2 Best Sights in Honomu, Big Island

A paved, 10-minute loop trail (approximately ½ mile) takes you to the best spots to see the spectacular cascades of Akaka, including the majestic upper Akaka Falls, which drops more than 442 feet. It tumbles far below into a pool drained by Kolekole Stream amid a profusion of fragrant white, yellow, and red torch ginger and other tropical foliage. Another 400-foot falls is on the lower end of the trail. Restroom facilities are available but no drinking water. The park is 4 miles inland, and vehicle parking closes at 6. Visitors are encouraged to reserve parking online in advance at this popular spot. A series of steps along parts of the trail may prove challenging for some visitors, and they are not wheelchair accessible.

Just off the highway, this garden park on more than 300 acres of former sugarcane land has wide views of the countryside and the ocean; it's also the place to see the beautiful Kamaee waterfalls. During a visit you can follow a walking trail with old-growth tropical gardens including orchids, palm trees, ginger, hibiscus, and heliconia; visit the 10-acre arboretum, which includes a maze made of orange shrubs; explore the river walk; ride the relatively small zip line; and take the only off-road Segway adventure on the island. You can tour the garden only for a nominal fee, which is waived if you take the zip line or Segway. If you skip the zip line, you can see it all in a few hours. This place is 3 miles north of Honomu.