Aug 10, 2025: Drive to Hilo, Waimea, Akaka Falls State Park

August 10 (Day 2 - Drive to Hilo, Waimea, Akaka Falls State Park): Drive to Hilo. We did not rush out this morning. Had breakfast & packed our lunch & headed out ~8:45. The drive across the island was very interesting! We headed north & took 190 across the island. I believe we were over 3,000 ft up in the pass. The climate changed a lot along the way. Maui tropical, dry lava looked like Northern California. Drove thru Waimea, a nice town. Eventually we got to the coast & continued on 19 to Akaka Falls State Park. We took a nice walk, saw 2 waterfalls. It was only ~.4 mile, all paved, but we saw lots of pretty plants. Rod got some nice pics. There were lots of people there. Back in the car we drove thru Hilo. We were going to look at some snorkeling places, but all the parks were crowded. It is Sunday! We decided to turn around & have our lunch in a park near Hilo. We found a place to park at Kea’au Beach Park & found some shade & ate there. Very pretty place for our picnic. On the way back we took Saddle Road (200) & Daniel K. Inouye Hwy. It started to rain as we left Hilo. Got gas there. Up & over Mauna Kea. Lots of goats along the road … Took a rest when we got back! Lots of driving for Rod. Then we walked around the resort just to see it.

Chicken Yaka tori for dinner & salad. My throat is sore… might have Izzy’s virus. ☹