January is our favorite month to travel to warm destinations and 2019 was the second year in a row that we flew out to the tropical islands of Hawaii. The weather was perfect (around 80 degrees Fahrenheit) for exploring and hiking the trails of the Big Island of Hawaii. There were many trails to choose from, but we ended up selecting trails that would be appropriate for family hiking and were classified as “easy” trails. Due to the government shutdown, we were unable to do the hike I was most anticipating which is the Kilauea’iki Trail at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We hope to tackle that one when we eventually return to this beautiful island.
FIRST HIKE: Anaeho’omalu Beach Trail
The Anaeho’omalu Beach Trail is a part of a longer trail called the Ala Kahakai Trail. The Ala Kahakai Trail extends through the scenic coastline on the west side of the island for about 175 miles. The hike we completed was significantly shorter and started at the southwest corner of the Hilton Waikoloa Village. We climbed down the stairs that go down to the beach near the Hilton resort restaurant Kamuela Provision Company. Our final destination was the Anaeho’omalu Bay (aka A-Bay). Total walking time was approximately 30 minutes and the distance was close to 1 mile each way. There is free public parking (open 7am to 8pm) available at the Anaeho’omalu Bay near the Lava Lava Beach Club if you decide to visit this beach or start the trail from the bay.
We had planned to snorkel at the Anaeho’omalu Bay so we wore our swimsuits, carried our snorkeling gear and UNFORTUNATELY, wore flip flops. For some unknown reason, I had thought that this would be a short trail and realized too late that this trail was unpaved and covered with sharp lava rocks and dead coral. I immediately regretted not making the kids wear hiking shoes. My daughter did sustain a mild cut on her foot by the end of the hike.
However, the hike itself was incredibly beautiful with views of the rich blue ocean juxtaposed against the black lava rocks and white dead coral. There were times the ocean breezes kept us cool but for most of the time, the warm sun was pounding on us since there was very little tree coverage on this trail. There were also some historic ancient fishponds on the route.
I would recommend this hike for families of all ages as long as everyone is wearing closed-toed shoes, preferably hiking shoes. You will have to hold the hands of children ages 6 and younger due to the risks of falling on some of the sharp rocks and dead coral. Make sure to pack water and wear sunblock.
Our ending destination was the famous Anaeho’omalu Bay. The water was peaceful and calm which rendered it perfect for swimming. Keep in mind that there are no lifeguards on duty at this beach. There are public restrooms and showers. As for snorkeling, we were out of luck and were unable to see any fish in the bay the morning we were there. However, on a separate instance, we saw several sea turtles basking on the sand.
SECOND HIKE: ‘Akaka Falls Hike
Akaka Falls State Park is located on the east side of the Big Island, near the city of Hilo. It is a popular tourist destination which ends with a lookout view of the famous 442 feet waterfall. I would consider this trail as being more a walking path rather than a true hiking trail. It is paved throughout which makes it relatively easy to walk for people of all ages and physical levels. Total distance is 0.5 mile and it is a loop trail that can become congested with tourists at peak times. It would be difficult to use a stroller here since there are some areas that have stairs.
There is a $5 parking fee if you park in the lot. The people who parked along the street still have to pay the $1 per person entrance fee. We parked along the street and the attendant there said that we saved only $1 that day for our party of four, not $5 since they charge either entrance fee or parking fee, not both. There was also an electronic kiosk there that could accept payment, including credit cards, if the attendant is not present.
The walk itself was scenic, surrounded by lush green plants and trees, and took us about an hour to leisurely stroll around the loop and take pictures. There were guardrails along the trail you could grab onto if you start to lose your balance. There is a recommended direction that takes you first to an outlook to view Kapuna Falls from afar and concludes the hike near the Akaka Falls. Definitely, do not forget to apply sunscreen and mosquito repellant at this location. Also, this part of the island gets a lot of rain so I would recommend that you have a rainjacket or umbrella handy just in case.
