Waipi'o Valley
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
16 reviews for Waipi'o Valley
16 reviews in English
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Review from Jenna L.
Kapolei, HI
1/30/2012 7 photos
By far my FAVORITE place to go when I'm down Kona side.
Hella blessed because my uncle owns a farm down in the valley and he lets us use his trucks when we come! You have to have 4x4 to go down though, and I feel bad for anyone that feels the urge to see it that bad to hike down this bad boy. You guys a flippin' NUTS! But if you go you're definately NOT going to regret it. It's beautiful down here and definately gives you a glimpse of the Old Hawaii.
Just follow the signs till you get there. Going down is crazy, I still remember the first time going up and down the road when I was a little girl. I thought I was gona pee myself. LOL The views are breath taking going in and when you're at the beach it's even better. If you're not an experienced swimmer and surfer, do not attempt to act bad ass and go in the water. LOL You will get ripped a new one. hahaha
Black sand beach at the bottom, so beautiful and there's wild horses roaming around. Do not attempt to feed them because they will bite you. LOL They fixed the roads which is nice and they put 4 porta potty's by the beach. Live Pono and Respect the Aina when coming down here though. Or else Karma will get you! LOL I love this place I really have no words to describe it. Just an experience of a life time. ALOHA* -
Review from Brennen C.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
6/16/2011
This is one of the reason I rented a 4x4 while in HI. The other being the green sand beach, 4x4 is definatly required for both.
The valley and the beach are one of my top memories of my visit to the island of Hawaii. Though I'm glad I didn't have to hike my way down and then up again, it probably is worth it.
I was told that the 2 rivers that run through this valley are the 'road' to the waterfall, I will try this next time I'm here.
So very worth it! -
Review from Felicia M.
Hawaii, HI
8/25/2010
Ahhh the siren song of the valley!
But is it a heaven or a hell?
From the safety of the scenic point, there's a bird's eye view overlooking the cliffs which drop 2,000 feet into a beautiful, lost Eden. It's easy to understand why the filmmakers of "Waterworld" chose the valley as the fabled 'dry land' in the last scene of the movie. The curved black sand beach, cascading waterfalls and abundant fruit trees are a heavenly setting for any weary traveler.
To venture into the valley, a four wheel drive is required. Highly recommended: Nerves of Steel. The road is steep, narrow and dangerous with a 30% grade. There's no ABC store in the valley, so hikers - BYOWater.
Once in the valley it's time to explore. There are taro farms, wild horses and a lazy river which flows through the heart of the rainforest into the sea.
A thriving community once existed in this secluded valley until a tsunami devastated the village. Now, there are only a few residents who remain - mainly hippies, farmers and a few hardcore misanthropes.
Respect the fences and privacy of the residents when trekking off the beaten path. Accidentally stumbling into a hidden pakalolo patch could unleash the hounds of hell i.e. aggressive pit bulls with a lust for blood. Not the happy ending of a holiday for any tourist.
The ocean is beautiful but dangerous - especially during the winter months. Experienced surfers only. The many hidden waterfalls in the valley are the rainbow at the end of any long hike. Go for it.
The beach is a perfect spot for a picnic and a cold one. There are tour companies that offer horseback riding into the valley for those who desire a guided tour. Don't expect to be dashing through the forest on Black Beauty though. A mule is more like it. Rain or shine, the valley is always memorable.
Beauty, danger, hidden waterfalls, switchback trails, freshwater shrimp in the waterholes and the music of solitude. That's Waipio. Maybe it's heaven after all. -
Review from sharon L.
Oakland, CA
8/16/2011
This really is as good as it gets! Amazing valley. It did feel like Eden. Reminded me of Jurassic Park. If you have a 4x4 to get down I guess it's easier, but hiking down you get to fully enjoy and absorbed every detaile as you descend into the valley. It was amazing; the views coming down into the valley, the 'tunnel' through the rainforest canopy to get to the beach, the wild horses to greet you at the bottom (really, I'm not kidding), then the most amazing beach that you get almost all to yourself. The sand is black, soft and fine. The water is an amazing saphire blue, the cliffs risie up and envelop you.
The hike up is when you pay the piper for this, but it is well worth it. Bring lots of water and go slow if you have to, but definitely go! -
Review from May T.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2008
Eden does exist, but you need a 4x4 to get down to it on a rough and tumble 25 degree sloped hill that descends into beauty.
This is the land of the kings, where King Kamehameha was plucked to become the one who ruled all, and where at one point, there were over 15,000 Hawaiians who farmed and lived harmoniously before the arrival of the Europeans.
It's still pristine, and farmers still till the land. Lovely black sand and an estuary that beckons any visitor to explore its secrets deep into the land.
