What makes Hakalau special
Welcome to Hakalau
Our home is located in Hakalau, a small town just outside of Hilo on the North East side of the Big Island. Hilo is known for its warm aloha spirit, relaxed lifestyle, unique shops, art galleries and restaurants with local regional cuisine. Local attractions include Lyman Museum, East Hawaii Cultural Center, historic Palace Theatre, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Imiloa Astronomy Center, UH Hilo Performing Arts Center and Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens. Hilo Farmers Market is a favorite for fresh, local produce. Merrie Monarch Festival, Hilo’s premier hula competition and cultural event, is held annually. Hilo’s black sand beaches are some of the best for snorkeling, diving, surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming with turtles and tropical fish, or watching the whales off shore. Take a helicopter volcano tour or scenic drive to Kilauea Volcano (when flows are active) to view a lava caldera, or tour the summit and view the night skies of Mauna Kea.
We are near Highway 19, only 15 minutes to the town of Hilo, 20 minutes to the Hilo Airport and an approximate 2 hour drive to Kona. This is a great central location to tour and see the inspiring vistas the Island of Hawaii has to offer.
20 MIN DRIVE TO HILO AIRPORT
15 MIN STROLL TO HAKALAU BAY
25 MIN TO NEAREST BEACH
Directions from Hilo Airport
Directions from Hilo Airport
Distance: 17.5 miles
Duration: 28 minutes
Directions From Hilo Airport to The Cliffs at Hakalau
1.Exit the airport by driving southeast on Airport Rd./Kekuanaoa St.
2. Turn right onto Hawaiʻi Belt Rd./Kanoelehua Ave.
3. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto Hawaiʻi Belt Rd./Kamehameha Ave.
4. As you come into the area of Hilo Old Town, Turn right onto HI-19/Hawaiʻi Belt Rd./Pauahi St. This traffic light is across from the Texaco gas station.
5. Continue to follow Hawaii Highway 19 / Hawaii Belt Road north for approximately 15 miles towards the Hamakua Coast.
6. Just past mile marker 15 turn right into the village of Hakalau. Look for the pedestrian bridge over the highway just before the turnoff.
7. Continue over the small creek bridge and proceed past the old post office. About 100 yards past the post office, turn right onto Opihi Point Place. Please drive slowly through the community.
8. Continue on Opihi Point Place. The Road ends at the front gate of the property
Directions from Kona Airport - via Waimea, scenic
Directions from Kona Airport - via Waimea, scenic
Distance: 78 miles
Duration: 1 hour 37 min
Exit Kona Airport via Keahole Airport Road.
2. At the traffic light, turn left onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway (HI-19).
3. Continue north on Queen K Highway for approximately 26 miles.
4. At the “T” in the road, turn right onto Kawaihae Road, which is the continuation of HI-19.
5. Continue for approximately 2 miles, then turn left at the light to continue on HI-19. Traffic signs mark this turn.
6. Continue on HI-19 for approximately 42 miles. As you continue through the town of Waimea and near the town of Honokaa, the road will turn south and parallel the east coast of the island. Continue on HI-19 through Honokaa and Laupahoehoe, and after mile marker 16 you will see a pedestrian footbridge that crosses the highway.
7. Just before mile marker 15 turn left into the village of Hakalau. Look for the pedestrian bridge over the highway just after the turnoff.
8. Continue over the small creek bridge and proceed past the old post office. About 100 yards past the post office, turn right onto Opihi Point Place. Please drive slowly through the community.
9. Continue on Opihi Point Place. The Road ends at the front gate of the property.
Directions from Kona Airport - via Saddle Road
Directions from Kona Airport - via Saddle Road
Distance: 90 miles
Duration: 1 hour 49 min
Exit Kona Airport via Keahole Airport Road.
2. At the traffic light, turn right onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway (HI-19). 
3. Continue south on Queen K Highway for approximately ½ mile, and turn left at the first light, onto Kaiminani Dr.
4. Continue on Kaiminani Dr. for approximately 3.5 miles and at the “T”, turn left onto HI-190 / Hawaii Belt Road.
10.Continue on HI-190 for approximately 19 miles and turn right onto Daniel K. Inouye Hwy. (Saddle Road).
11.Continue on Saddle Road for approximately 45 miles. The road will continue and as you come into Hilo the road name will change to Puainako St.
12. At the “T” in the road, turn left onto Komohana Street.
13. Continue on Komohana St. to the “T”, and turn right onto Waianuenue St (HI-200)
14. Continue on Waianuenue St. towards Hilo Bay, and at the “T” turn left onto Hawaii Belt Road (HI-19), towards the Hamakua Coast.
15. Continue to follow Hawaii Highway 19 / Hawaii Belt Road north for approximately 15 miles.
16. Just past mile marker 15 turn right into the village of Hakalau. Look for the pedestrian bridge over the highway just before the turnoff.
17. Continue over the small creek bridge and proceed past the old post office. About 100 yards past the post office, turn right onto Opihi Point Place. Please drive slowly through the community.
18. Continue on Opihi Point Place. The Road ends at the front gate of the property.
Local Activities
A few special activities & community experiences we want to highlight!
Akaka Falls State Park is a must see if you are visiting the Big Island.
Big Island Candies was established in 1977 to make and market gourmet macadamia nut cookies and candies
The boiling pots are just as dangerous as they are beautiful
Carlsmith beach is not a typical beach
Visit Coconut Island (Moku ola), a small island in Hilo Bay.
The valley and Hakalau Beach is a beautiful spot for enjoying gorgeous ocean views and taking in the natural beauty of the area.
A memorable drive to see 40 miles of the most beautiful scenery on the island
You will take a self guided tour of waterfalls and streams and see more than 2,000 species of beautiful trees and plants.
Experience 7 amazing ziplines with awe-inspiring landscape and ocean views!
The famous Hilo Farmers Market is known as one of the best Farmer's market for cooks in the U.S
Visit this family owned dive shop.
History of Hakalau
Hakalau and the Hamakua Coast played a major role in Hawaiian History. In the 1700s and 1800s, the area supported heavy agricultural activity for native Hawaiians. The area was commercialized into sugar plantations and processing facilities in the late 1800s.
The Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 gave free access to the United States market for sugar and other products grown in the Kingdom of Hawaii. The treaty led to large investment by American companies in Hawaiian sugarcane plantations. In 1878, Claus Spreckles established Hakalau Sugar Plantation. Shipping from Hakalau Landing began, including both transport of people and sugar. In 1881, the first mill at the Hakalau Sugar Plantation was completed.
Sugar growing, processing and shipping activities dominated the Hakalau area between the late 1800s through the 1990s. The sugar industry shut down in the 1990s, and the sale of acreage in the area for “Gentleman’s Farms” heralded the beginning of gentrification in the area. In the 2000s, Hakalau residents have experienced the sale of land formerly used in the sugar industry and active community engagement. Throughout the last two decades, community activities have developed, geared towards honoring the ancestors and the area’s history. Art, entertainment and entrepreneurship have enhanced these activities, creating events enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Community members have addressed infrastructure needs, and community involvement remains strong today, as evidenced by continuing improvements in the area.
Hakalau remains a very special village, a slower-paced slice of “Old Hawaii” in the midst of the heavy commercialization and development occurring in other parts of the island. Breathe in the serenity and Mana of this special place and allow it to heal and grow you.
*Sections of this summary were extracted from information contained in the HakalauHome.com website. Thank you to the editors of this site for their time and dedication to preserving the heritage of the Hakalau community.
