Greetings to all fellow Steemians! The island of Hawaii is a place with massive biodiversity makes it an awesome place for hiking. I used to go around hiking every weekend with my dad and we used to camp in the middle of no where and since then hiking has become an obsession.
Here I am mentioning my favorite 3 hikes on the Hawaii Island. Now one might not have enough time on your hands to ‘see it all’: these 3 trails are “the cherries on the Big Island cake”. The island of Hawaii with its many different ecosystems and low population density is made for hikes – and there are enough hikes to keep you entertained for months. I have included hikes that will not take up more of your time than maximum half a day, and that each shows a different highlight of Hawaii.
1- Waipio Valley
WAIPIO VALLEY
Situated on the northern Hamakua Coast, is lush Waipio Valley, known as “The Valley of the Kings.” It was the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I, who established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810 and served as its first monarch. Surrounded by cliffs up to 2000-feet high, this deep valley is about one mile across. The Big Island’s tallest waterfall, Hiilawe Falls, cascades down 1,300 feet in the back of the valley. The paved path into the valley is actually a steep access road (4-wheel drive vehicles only). Most hikers park at the Waipio Valley Lookout. From there, a black-sand beach about one mile down the road. Further down is Kuluhine Falls, and at the bottom of the valley there’s a view of Hiilawe falls. The trail to the beach is public, but much of Waipio Valley is private property. If you plan to explore beyond the public access areas, seek out permission or sign up for a guided tour.
2- Thurston Lava tube
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is crisscrossed with more than 150 miles of hiking trails, which range in difficulty from easy walks like Kipukapuaulu (Bird Park) to wilderness areas recommended only to hikers in top physical condition. The 20-minute walk through a thick fern forest to Thurston Lava Tube is among the easy-breezy hikes. It leads to a cave-like tunnel — a 500-foot-long lava tube that once carried fast-moving molten lava. Several hundred years ago, a large eruption near the summit of Kilauea volcano created the lava tube. (Lava now streaming from Puu Oo crater to the ocean winds through lava tubes much. The lava tube also has a Hawaiian name, Na Huku, which refers to the protuberances on the tube walls. A collapse in the tube’s roof serves as an exit back into the forest. Truly a beautiful place and one of my favorite hikes
3- Mauna Ulu - The Growing Mountain
Continuing in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, down Chain of Craters Road from Kilauea Iki, the short hike to the top of Mauna Ulu or nearby Pu'u Huluhulu provides a dramatic look at the aftermath of one of Kilauea's most persistent eruptions. The five-year Mauna Ulu flow buried more than 40 square miles of land, including the original Chain of Craters Road
These are some of my personal favorite hikes on the Big Island. For more adventure, follow on! Cheers!