Mountain View, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls is a gorgeous and easily accessible pull-off from Highway 11. This is not really a hike - just a short walk from the parking lot to a gorgeous 80 foot waterfall (making this fun for all ages!). Hit up Cafe Pesto in Hilo for a meal after.  If you want to learn about the mythology sur...

Within walking distance of downtown Hilo, jog around Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens for beautiful views of Mauna Kea, the Pacific, and Eastern art! A loop around the park, including Coconut Island, is approximately 1 mile. On your jog, you will see lots of people walking and running in addition t...

Starting at the Kilauea Visitor Center, this 18.8 mile drive begins its 3,700 foot elevation change by meandering through the rainforest. Follow signs from the visitor center (near the entrance of the park) to Crater Rim Drive. Chain of Craters Road begins off of Crater Rim Drive, 3.3 miles south...

A beautiful beach for swimming less than 10 minutes from downtown Hilo! Because Hilo is more rocky and jungly than the western side of the island, this beach is more of a swimming hole than a traditional beach. Carlsmith is also frequented by big turtles (like the ones in Finding Nemo!), but plea...

This beach lives up to Hawaii’s stunning fame. You can park in the curved area that is set away from the road, or along the street. Follow the little signs down the trail to the beach. It’s a bit of a scamper down some lava rocks to get there, so be careful.  A highlight of this beach is that it ...

While you can drive right to the summit of Mauna Kea on the 14 mile access road, the last 7 miles are on a very bumpy dirt road, so make sure your vehicle has plenty of clearance and good tires. All wheel drive will help a lot.The drive up is amazing itself. Usually there is some fog lingering ar...

From the parking area, walk down the narrow, crazy steep four-wheel drive road for 0.75 mile until the road levels. A few 4WD vehicles, either foolhardy (tourist) or knowledgable (local) may be inching up and down. Head to the right toward the beach for 0.45 mile and arrive on the black sand beac...

Located near the northern tip of the Big Island, Waipi'o Valley is one of the most beautiful views that you can experience in all of Hawaii. Waipi'o Valley is an hour and 30 minute drive from Kona and an hour and 10 minutes from Hilo. To access the lookout, take HI-19 west to HI-240. Make sure to...