Visit beautiful Akaka Falls in the Hamakua coast of the Big Island

Akaka Falls is not only one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Big Island to visit but you actually get to walk through a gorgeous botanical garden and a second waterfall at Kahuna Falls on the far side of the park. Both waterfalls make up the Akaka Falls State Park located on the Hamakua Coast close to the town of Honomu and is an easy detour from driving the Hamakua coastline on the Big Island.

Why visit Akaka Falls

One of the most popular state park and falls to visit on the Hamakua Falls, the park is a beautiful botanical garden with two gorgeous waterfalls to see and explore. The paved loop trail around the park and past gorgeous and lush tropical plants of heliconia, ginger, bamboo, ti and other exotics is fun to walk around and photograph. Akaka falls is a popular tourist attraction so do get there early or later in the afternoon when most of the tourist crowds have left.

Details to the waterfalls

Akaka falls drops 422 feet to the base of the valley and is a majestic waterfall to see in person, Akaka in Hawaiian is translated to “split, separation, or crack”.

There is a beautiful loop trail that takes your through a botanical garden setting and viewing observation areas for both waterfalls and takes 30 minutes or longer depending on how places you stop along the way.

You’ll pass through lush rainforest plants of gingers, wild orchids, heliconia, Ti and giant bamboo in a grove you walk down to and a bridge area around the grove and climb back up to the another viewing platform to Kahuna falls. Kahuna Falls is further downhill from Akaka falls and drops around 300 feet and cascading to the valley floor below. The falls are mostly hidden from a dense canopy of trees and jungle that hides the entire length of the waterfall.

Directions to Akaka Falls

From Hilo, Akaka falls is 11 miles north of Hilo town on Hwy 19 between mile marker 13 and 14. Turn left to Hwy 220 into Honomu town and follow the signs up to the waterfalls parking lot.

From Honomu town, travel up Hwy 220 3.6 miles to the park entrance.

Entrance fees to the park

Entrance is $1 per person or $5 per car total to enter the park and paid in the machine at the park entrance. Hawaii residents can enter the park for free with identification.

For more information on visiting the Akaka Falls State Park, check the main website here for more details and updated information.

Here’s Akaka Falls after a lot of rain falling on the Big Island

Walking through the lush gardens and bamboo grove around the park

Take a look at this video for a quick tour of Akaka falls and the botanical gardens.

Other attractions to see close to Akaka Falls

Honomu town just outside of the park is a sweet little village with wooden storefronts of art galleries, boutique stores and mom and pop eateries to drop by and explore while your in the area

Onomea Scenic Drive is a 4 mile historic road that used to be the old highway from Hilo to Waimea on a beautiful road with one lane bridges and gorgeous views of Onomea bay. There is a trail that you can take downhill to view the bay and some sweet waterfalls in the area.

Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden – an elaborate tropical botanical garden that showcases a variety of different genres of tropical plants, flowers and trees in this lush garden setting.

Honoka’a town is further down and is the gateway to the magnificent Wapio Valley, you can enjoy the western vibe, boutiques and art galleries and some fantastic eating on the main drag in Honoka’a town.

Hilo town – visit the highlights and attractions around the Hilo area and Hamakua Coast

Kalopa State park – a lush native forest with giant trees and beautiful hikes to explore around this natural park setting

Lapahoehoe Point – a scenic area on the Hamakua with rugged cliffs, gorgeous coastline views and a historic market to a tragic tsunami event here.

Details to visiting the State Park

There is a separate parking fee and also fee per person visiting the park grounds

Make sure to bring mosquito repellent since this is a lush garden setting and very moist surroundings

Parking is limited but you can find street parking outside of the parking area

This is mostly a self tour site with some signage of what you can see along the way.

The small town of Honomu is worth a stop to check out the shops, eateries and art galleries.

Conclusion on Akaka Falls

For Hamakua side fun, you’ll love explore all fun activities and attractions around the North side of the island to include Onomea, Honokaa and Waimea areas. Hope this gives you some great ideas of things to do and see around the town and outlying areas to visit.

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