Akaka falls on the Big Island

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.

 

 

Akaka falls on the Big Island

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.

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

A torch ginger along the walkways

 

 

Giant tree ferns, gingers and heliconia grow to extra large size and dominate the landscape.

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Whole fields of wild ginger in the jungle

 

 

 

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

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!

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Overlooking an expansive bamboo forest

 

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

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

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Hidden lower falls in the park

 

 

 

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Akaka Falls hidden with dense foliage

 

 

The main waterfalls are finally starting to come into view and framed by gorgeous tropical foliage and flowers.

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Framed with tropical foliage and flowers

 

 

 

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

 

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.

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

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.

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

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!

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Whole fields of wild ginger in the jungle

 

 

 

 

Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Giant tree ferns and variegated bamboo

 

 

 

 

 

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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

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Akaka Falls on the Big Island

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Visiting Keauhou on the Big Island

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Punalu’u black sand beach

Road trip to the Hamakua district

Hapuna Beach in Kohala

 

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