Honomu and Akaka Falls

The village of Honomu, 11 miles north of Hilo on the Hamakua coast, once was a bustling community that catered to the sugar industry. It was populated with saloons, a hotel/bordello, stores and, for good measure, several churches. Today Honomu is better known as the gateway to Akaka Falls, a scenic attraction that draws an estimated 1 million visitors a year.

A stroll through this tiny community (population 541) will call to mind remnants of its past. Wooden broadwalks, railings and buildings with false fronts can still be seen housing antique and craft shops, eateries and Ishigo's Grocery and Bakery. Ishigo's was established in 1910 and serves an enticing array of baked goods from recipes passed down for generations. Of note is the fact that Honomu has public restrooms, which are not plentiful on the Hamakua Coast. But it doesn't have a gas station.

To get to Akaka Falls from Honomu, follow Hwy. 220 for 3.5 miles past abandoned sugarcane fields until you reach the parking lot. The falls are 442 feet high and provide one of the best photo opportunities on the island.

Near the falls, a paved, and sometimes slippery, circle route takes you into a world of dense tropical jungle with plants as big as trees, dripping ferns and dense bamboo groves.