Trails and campgrounds across America

To walk through Hawaiian history, head to Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park, located on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawai‘i, south of Kona. A convenient hiking trail weaves through the park's Royal Grounds and the Pu‘uhonua (place of refuge). This half-mile long loop passes sixteen numbered markers that correspond with entries in a park brochure to put an... Read more.

The Big Island of Hawai‘i is a dynamic land, where you can find a lava tube on the edge of the island's main city. An 1881 lava flow from Mauna Loa stopped just short of Hilo. Venture up and down a lava tube created by that flow. Enter through a collapsed skylight at Kaumana Caves Park and start exploring. While the entire tube may measure over twenty miles long, visitors can expect to... Read more.

A mile and a half from downtown Hilo, the biggest city on the Big Island of Hawaii, Rainbow Falls pours over a basalt ledge in Hawaii's longest river. The 80-foot tall waterfall takes a broad single-drop plunge. Visitors can see Rainbow Falls (and hopefully a morning rainbow) from Rainbow Falls Lookout in Wailuku River State Park, where 0.2 miles of lets-be-generous-and-call-it-hiking leads... Read more.

‘Akaka Falls is stunner – considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Hawaii – with a 442-foot single-drop into a tropical valley. This great waterfall is paired with a great viewpoint. A paved 0.55-mile long loop trail leads to a lookout in front of ‘Akaka Falls, while also providing a glimpse of 300-foot tall Kahuna Falls and several small cascades. ‘Akaka Falls is the... Read more.

Waipi‘o Valley is a rugged, beautiful, and historic Hawaiian valley on the north side of the Big Island. The verdant valley has a mile long black sand beach framed by steep, thousand foot-tall cliffs. Get a good look at Waipi‘o Valley from a perch at the rim of the valley wall. Waipio Lookout has interesting info panels and impressive views. The lookout is also the launch point for a... Read more.

Waipi‘o Valley is known as the Valley of Kings for its regal chapter in Hawaiian history. You're bound to feel high and mighty while looking across this remote valley and its pristine beach from a panoramic perch on Muliwai Trail. Waipi‘o Valley has steep, thousand foot-tall cliffs, so entering the valley is no simple stroll. Cross Waipi‘o Beach and visit Muliwai Trail Overlook on a... Read more.

While much of Hawai‘i's coastline is understandably built up with vacation destination resorts, some areas have a wilder feel, like Kīholo Bay. Driftwood decorates the rugged coastline, just 25 miles north of Kona, and green sea turtles ease through the bay's cyan-colored shallows. The Hawaii State Parks website describes Kīholo State Park Reserve as: A stark, lava-covered coastal... Read more.

A list of things for hikers to do on the Big Island of Hawai‘i includes: walking across a lava field, exploring a cave, looking for petroglyphs, seeing fishponds created by early Hawaiians, and taking a time-out by tide pools in a beautiful bay. Check off everything on that list with one visit to Kalahuipua‘a Historic Park and Fishpond Preserve. A loop around coastal Kalahuipua‘a... Read more.