The best cycling routes in Hāmākua Forest Reserve

The steep, short road down to Waipio valley itself is (February 2024) only open to Hawaiʻi residents with ID and driving 4WD. No hikers or cyclists permitted.

Laupāhoehoe Beach Park is on the Hamakua coastline, with Laupahoehoe Point as the main attraction. The name translates to “leaf of lava" and was formed by ancient pāhoehoe, or smooth lava, where the small town of Laupahoehoe was built. This park has ocean views, breaking surf, lava rocks, and lush plant life. On April 1st, 1946, there was an earthquake in Alaska that caused a tsunami with three tidal waves that hut here, wrecked a lot of Hilo, and killed 159 people, including 21 schoolchildren and three teachers in Laupahoehoe. Here it is. a memory for them.

Laupāhoehoe Beach Park was destroyed by a tsunami in 1946, so there are a few memorials here. 20 students and 4 teachers were lost during the natural disaster. This Beach Park has amazing ocean panoramas, rocky surf, and lava rocks surrounded by lush vegetation.

Hāmākua Forest Reserve Jeep road navigates its way through very dense forest. The trail itself is pretty bumpy with a leaf floor, similar to a Pacific Northwest trail in the fall. A mountain bike or something with some 26x2.2+ tires would be ideal. This trail is best left to dry conditions due to the mud that can form.

There is a large farmers market here open sundays 9am to 2pm. There is a nice mix of local foods, produce, and hard goods! For those ballin' on a budget, this market accepts SNAP and EBT.

There is a spot on the main road where you can star down the valley and see the Nanue Falls. The top of the cliff is about 1600 feet above sea level, 1,200-feet tall, and is ranked number 282 out of 1,000 for the worlds tallest waterfall.

Only open on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Hamakua Harvest Farmers Market is at the junction of Mamalahoa Highway 19 and Mamane St Highway 240 on a short side detour on Paau Hua Camp Road. This farmers market is a great way to support local businesses. The mission of this farmers market, as quoted from hamakuaharvest.org, is "to promote and advance Hāmākua agriculture by supporting local farmers, enriching the region’s social fabric, and promoting healthy rural lifestyles for the benefit of Hāmākua’s communities, economy, and environment." So come by and grab a bite after a long ride!

The Waipio Valley Lookout is a 300-foot walk from the parking area here and a fantastic view point at the end of the Hāmākua Heritage Corridor drive. The Hāmākua coasline is not only beautiful but sacred. The Waipiʻo Valley was the home of King Kamehameha I, when he was young.  Kamehameha I was the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and this area is marked as an important center for political, cultural, and religious life on the Big Island.