo.
Onomea (Pepe’ekeo) scenic drive is full of gorgeous, green tropical plants. It curves around several rustic, moss-covered bridges that stretch over rushing streams. There are pull-outs on the side of the road that you can take to get out of the car and admire the beauty of this road. Make sure to be respectful and do not block the road if you do so. There are several scenic spots that are a must stop. We have them listed below.
Onomea Bay
As you drive along the road, you’ll notice the trees starting to thin out. From the side of the road, the scenic bay comes into view. There is a pullout here to park your car. You will probably see a few other cars parked there as well. From here, you can take in the beauty of the bay and its infamous sea arch. Unfortunately, the sea arch collapsed during an earthquake on May 24, 1956. However, the view is still breathtaking
Onomea Bay Trail
If you want to, from where you park, you can hike down a short 1-mile R.T. trail known as the Onomea Bay trail. This trail cuts through the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. Even though it is short, it’s packed full of lush tropical plants, beautiful views of the bay, and quiet coves. We highly recommended hiking down this trail if you have time.
Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden
If you love plants, don’t forget to stop by the Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden. The actual garden is about 25 acres. It was originally developed by Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse in 1978. In 1984, it opened to the public. Today, the garden has over 2000 species of plants and a number of trails. There is a fee to go in. You can check out their website for more info. We didn’t go into the garden on our trip.
Small Waterfall Under The Bridge
This is our favorite part of the whole drive. It is about 0.9 miles from the Botanical Garden to this bridge. There is a little waterfall under the bridge, on your left-hand side. It is a really neat waterfall that runs out of a lava tunnel. However, the best part is on the opposite side of the bridge, the Kawainui stream. There are a few ways you can get down to the stream. A few feet past the bridge, you should be able to find a small trail leading down to the stream below. My favorite way to go down is actually right next to the railing. If you look closely, you can see a ladder made out of tree roots and boulders. This way is a lot harder but much more fun. I feel like Indiana Jones, exploring the jungle.
Once you get down, you can go under the bridge to get a closer look at the waterfall. You can also go toward the left to explore the stream. This area is beautiful with its blue water and hanging vines. We could spend a whole day there with how quiet it was.
Once you’re done with the Onomea (Pepe’ekeo) scenic drive, don’t forget to visit Kaumana Caves for some unique lava cave exploring. If you want a short hike with a gorgeous waterfall, check out Rainbow Falls. Also, don’t forget our guide for the top 10 things to do on the Big Island.
You can also hear Dustin talk about some of our favorite things to do on the Big Island on the Between The Mountains Podcast
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RECOMMEND GEAR:
Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
• Hiking shoes
If you want to do the hike. Vy’s shoes are North Face HedgeHog GTX. Dustin’s shoes are Coleman Tasman Hiking Shoe.
• Sunscreen:
If you need sunscreen, we use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter – Zinc Oxide – Coral Reef Safe and All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion – Coral Reef Safe (3 oz)(2-Pack) or Stream2Sea SPF 30 Reef Safe Sport Tinted Sunscreen.
• Water
It’s a short drive but if you want to spend some times at these different spots or do the hikes, we recommend bring some water with you
• Bug spray
You’re in a tropical rain forest. There are a lot of bugs and mosquitoes. We recommend using bug spray. We use REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent.
CAMERA GEAR:
• Camera:
Sony a7 III
Gopro Hero 7 Black
• Lenses:
Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens
• Accessories:
Bobber – Floating Hand Grip for GoPro HERO Cameras
