The notebook of Mauna Kea, Waimea et Waipio
Stop over in a different light.
Astronomical summit, high pastures and acassed valley north of the island.
At your own pace
Identity summary
2 to 5 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Island · Mountain · Nature · Heritage
Variable accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Mauna Kea, Waimea et Waipio
Astronomical summit, high pastures and acassed valley north of the island.
The discovery of Mauna Kea, Waimea and Waipio is centred around Mauna Kea, Waipio Valley and Pololu Valley. The stay thus alternates between island landscapes, mountain reliefs, natural spaces and heritage, giving a concrete picture of the destination beyond its only best known site.
See all
For a stay of 2 to 5 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Mauna Kea
- Waipio Valley
- Pololu Valley
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Place indismissible
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea leads volcanic landscapes from Hawaii Island to a dry, cold, clear top, often above the clouds. Observatories recall the exceptional quality of the night sky, but the mountain also has a strong cultural dimension for Hawaiians, which far exceeds the only panoramic view.
Nature and panorama
Waipio Valley
Waipio Valley opens like a deep cut on the Hāmākua coast, with green cliffs, dark beach and distant waterfalls. Access conditions may vary, but even from the viewpoint, the gaze captures the power of the relief and the historical importance of a long inhabited and cultivated valley.
Nature and panorama
Pololu Valley
Pololū Valley marks the northern end of the sculpted valleys in the side of Kohala. From the lookout or the path down to the black beach, the landscape combines steep cliffs, thick vegetation and agitated ocean, with an impression of the edge of the world more wild than the seaside resorts on the west coast.
Place indismissible
Puukohola Heiau
The ruins of a large Hawaiian temple linked to the ascent of Kamehameha I. The dry stone walls dominate a clear coast where sharks or whales are sometimes seen off the coast, giving the site a sober strength rather than a spectacular decor.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Escaped to discover
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii, 🇺🇸 United States of America
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