On Tour

Roads don't go in all directions here - too hard to grind out a road over the lava flows.  Which means there is a limited number of places to go.  And the roads either go up down or around the volcanic peaks.

We headed over to the lush north coast to check out the Waipio 

From the east


Must get plenty of rain

The view out (and they have electricity)



Valley.  It is the largest of several that are cut into the windward side of the island.  They are green and look productive.  Looks to be a population of a few hundred at most but they say up to 10,000 used to live there a couple of hundred years ago.

The road down into the valley is open to 4wds.  Which we didn't have so we walked.  It is paved, narrow and winds its way down the side of the valley entrance with grades up to 25%.  Hard on the knees walking down, hard on the muscles going up.

After the swim


Most of the land in the valley is owned privately and they are pretty adamant that you shouldn't walk up to the head of the valley to get a good look at the falls which tower 2000' up but you can see then from a distance.

Shangri la
We were given directions by the waiter at the bar where we had lunch to walk to the top of the falls.  We drove up the road he said but there were signs everywhere telling you not to venture further - so we didn't.






























Starving hungry by the time we made it back to Waimea so pulled into the first promising looking eatery we came to.  Just like out of the movies with plenty of fried food and cowboys at the bar.

The Pig and Fish Grill
Kim had pig, I had fish.

 We've done the tour of the beaches up the Kohala coast.  Seems that it might have been private property at one stage and the state has reclaimed some of the water front.  Some beaches have huge hotels directly above them while others have rickety tracks down from the Queen K highway.  Some are free access some cost to park.  The Hawaiians seem to be beach people - taking their kids and their barbecues and going for the day.


Sandy Beaches warm water, small surf.

We also came across a bit of history.  In the protected corner of the Kohala coast there is a castle built a couple of hundred years ago by the guy who eventually became the tribal chief of all the islands in the early 1800s.  It has been repaired a little but were surprised to see his superiority over the chiefs of the neighbouring islands was gained with the help of visiting Europeans.
Part of the Castle of King Kamehameha

 Today we had an easy start to the day with a swim in the morning.  It was blowing a gale so we were glad not to be out on our bikes.  We headed up the hill a "game management" area where we thought we would be able to hike to the top of a vent about 5000' up Mauna Kea, the highest point of the island three main lumps.


We didn't get far. The track was only open to 4wd so we thought we would walk.  Then the sign advised wearing bright colours (we assume to make us more visible to hunters).  So we just enjoyed the cool air and the view.
From the saddle road about 5000' up
Long ride day tomorrow.  Hope the wind is kinder than it was today.


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