Hawai'i at its most pure and beautiful. -
Review from Lori K.
1/6/2009 1 photo
Beautiful valley with breathtaking views. You can check out amazing waterfalls, wild horses, taro farms, and gorgeous views of the black sand beach. If your car isn't 4WD, forget about heading down on your own. Don't worry though, there are various tours you can take down into the valley. My family and I did this last week.
Warning: If you or a loved one gets motion sick pretty easily, I do not recommend joining a tour down into the valley. The road is VERY steep, narrow, and bumpy. My poor dad got carsick on the way down and decided to hike back up. Luckily for him, I decided to join him to keep him company. Unluckily for me, the hike back up was killer. They don't call this trail "1 mile down, 10 miles up" for nothing. After huffing and puffing my way back up, I was pleasantly rewarded with the stunning view of the valley.
I would recommend visiting Waipi'o if you want to see one of the most pristine and beautiful areas of the big island.Listed in: Big Island Hot Spots
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Review from Monique L.
Beaverton, OR
9/19/2009 1 photo
This hike is not for the faint of heart. Well, if you are faint of heart you could still do it, you could get a ride in and out for a few bucks. The hike down is totally manageable due to the zig-zagged road. The trail off the main road to the black sand beach where the fresh water meets the ocean is covered with a tree canopy and has guava trees that line it that are awesome!
At the beach, we were greeted by some horses from the near by ranch that were very nice, to us, despite some other people saying they were very aggressive.
Now after this wonderful experience is the painful hike out. Although it is less than 1 mile, it is also a 1200ft climb! It took us only, hahaha, 45 minutes of straight up hill climbing. While it felt like forever, and they sun was beating down on us, we were determined to hike out. We got many offers from locals driving up for a lift but it is very rewarding. Just remember to bring lots and lots (and lots) of water! -
Review from Amanda C.
2/25/2009 1 photo
This is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen in the whole world. When you approach the lookout you will see the amazing view and think, "eh... this view's pretty great... maybe we don't need to drive down the treacherous cliff and risk death just to see the valley floor..."
WRONG! You must go down the cliff to really experience the valley. And yes, it is terrifying no matter what vehicle you're in. The good news is that you can only see the carcasses of cars that didn't make it once you are down and safely on the valley floor.
Make time in your trip to visit the Waipi'o Valley! You will not regret it. It is incredibly picturesque and like a combination between the Swiss Family Robinson and LOST. When you see people's homes down there it will astound you... I don't know how they do it. That's a pretty big F-you to civilization, if I've ever seen one!
Also keep your eye out for packs of wild horses. People who used to live down there abandoned their horses when evacuating for a tsunami in 1946 and the horses survived, made babies, and now roam free.Listed in: All time favorites around the…
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Review from Kione E.
9/20/2009 7 photos
There are no words that does justice to describe the beauty of Waipi'o Valley.
So, I'm not going to try to put any words to it.
Seriously, you really have to be there, in there, to understand just how incredible it is.
I am going to say this: To me, Waipi'o Valley is the jewel of Hawai'i-the Big Island. And, I swear, even if I have to live in the trees, I will live in this valley one day. -
Review from David F.
San Jose, CA
11/8/2009
This was definitely the single most stunning spot on the island. Driving across the island from resort-land was impressive in itself - the scenery and weather change dramatically as you drive up towards Waimea, the landscape quickly changes from decades-old lava rocks to rolling green hills dotted with farms and ranches. And then suddenly it's raining, when you were in the blazing sun 20 minutes earlier. We were worried the rain might persist across the Waipi'o Valley, but it cleared as we headed down again towards the coast.
The vista itself from the parking area was stunning. The beach stretches across the entire valley, and a waterfall glistens in the distance on the far mountain. Even if you're not going to walk or drive down, the view is worth a stop.
The road down is drivable IF you have 4 wheel drive. It's paved, but extremely narrow and steep with grades of about 30% or steeper in some places. If the road is wet, as it usually is, 2 wheel drive won't get you back out. Our rental SUV didn't come with 4 wheel drive, so we walked down.
The actual descent is just shy of 1,000 feet and a mile long according to the park ranger at the top, and even on foot, is slippery. You'll want sturdy shoes, water and possibly a rain jacket. As you walk down, the temperature rises quickly and the wind disappears, so you'll now want to ditch your sweatshirt. You're sharing the road with cars, but it's not that busy and the cars are moving slowly. There are stunning views along the way, too.
When you get to the bottom of the road, take the road to your right for the beach. There's no sign pointing you to the beach, so it can be confusing. It says the road is closed, but whether on foot or car, you can get to the beach (about 15 minutes on foot). The road is unpaved and muddy with occasional lakes spanning the road - one looked like it was about 2 feet deep - so you'll want a jeep or something like it to drive to the beach.
