Panoramic vista of the falls
Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii
It’s one of the most beautiful and scenic waterfalls on the Big Island, surrounded by a lush botanical garden, the walk around the gardens and two main waterfalls are quite dramatic. The wet side of the island creates these lush jungles with amazing waterfalls throughout the park along with scenic vistas to different segments of the park. The walkways around the park are easy to maneuver with paved cement walkways and stairs, guard rails line the walkways for extra protection and holding security if the paths are wet.
Lush jungles with huge leaved plants
Lush tropical plants
It’s easy to enjoy a few hours in this garden and just absorb the complete quiet and focus to the wild and green surroundings. Strange large-leafed plants are also joined with large protruding and wildly colored spikes of flowers, it’s almost surreal. The air is perfumed with thousands of white and yellow ginger plants with clusters of delicate blooms – from a distance the air is delicious and sweet, but up close to the flower it’s almost nauseatingly sweet. Exotic huge blooms of giant Heliconia and hibiscus plants take over the landscape and become huge as if nothing can stop them from taking over the jungle, everything seems over-sized in this environment.
A torch ginger along the walkways
Giant tree ferns, gingers and heliconia grow to extra large size and dominate the landscape.
Whole fields of wild ginger in the jungle
Huge heliconias with their red tiered flowers
The pathways are fun to walk through crossing little creeks, dense bamboo forests with exotic tropical plantings, it’s like a small adventure walking through the different areas of the park with gorgeous vistas of the gulches, waterfalls and other scenic spots to enjoy along the trails. When the hordes of tourists coming in from their bussed groups finally leave, it’s so different, quiet and luxurious just observing nature on your own and seeing things almost grow by the minute it seems!
Overlooking an expansive bamboo forest
Well maintained cement walkways
Entering Akaka Falls
The loop trail around Akaka falls is a wonderful discovery walk and you get see both the upper and lower falls up close, and the views are quite spectacular! Initially hidden by tropical blooms and trees, you finally get to the observation platform to see the upper falls. You get this expansive view of the gulch, lush greenery and the long free-falling waterfall. It must have rained a lot because the falls were roaring loudly and dramatic in their free-fall.
First the lower falls comes into view
Hidden lower falls in the park
Akaka Falls hidden with dense foliage
The main waterfalls are finally starting to come into view and framed by gorgeous tropical foliage and flowers.
Framed with tropical foliage and flowers
The area finally clears to these expansive views of the waterfalls and surrounding gulch, it’s a green jungle paradise and there are thousands of ferns lining the observation area and framing the views to the small pond below.
Observation platform to main falls.
Along the loop trail are many smaller waterfalls and tributaries that finally connect to the river below and travel down into the coastline and ocean below.
Many small water falls and features along the tour.
In this lush jungle, ferns the size of giant trees reach out to the skies and completely dominate this area, they are huge!
Whole fields of wild ginger in the jungle
Giant tree ferns and variegated bamboo
The park is a nice loop trail that is easily manage and relatively flat terrain except for a set up stairs to walk down to the main trail. Unfortunately it is not handicap accessible through the flight of stairs heading down to the main pathways. Thanks for visiting Akaka falls on the Big Island today. If you more highlights of the island take a look at my post of attractions on the east side and the west side of the island.
If you enjoyed this post, please check out these other Big Island stories
Things to do on the Big Island with kids
Big Island locally grown foods
Visiting Keauhou on the Big Island
Road trip to the Hamakua district
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You can sure grow some mega ferns on the east side of the Big Island. (I assume this park is on the eastern (i.e. wet) side of the island). Every time I find myself thinking it’s a hassle to pack up and move to Hawaii for three months next year — all I have to do is look at your blog to remind me why it is so definitely worth it!
You poor man….having to take more pictures in Hawaii 🙂 Love them as always, Noel! 🙂
Beautiful photos as always, these are particularly dramatic. Thanks for linking up!
Lovely falls! Thanks for sharing them.
I’ve visited only the big island and if I don’t get to this place, I feel as if I was there because of your amazing pictures. Thanks for the trip.
Your pictures are so beautiful. I in love with your blog and everywhere you get to travel. Thank you for sharing your travels and talent.
My blog is http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/ On Tuesday’s I do a trivia featuring a different state each week. I will be featuring Hawaii the first of September and would love to share a couple of your photo’s, I link them back to your blog and then thank you again and link back to your blog on Friday’s post. Let me know if you are interested.
Hope to hear from you.
Thank you,
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
That’s a very high waterfalls! I agree with the others, it’s very lush too. Even just a bit of time spent there would surely relax me like no other view can.
Your photos are just breath taking! I have dreams of going there, but if I never make it,
Your photos made me feel as if I did! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Hugs,
Patti
Hi Patti,
Definitely visit, Hawaii is truly paradise especially the Big Island of Hawaii.
This place looks like it gets lots of rain but what a lush & beautiful spot in the sunshine.
What a gorgeous place…love the lushness!
We have Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon which might come close to the beauty of your falls. I’ll have to go take some photos of it. Lovely lush and green jungle.
Those are great photos. That first one especially captures the beauty of the place. I remember really enjoying our time hiking around Akaka Falls, so thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I felt like I was browsing a tourist brochure for the Big Island. Fantastic photos of the waterfalls and the surrounding hike. What a satisfying end through a walk in the lush foliage. I miss the islands!
I can almost smell and hear it in your photos. A wonderful walk you led us on today.
Wow, such breathtaking waterfalls and greeneries – my kind of scenery. Lovely photos, as usual.
There’s a famous Hawaiian song about Akaka Falls as well. Here’s a link to the Nathan Aweau version in which he accompanies a hula dancer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sNYtlJFKso
excellent, thanks for sharing this
Wow, this is such a scenic place…
A very beautiful place. Great photos 🙂
What lush vegetation. I love the pop of red in the heliconia.
Your photos make me feel so peaceful I can hear the waterfalls.
lush and refreshing series of photos.. 🙂
http://www.photosbyjanuary.com/2013/08/pot-fountain.html
These is an awesome shots! Love love it reminds me of the Philippines. ^_^
Thank you for joining Water World Wednesday
Kim,USA
I felt like I travelled far, far away without leaving the couch, thanks!
It truly is a ‘paradise’ to behold in your wonderful photography ~ Happy Day to you ~ xxooo
Like paradise! Lush and beautiful. Wonderful scenes.
What an amazingly beautiful place! I love looking at waterfalls.
Wow. Do you ever get tired of all the lushness? It is amazing. The colors. It must smell great too.
No unless it’s in my garden and I have to keep weeding because it never stops growing, those pesky weeds
What a gorgeous place!
Looks like paradise! Wonderful shots!
Your pictures of this lovely paradise are fantastic. I can almost hear the roar of the falls. ~Marlee
Everything looks so lush and green. Is it like that all year?
Yes this is year round, thanks for commenting Irene
Beautiful pictures!! Such lush greenery.