Hamakua

What We Love: Quiet, Private, Sweeping Ocean Views, Verdant Valleys, Waterfalls, Tropical.

 

Hamakua is both a district on the northeastern coast of Hawai‘i Island and the name for the coastline that runs for about 50 miles between the Waimanu Valley and the stunningly beautiful Waipio Valley, or more broadly, from Hilo to Honokaa. Marked by farmlands and lush, verdant, tropical valleys, residents enjoy fresh, locally grown produce at local farmers' markets, sweeping ocean views, and the many joys of a rural lifestyle.

 

Hamakua is cherished for its natural beauty and its country lifestyle. Plenty of agricultural lands can be found along the coast, with farmsteads, hobbies, and commercial farms growing everything from mac nuts to tropical flowers and taro. The cooler climate, due to the area’s elevation and abundant rainfall, contributes to the Hamakua’s many waterfalls and cool, green valleys.

 

State Parks, waterfalls, scenic drives, farm stands bursting with local bananas, papayas, and mangoes are the order of the day. Quiet and peaceful, the Hamakua Coast is a popular locale for those looking for privacy, away from the bustling activity of cities and resorts. Hamakua residents enjoy access to all the necessary amenities in the many small towns along the coast or in nearby Hilo or Waimea.

 

To the north, Hamakua serves as the gateway to the Waipi‘o Valley and is dotted with charming small, sugar plantation-era towns like Honoka’a, Āhualoa, and Pa’auilo. Here you’ll find mostly single-family homes, some overlooking the Pacific atop the many cliffs closer to Waimea and Waipi‘o. Further south and closer to Hilo, most real estate is at lower elevations, and also closer to the shoreline in towns like Papa’aloa, Hakalau, Honomu, and Laupāhoehoe.