The beach is totally worth it. It's a black sand beach, but the sand is fine-grained and uncrowded. There were a few cars there, with families spending the day there, but if you can navigate across the river you can walk further up the beach where there are no cars and few people (TIP: cross upstream, not by the beach where you'll likely get swept out to sea by the current). If you're planning to spend a little time here, bring snacks and extra water since there are no services.
Also, if you see a mixed breed dog with tan fur and black spots running around playfully, hang on to your flip flops, hats, socks or anything else that looks like a toy. I spent 10 minutes trying to retrieve one of my wife's socks, and someone else had to chase down their flip flop!
The climb out is, well, steep and never-ending. If you're lucky, you can hitch a ride back up to the top. There are tour vans that come down occasionally, but I think you have to ride them round-trip. I saw people walking down with kids in tow - this seemed like a bad idea unless they were planning to carry them out.
At the junction I mentioned earlier, you can also continue straight towards the back of the valley. We didn't walk that way, but it allegedly leads to a waterfall. There are also hiking trails that let you ascend the mountain on the other side of the valley, but are certainly equally steep. Maybe another time for us!Listed in: The Compleat Big Island
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Review from Rebekha J.
Atlanta, GA
5/4/2007 1 photo
I took a drive up over to the other side of the island by myself. Doug and Zenus were in the Neuro Conference all day I couldn't stay cooped up in the resort. It was amazing to me to see the landscape change just driving over 45 minutes. My drive took me all the way for a dry rocky lava area to the lush green side of the island near Honokaa. It is an easy drive up HWY 19 over to HWY 240. I valley was green and ran all the way to the black sand beach until it touched the ocean. I can sum it up in one word...breathtaking!
The ride up to the Valley has some wonderful shops to stop and browse as well. I found a little boutique to buy some jeans in because it was getting a bit cold. They were old about $12 but I was happy to see that the pockets were lined with a cute Hawaiian print. (It's the little things that make me smile.) I also found some new Burks for $25.
The entire trip took me about 4 hours but I wish it could have lasted forever.Listed in: Hawaii- Kona
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Review from Michelle R.
CA
1/6/2008
Cool place, but needs a little more, I loved the waterfall, but it's missing something, not sure exactly what.
Also, we were told my our host at the bed and breakfast we were staying at that people often get their cars broken into, so be careful, leave your valuables elsewhere and lock your doors.
The drive here is absolutely beautiful, nonetheless, something is missing. BUT... still beautiful! -
Review from Lan N.
Wichita, KS
10/2/2011
Goodness knows I needed the exercise. If there's one thing that is abundant in Hawaii, it's the food. Hawaiian know how to eat, and I can't seem to squeeze enough food into my 110 lb frame (this may now not be so accurate). Anyways, we didn't have a 4WD vehicle, so we knew we'd have to walk. It's very early Oct., so temp wasn't too high. High up on the path, there was a good breeze. I didn't find the walk down too slippery from the gravel, but my toes kept hitting the front of the sneakers, and that was annoying. Maybe some open toed sandals like teva, merrell, etc would be better. When you get to the bottom, you take a sharp right to head towards the beach or continue straight to go across the valley. The path to the beach was very muddy for us, and we had to be careful to avoid the horse poo. Also, b/c of the stagnant water, there were somepesky mosquitoes. I would suggest some protection if you're going to be around the area early in the morning or close to the evening. The hike up was not easy, but def doable. Just be aware of the cars both way. It's very rewarding once you do get to the top!
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Review from Al A.
Georgetown, CT
8/22/2010
Amazing valley..worth the trip - lush valley w/beautiful black sand beach to top it off.
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Review from Cheri. A G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/31/2007 4 photos
Escaping the fires we drove to this side of the island to breath easier. We came to this look out point and wanted to head down but you have to have a 4 wheel drive and there is someone there to make sure you have it before he will let you down. Damn Ford Focus rental!
Listed in: ALOHA!!!!
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Review from Andy F.
Oldsmar, FL
5/8/2010
The valley from the lookout is truly amazing. I can't explain its awesomeness, you will just need to see it for yourself.
The hike down is about 900 feet in elevation in less than a mile. This means that going back up is going to suck... and it did. I had to stop a few times to catch my breath, but that's really OK becasue you just get to look out at a beautiful ocean and a green valley. Once you make it to the bottom, you can go right or left. I recommend trying both ways! Right goes to a black sand beach, which has a nice breeze. Left lets you see the giant 1000+ foot waterfall. Since it is on private property, you can't get too close. But, if you go further down the road, there is a part where a river goes over the road. You can sit in the middle of this river on a rock and it looks like a tropical jungle. Probably one of my favorite off the beaten path places to relax.
