Hawaii guide

If you like Jurassic Park, this is the perfect place to visit. The trail leads you through a lush valley where an old saw mill used to be. All that remains is old abandoned buildings that have been consumed by the fast advancing jungle. The old refinery buildings are an eery place to spend the afternoon exploring. The river that you follow to the beach is worth seeing, along with the black sand beach at the end of the trail. The surf can be big, so always be cautious. The best part about this valley is that there never is a crowd.

Kona's coast offers world renowned sport fishing. Whether you are looking to catch big pelagic fish, or sit at the Harbor Bar and drink ice cold scooners (pints of beer in a frozen glass) and look at the view. Just watching the action at the harbor is something worth seeing. At night time, large tiger sharks come into the harbor looking for fish remains. If you don't like fishing, going out on a boat is worth it for whale watching, dolphins, occasional whalesharks, and world class sunrises/sunsets.

If you like snorkelling or diving, Puako is the place where you will find serenity in Hawaii. A healthy, protected marine reserve awaits you under the water. Literally hundreds of turtles live along the reef, and they congregate in specfic areas for their cleaning. Along the reef, you can see turtles allowing schools of fish to eat all the parasites off their shells, an amazing site to see. White tip reef sharks, morey eels, and garden eels are also frequent residents of the Puako Reef.

In Hawaiian beliefs, Pele is the God of Lava. Pele has been very busy for many years on Kiluea Volcano. Arguably the most active volcano in the world, Kiluea has been growing the size of the Big Island for over 40 years. Since lava is continuously flowing into the ocean, seeing this phenomenon is a very special experience. The best way to get there is to drive to the end of the H-130 and park in Kalapana. Walking along the ocean cliffs is amazing because it allows you to see all the past flows. The trail literally winds through recent birthplaces of the earth. On arriving at the active flow, the view is unbelievable. As the river of lava enters the ocean, steam rises into the sky. Depending on how active it is, on entering the ocean, sometimes lava explodes into the sky. Be sure to bring plenty of water and some thick soled shoes because the ground is hot and can melt your shoes.

The drive to Akaka Falls is something out of Hawaii 5-0. The Hamakua Coast wraps through beautiful valleys along steep oceanic cliffs into deep blue ocean. The walk through the park to see the waterfall is beautiful and the surrounding fauna is just as impressive. But if you want to be a little more adventurous, next to the lookout at Kahuna Falls, a trail drops to the bottom of the valley where you can swim at the bottom of the falls. It is a pig hunting trail and very steep and slippery...

The North Shore of Kauai is considered one of the most beautiful places of the world. The Napali Coast is what makes that statement true. A trail leads along the coast that leaves you with amazing views, and a feeling of adventure. The trail has many good beaches along the way to stop for a shorter hike, but if you go all the way to the Kalalau Valley, you will be rewarded with deserted white sand beaches, sea caves, and amazing ocean cliffs. On the trail, keep an eye out for dolphins in the crystal clear water below!

The true gem of the Big Island lies in Waimanu Valley. The only drawback is it requires a difficult full day 16 km (10 mi.) hike. There are ten campsites that sit along the black sand beach and it is the perfect place to relax for a few days. You access the trailhead from the Waipio Valley. If you are in the valley after a good rain, the valley walls will be covered with waterfalls that drop from 700 m (2,300 ft.) above the valley floor. If raining, caution is required because the trail to the valley floods easily becomes hazardous to hike.