Trail Report: Hike to Hi'ilawe Waterfall in Waipio Valley
Hi'ilawe Waterfall in Waipio Valley as seen from the bottom of the road This describes my hike to the base of Hi'ilawe Waterfall in Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. The trail goes up the stream for a little more than a mile before reaching the highest waterfall I've personally ever visited. The Big Island of Hawaii has a reputation for being more rugged, rural and raw. Every guidebook indicates that the Waipio Valley is the place to go for unsurpassed beauty unspoiled nature. I would like to describe my experience in 2015 to clarify reality. I hiked to the base of the valley hoping to reach the waterfall itself. As I wandered along the road going into the valley, several trucks filled with tourists passed me. Many of these were parked at the stream, the trailhead. At the trailhead many folks walked upstream, staying in the water all the way. I started walking up the stream with my 2 hiking companions. The scenery was immediately ...