Big Island Hawaii. Part 19. Waimanu Valley Morning.
December 2009. Music by: Jan A P Kaczmarek.
Waimanu Valley is famed for much of the same kind of beauty as is Waipio Valley. Smaller Waimanu Valley was once well-populated and fertile, too. But Waimanu is now utterly uninhabited and wild. Its preserved as the Waimanu National Estuarine Research Reserve. Take this trip only during the dry season (roughly May through October) because of the large number of potentially dangerous stream crossings involved. Trail closures are frequent; check first. Even in the dry season, you must ford at least two good-sized streams on this trip: Wailoa Stream in Waipio Valley (nearly armpit-deep on me) and Waimanu Stream in Waimanu Valley (waist-deep on me). Be sure you and your backpack are prepared to get wet. Also be sure you have a rainproof tent: it will almost certainly rain at night in Waimanu. Caution: This trip is not for beginning backpackers. (trails.com)
Hwy 250 & Waipio Valley Lookout, Big Island, Hawaii
Video 2073 (7th journey) of the David Rush Travel Show. Go to