Located just inland from the town of Honomu and 11 miles from Hilo, Akaka Falls is one of the islands most beautiful and popular waterfalls. There is a very interesting Hawaii legend attached to this place. These gorgeous falls send water cascading 442 feel over the edge into an incredibly picturesque lush green gorge that the water has carved into the canyon over time. 442 feet is twice the size of Niagra Falls.
One awesome thing about this short hike is that not only do you get to see the Akaka Falls but you also get its little brother, the 100 foot tall Kahuna Falls that resides just downstream. It’s 2 for 1. The hike to see both falls is only half a mile with 104 feet of elevation gain. The path is paved with handrails which makes it a lot easier. I am glad they paved it because this hike is so gorgeous that you will probably be looking at the scenery the whole time rather than watching your step.
STATS:
Where:
Akaka Falls Trailhead – Akaka Falls Rd, Honomu, HI 96728
Coordinates: 19.854073 -155.152244
Parking:
There is a small parking lot at the trailhead. You can also park on the street. It is $5.00/car or $1/person for pedestrians. No charge for Hawaii residents.
Hours:
8:30am – 6pm
Distance:
0.5 miles R.T.
Elevation Gain:
104 ft
Level:
Easy. The path is paved, however, there are quite a few stairs so it is probably not handicapped accessible.
Estimated Completion Time:
1 hour or less.
Ideal Weather:
Akaka Falls is located in a rainforest so be prepared for rain. The waterfalls are beautiful regardless of the weather. They are more impressive during the rainy season though.
Ideal Time:
This place can be pretty popular. So if you want to enjoy them without competing with tour buses full of people, we recommend going on weekdays between the hours of 9-11 am or later in the evening right before the park closes.
Dog-friendly:
Only service dogs are allowed on this trail.
GETTING THERE:
You should be able to find the directions to Akaka Falls using google maps with the address or the coordinates pretty easy. It is at the end of Akaka Falls Road (Highway 220), 3.6 miles southwest of Honomu. The road dead-ends into the parking area for Akaka Falls State Park. The small lot fills up quickly. There is a restroom at the trailhead. You can park on the street right outside and walk-in as well.
THE ADVENTURE:
We arrived at the parking lot later in the evening and found that we almost had the whole place to ourselves. It might also be that it was on and off pouring rain at the time. As soon as we opened the car door, we were greeted by an adorable creature whom we named “‘Akaka” for obvious reasons. There are tons of feral cats that have made the trailhead their home. There were a few of them hanging out in the parking lot, some were the adorable cotton balls kitten. ‘Akaka the cat decided that he wanted to be our tour guide. He actually stuck with us for the entire trail. I really wanted to bring him home but Vy thought that getting him through airport security could be pretty troublesome.
With our four-legged guide leading the way, we headed off into rain forest. This trail is simply breathtaking. With us being from Southern California, we aren’t used to this much green and lush forest! If it wasn’t for the paved road you would almost feel like you were on some sort of Indiana Jones type of adventure looking for lost relics.
Right around 0.2 miles, you will come to a fork on the trail. To the right, it will be a short walk to Kahuna Falls. To the left, you’ll go to Akaka Falls and complete the loop. Kahuna Falls is not as prominent as the Akaka falls, but still, something worth taking a second to look at.
The trail is very simple and getting lost is nearly impossible. It is also a loop. Soon, you will find yourself surrounded by gorgeous nature in every direction. Massive bamboo reaches up towards the sky, vines drop down from the trees like falling rain as the stream snakes through the moss-covered rocks. It looks like a scene straight out of Avatar. There are a few spots along the trail where you would be able to go in and explore the Banyan trees forest. It’s incredible to walk in between the maze created by the intertwined roots of these giant Banyan trees.
There are quite a few stairs along the trail. As we crested the hill with our little guide following along, the magnificent view opened up in front of us. It was something straight out of a postcard. The path opened up to stairs descending down to the viewpoint for the falls. There, you are high up on a cliff right in front of the falls. The viewing area is the perfect distance away from the waterfall. It is just far enough away that you can fit the entire falls into one photo (depending on what lens you are using).
The falls are also home to the O’opu Alamo’o, which is a species of Goby. The native O’opu lay eggs in Hawai’i mountain stream beds. When they hatch, larvae are swept down to the ocean with rushes of freshwater caused by heavy rains. After spending a few months at sea, the juvenile migrates back upstream toward the mountain to spend the rest of their adult lives. Goby is known for its ability to climb upstream. They use their strong suction cup mouths to cling to rocks and move upward. Some species are even able to climb waterfalls at elevations over a thousand feet.
The forest seemed like it was starting to wake up. As we walked back along the trail, we heard what we thought was the sound of tropical birds. They echoed through the entire place with their harmonious song. When we reached the parking lot, we asked the very friendly ranger what kind of birds they were. With a laugh, she informed us that they were actually the Coquí frog.
There must have been thousands of them because the beautiful landscape was ringing with their calls. These tiny frogs are actually not native to Hawaii. They are believed to have originated in Puerto Rico. Somehow, a couple of these tiny critters hitched a ride in some potted plants in the early ’90s and made their way to the island. With no natural predators to keep their population under control, the Coquí’s number has exploded. It is kind of a cool tropical noise that they make, but local residents are not as much of a fan. The male’s calls can hit an impressive 90 decibels. That is as loud as a lawnmower.
As we reached our car, it was time to say goodbye to ‘Akaka, our island kitty. We were sad to say bye to him, but we took comfort in knowing that he has a ton of friends there and they all looked pretty healthy and well-fed. The more we thought about it, the more we got a little jealous that he gets to live in such an amazing place. Hopefully, we will get to head back and visit him again real soon. If you happen to do the hike (you totally should), be sure to tell him that we said hi.
Another pretty waterfall nearby is Rainbow Falls. Don’t forget to swing by Kaumana Caves for some awesome lava tube exploring if you’re still up for more adventures. Don’t forget to check out our recommendations for the Top 10 things to do on the Big Island. If you’re doing island hopping, check out our guide for Top 10 things to do in Oahu.
You can also hear Dustin talk about some of our favorite things to do on the Big Island on the Between The Mountains Podcast
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and sign up for our newsletter!
RECOMMEND GEAR:
Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
• Sunscreen:
Always helpful with the Hawaiian sun
We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen or Sun Bum Sunscreen
• Comfortable hiking shoes
The trail is paved so it’s not required but comfortable hiking shoes are recommended if you want to explore the little side trails along the way.
Vy’s shoes are North Face HedgeHog GTX.
Dustin’s shoes are Coleman Tasman Hiking Shoe.
• Water
It is a very short trail, but it never hurts to take some water with you
• Waterproof Jacket or umbrella
It is quite possible that you can get rained on. We both have the Patagonia Houdini Jackets.
CAMERA GEAR:
• Camera:
Sony a99
• Lenses:
Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX
