Hilo

The 422 ft tall ‘Akaka falls are part of the ‘Akaka falls state park. A pleasant and short 0.4-mile hike through the lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves and draping ferns. 'Akaka means "split, separation, or crack" in the Hawaiian language.

Known as the “Boiling Pots,” Pe‘epe‘e Falls is a section of the 18-mile-long Wailuku River, of which Rainbow Falls is also a part. The second longest river in Hawaiʻi, Wailuku River flows along the line where lava from both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea meet. The river eroded a gorge in the two lava flows, which were also filled twice by younger lava flows from Mauna Loa.

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a museum of living plants that attracts photographers, gardeners, botanists, scientists, and nature lovers from around the world. The botanical gardens are located on the  Pepe’ekeo scenic drive at Onomea Bay. The garden’s rainforest trails cross many streams and waterfalls, and harbors more than 2,000 species of rare and exotic plants!

This park offers a quick diversion into a lava tube. Descend down a metal ladder into a skylight in a lava tube that was created by an 1881 flow from Mauna Loa. Unfortunately, you cannot explore this long tube because it immediately travels underneath private property.

The Rainbow Falls cascades 80 feet over a lava cave that, according to legends, is home to the ancient Hawaiian goddess Hina, the goddess of the moon. Compared to its significantly higher (422 feet) neighbor ʻAkaka falls, Rainbow Falls win out for accessibility and how close you get to see the waterfall.