Waipi’o Valley Information
Located along the Hamakua Coast on the northeast shore of the Big Island of Hawaii, the Waipi’o Valley is the largest and most southern of the seven valleys on the windward side of the Kohala Mountains. The sacred Waipio Valley was the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I and an important center for political and religious life in Hawaii. Not only is "The Valley of the Kings" an important site for Hawaiian history and culture, it's also a place of dramatic tropical beauty.
Waipi’o means "curved water" in the Hawaiian language. The lovely Waipi’o River flows through the valley until it enters the ocean at the beach. This fertile valley is about one mile across and over five-miles deep. On both sides of the valley there are cliffs reaching almost 2000 feet with hundreds of cascading waterfalls. Along the coast is a beautiful black sand beach often used by motion picture production companies.
Waipio Valley was once the home for thousands of native Hawaiians. Today, there are less than 100 residents living amongst the waterfalls, taro fields, and rivers permeating the valley. The Big Island's tallest waterfall, Hiilawe Falls cascades down 1,300 feet in the back of Waipio.
You can view the valley from the coastal Waipio Valley Overlook. The road into the valley is very steep (a 25% grade). In order to travel into the valley, you must either ride down in a four wheel drive vehicle or take a guided van tour. Tour guides will happily share the stories and legends of this special place. You can also hike or horseback ride to explore the hidden wonders within.