THIRD HIKE: Green Sands Beach Hike (aka Papakolea Beach Hike)
This was the most difficult and longest hike our family completed on our trip. It is located the most southern part of the island. We hiked the 2.5-3 mile trail from the parking lot to the shores of the Green Sands Beach. There were some local guides at the parking lot who offered rides to the beach and back on their 4 wheel drive trucks for $20 per person round-trip. Our family opted to walk to the Green Sands Beach and catch a ride back for $10 per person. There were some portable toilets at the parking lot but there were no toilets, trash cans or lifeguard at the beach.
When we started on foot, we were slightly confused on where the trail actually was. There were only a few people walking and they seemed to be taking different paths. There are actually many different routes from which you can select. We decided to follow the trails closest to the coast which was more rocky but definitely more scenic and a slightly cooler since we caught the ocean breezes. I had read prior about some people getting sandblasted by the passing trucks but we were able to avoid that from happening by taking the more coastal route.
The entire hike to the beach took us about 45-55 minutes. We had made numerous stops to take pictures and to admire the scenery. When we approached the beach from the top, we gasped in awe when we saw the beautiful green sand beach with the turquoise ocean waves below.
The green color of the sand comes from the mineral olivite which is a common component of lava. However, it is usually enclosed in lava rock on the rest of the island instead of accumulating as volcanic ash. It is only one of four green beaches in the world.
This hike was not too difficult because it is relatively flat, but it did feel a little long. We went mid-day so the sun was at its strongest. I could understand why people recommend to go here as early in the day as possible. However, this beach took us almost 3 hours to get here from our hotel in the Waikoloa Village. This hike can be a little long with families with young children. It is nice to have the option to ride the trucks to and from there. Our driver mentioned that they provide rides 365 days a year and operate from about 9-10am to 5:30-6pm (sunset).
FOURTH HIKE: Polulu Valley Hike
This beautiful hike was my husband’s favorite hike of the four we completed. It is a relatively short hike (about 0.5 mile each way) that descends to a black sand beach at the base of the Pololu Valley. It is on the northwestern part of the island. It took us about 20 to 25 minutes each way.
The trail descends rather sharply with an elevation gain of 300 ft. There are many large rocks on this trail which can be very slippery when wet. I have read that this path can get muddy as well so hopefully you will be able to visit here on a day not followed by rain. There were also some hikers who had their dogs with them since it is a dog-friendly trail. Overall, the trail had some shade coverage and felt like you were going through a jungle.
When you arrive at the base of the trail, you will see the beach on your left and the valley on your right. Both views are spectacular.
LESSONS LEARNED:
My biggest lesson learned was how important it is to be prepared. We should have worn hiking shoes for all the forementioned hikes. Also, we should have applied sunscreen and mosquito repellent liberally before each of these hikes. For the Green Sands Beach hike, we applied some sunscreen before we embarked but should have reapplied when we got to the shore since we had perspired so much during our walk there. Poor daughter and I had some mild sunburn from that hike.
Another hike I had hoped to do while on the Big Island was the Lake W Trail on the summit of Mauna Kea. I realized that we would not be able to do this hike because of these two reasons given to us at the visitor’s center by the park ranger. The first reason is that we need all 4 wheel drive to drive up to the summit. Our rental car was all wheel drive which is different from 4 X 4. The other reason is that they do not recommend children under 14 to go up to the higher elevations due to health reasons. Needless to say, I was very disappointed because I really wanted to see the permafrost lake at the top of the mountain and ironically had packed winter snow gear since I had read that it gets very chilly at the top of the summit. We will have to return here after at least two years when my kids are older and rent a 4 x 4.
EXPERIENCES GAINED:
I will be the first to admit that I do not enjoy physical exertion and sweating profusely. However, hiking is one of the few activities that my family enjoys as a group. My two kids (pre-teen and teenager) do not seem to mind when we tell them to put away their phones and computer so we can go hiking. Also, there is usually a “reward” at the end of a long, tiring hike. This is usually a magnificent view, waterfall, or better yet, a pristine, beautiful beach. Not only will I get my workout in the day, we, as a family, can say that we accomplished the hike together and experienced this adventure as a family. It makes it all worthwhile.