マウナケアのおすすめライド

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.

Lower Cane Haul Road parallels Mamalahoa Highway, also known as the 19 Highway. This area is dryer than the Hilo area, and sometimes the road can get a bit overgrown, but it is paved, so proceed to the route with caution.

Riding north, this pull out offers the first view of the Laupāhoehoe area. Laupāhoehoe Harbor is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District and by the County of Hawaii Department of Parks & Recreation. It is open to the public and can be reached just off the main road.

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.

Kolekole Beach Park is a nice area where the Kolekole Stream meets the ocean. There is a small waterfall, a nice beach, and a large grassy area, which makes it easy for families to gather, which makes it very popular during the weekdays and holidays. The park is currently temporarily closed due to some soil contaminants. Because of the closure, the park is not currently well maintained and has become overgrown. The ocean conditions here are a little too dangerous for swimming, but visitors can swim in the Kolekole Stream. There is no lifeguard here, so visitors should always visit and swim with caution.

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.

Humuʻula Sheep Station is a sheep-raising area that was economically important from 1850–1900. The Waimea Grazing and Agricultural Company had this station for sheep at Humuʻula in the 1860s, and a few years later, in 1873, a house and wool barn had been built. This area was later bought by Parker Ranch. This area is now marked with an information sign and a few unused buildings.

Here in this area is the end of the pavement on Mauna Kea Access Rd. In this area, cyclists can find the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy's Mid-Level Facility, Maunakea Visitor Information Station, Mauna Kea Humu'ula Trailhead, and Halepohaku. Visitors should be careful while visiting due to the chances of getting altitude sickness due to this point being at 9,200 feet above sea level, and often visitors are coming from sea level. From here the road continues on but it is unpaved. The road is dirt and 4x4 cars are recommended. If cyclists are choosing to ride to the Mauna Kea summit, they should have a bike with the proper tires. Otherwise this is a great turn around spot, with great views!