The spectacular 400 metre wide and over 600 metre high valley can be found off the north coast of the island, the nearest major town being Waimea.

The steepest road in the USA, accessible only to 4x4 vehicles, leads down from the viewpoint on the south face.

The best hotels with a view

Views of the Waipio Valley

The breathtaking views that open up the valley like the palm of your hand can be found at shoreline level, so in addition to the valley itself, you'll see the wide ocean in the distance with the silhouette of Maui in the distance.

The overlook with parking is located at the end of Route 240 in the village of Kukuihaele.

The steepest road in the U.S.

If you continue on past the overlook, the asphalt road begins a steep descent to the valley floor in a few dozen yards.

At just 1km long, the road will cover an elevation gain of 800 metres with an average gradient/climb of around 25%, with the steepest sections being even steeper. This makes it the steepest paved road in the entire USA.

Although it is all asphalt, it is off limits to all cars that are not 4x4.

Book a 4x4 car

There are no entrance fees.

Beaches and surfing

The coastline of the Waipio valley is lined with over 500 metres of black volcanic sand beach, ideal for swimming in the beautiful natural scenery and great conditions for surfers.

The local beach is usually more relaxed with plenty of space and privacy due to poor accessibility. Don't look for any facilities here, but the experience at Waipio Beach will be all the stronger for it.

Hiking

If you don't have a rental 4x4 or simply want to get some exercise, head to Waipio Valley on foot.

From the viewpoint, the Waipio Valley Trail leads to the "bottom" of the valley for just under 3 km (one way). The trail is not dangerous, but very challenging due to the extreme elevation gain.

If you are a trained traveler with a good physical condition, take the Muliwai Trail and Waiilikahi Falls Trail from the valley floor to the other side along the coast, which will take you to the most beautiful and no less civilization-infested areas of Hawai'i.

From many points in the valley, you'll get spectacular views of Hi'ilawe Falls, but they're not easy to get to directly.

Accommodation in the area

Waipio Valley accommodates those who prefer home-stay private apartments in beautiful countryside and in a very quiet area away from civilisation. The nearest town with shops and restaurants is Waimea, a 35-minute drive away.

In the village of Kukuihaele we would recommend a private apartment Waipi'o Lodge priced around 92 eur per night for 2, which is an extremely good deal by Hawaiian standards.

How to get there

Waipio Valley can only be reached by car, there is no bus to Kukuihaele village. Waipio is about 95 km from Kona Airport and about 88 km from Hilo Airport.

If you don't want to take the steep road on your own, use the services of Waipio Valley Shuttle, a small tour operator based in the adjacent village. An all-terrain van will take you through the valley in an hour and a half at prices around 70 usd.

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