Hwy 19 Along The Hamakua Coast

Scenic Route Coastal Drive

PIck up Hwy 11 (Hawaii Belt Road).  This will take you directly to Hawaii’s Volcanos National Park.  The park alone can be a separate daytrip in itself.  However, depending on the time of year, you can easily spend 2 – 3 hours at the park, and still make it back to your hotel before dark.  Continue on Hwy 11 past the barren lava fields, towards South Kona.  If you’ve got time and it’s still day break you may want to stop at Punalu’u State Beach Park (aka Black Sand Beach).

The Big Island - Scenic Lookout

There are so many scenic stops along the way, and it’s an effortless way to see the island. Stop for a picnic at Kolekole State Park.  And, if you’re lucky, you may see a zebra that is a pet in someone’s backyard garden.

Zebra in Backyard

Leave your mark with Rock Graffiti

As you walk along the beaches in Waikaloa, there are white pieces of coral all along the beach that you can use for your artwork.   Do NOT dive or snorkel for them as this is viewed as tantamount to eco-terrorism.  If you can, I would say start collecting them on the first day, and by your last day you should have enough to do something really fun.

Rock Graffiti Along Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy

Hawaii Volcano National Park
This is a must do.  The bottom line is this, if you go to an island that has an active volcano, you have to go check it out.   If you can, make this an all day trip.  Spend the day, check out Halema’uma’u Crater; the steam vents (yes, you can see steam venting from the ground reminding you that she’s alive and well); go to Jagger Museum, hike Mauna Loa’s Observatory Trail (there are numerous other trails depending on your level of fitness, some are even wheelchair assessable), see ancient petroglyphs; and walk through Lava tubes.

Steam Vents At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The View From Craters Rim

Punalu’u State Beach Park

Famous for its black sand and basking green sea turtles, this is a popular beach with both the tourist and the locals.  It’s not a good beach for swimming, but the park has several picnic pavilions, rest rooms, and drinking water, making it the perfect pit-stop while you’re circumnavigating the island.  There are two exits between mile maker 56 and 57 that will get you there.  And, if you’re lucky, you will see the turtles chillin’ on the beach.  And, remember don’t touch them!

Green Sea Turtle

Get You a Shave Ice
We say “shaved ice”, Hawaiians say “shave ice.”  Either way, this fine cut Hawaiian version of a snow cone is the best ever.  I feels like silky snow on the tongue.  There really is no  better way to cool of while walking the streets of Kailua-Kona than with a shave ice.

Dude Making My Shave Ice

Fly over waterfalls!!  Go Zip Lining!!
Yes!!  I’m saying it again…it’s a must do.    This activity isn’t for everyone, there are age and weight restrictions and certain medical issues (ie back injuries, pregnancy) that one may want to consider prior to participating.  There are several operators on the island.  The Honolii Mountain Outpost boasts the longest zipline in Hawaii with their Umauma Falls Zipline Experience.

The Zipline

Hanging on a Zipline

Click on photo to enlarge.

Directions:  From Highway 19 turn right on Rte 220 (after 13 mile marker) off of  towards Honomu and drive through the town.  Follow signs for Akaka falls.

Roland said, “What was that?”

I was like, “What?”

He said “That sign said something about a park”

I said, “Should I turn around?”

He’s like, “I don’t know.”

Then I’m like, “Yes or no!?”

He said, “Yes.”  So, I made an illegal UTurn and we went back to what turned out to be the sweetest little spot everrrrrrr.

We descended down a narrow road with a rock wall lined with lush vegetation on the left, a drop off to the valley floor on the right, and overhead it was thick with leaves from the surrounding trees, creating a tree tunnel.  I love a tree tunnel!! When we reached the base of this road there was the option to cross a bridge that goes over a stream, or make a right and head into the park.

After stopping to take some photos, we veered to the right and drove along the stream into the parking lot situated in front of a large grassy area that was lined with a few picnic tables.  Next to us flowed the stream, feed by the Akaka Falls about 4 miles away, that lead to a rocky beach where it met the ocean.  As I ate my lunch the view directly in front of me was that of a beautiful small waterfall.

So…here we were, sitting at a nice clean picnic table, eating our fresh salads, next to a stream, with a water fall in the background. It really was picture perfect.  All because we had decided to take a detour.

Have you had your own “Embrace The Detours” moment?  If so, I’d love to hear about it.

I drove past this site almost every day of the 6 days we were on this island.  I kept wondering…where do I get the white rocks?  I need white rocks!!

We were down to our last day and I still hadn’t tagged the lava flow, and I still didn’t know where in the hell to get the white rocks.  And, almost magically, as if he had heard my siren’s call…my husband came in from his morning run and his pockets were loaded down with white coral rocks!!!!  There weren’t a lot…but it was enough, enough to spell out BCOT. 

So…if you’re ever on the island of Hawaii, and you just happen to find yourself on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy (which isn’t hard considering it’s the main highway the oops around the island), near mile marker 80, on top of the lava flow, you will (I hope it’s still there) see my contribution:  BCOT.