The Hamakua Coast (Hawaiian spelling: Hāmākua) is the North-Eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. It comprises the coastal parts of the districts of North Hilo and Hamakua, and parts of the district of South Hilo.
Geography
The Hāmākua coast is the windward coast of Northern Hawai'i and hence dominated by erosional cliffs that drop from a height to the ocean. This section of the coast is formed by the flanks of two dormant volcanoes: Mauna Kea and Kohala.
The smooth forms of the shield volcanoes that comprise its mass are interrupted by erosional valleys formed by streams coming from high up the mountain. Streams and cliffs dominate the landscape, which therefore has few and small beaches, but lush and verdant stream valleys.
Rainfall is extremely frequent due to the windward location, giving the entire coast the appearance of the land of green and waterfalls.
Economy
Until the end of last century, the Hamakua coast was dominated by a monoculture of sugar cane. After the last commercial operation was closed in 1994,[cite web |url= http://www.hanahou.com/pages/magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=546&MagazineID=34 |title= Grow With the Flow |author= Rose Kahele |work= Hana Hou! Vol. 10, No. 1, February/March 2007 |publisher= Photographs by Peter French |quote= ] the Hamakua coast economy has been reeling. The entire Eastern side of the island was hit by a long recession after the breakdown of the whaling and the sugar cane industries. Recovery from this recession has been slow. ]Strong signs of an increase in the tourism and construction sector have been encouraging lately.
Hawaiiana
* Poliahu legends
Transportation
Hawaii Belt Road (HI 19) runs from one end of the Hamakua coast (Hilo) to the other (Honoka'a). For a considerable portion of the way, an older highway (Old Mamalahoa Highway) follows a more scenic, but twisted route that resembles the more famous Road to Hana in Maui.
Tourist Attractions
* Akaka Falls. Up-mountain ("mauka") from highway 19, on highway 220, is a beautiful waterfall in an even more beautiful state park.
* Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. Located just a few miles North of Hilo, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a gem nestled in the tropical rainforest that is part of Onomea Bay. The aforementioned section of Old Mamalahoa Highway leads to it.
* World Botanical Gardens / Umauma Falls. One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Hawai'i is best viewed from the newly formed World Botanical Gardens. The bridge on highway 19 allows for a beautiful shot of the Falls with Mauna Kea in the distance.
* Kolekole Beach Park. A park located at the bottom of an erosional ravine on the edges of route 19. The park is downstream from Akaka Falls, and boast an additional waterfall that drops directly from a small cliff into the main stream, leading to Kolekole Stream. The setting underneath the highway viaduct is magnificent.
References
