Close your eyes and imagine an area of dramatic sea cliffs, cascading waterfalls and deeply carved gorges, blanketed in lush tropical foliage. Now open your eyes, welcome to the Hamakua Coast. This 50 mile strip of coastline stretches across the eastern side of the Big Island. It is sure to enchant anyone looking for timeless tropical beauty.

The beautiful "Hamakua Heritge Coast" starts just north of Hilo in a tiny town called Onomea. Take highway 19 north of Hilo and a short detour will take you down into a 25 acre valley transformed into an exotic tropical valley preserve.

Back on the highway, a few miles up, you come to the town of Honomu, famous for its thunderous waterfalls known as Kahuna and Akaka Falls that plunge 400 and 442 feet respectively into pools of fresh mountain water.

Traveling still further north, you come to the town of Laupahoehoe. Down the peninsula, at the very bottom of the cliff is a large grassy park and a memorial marking a tragic 1941 tsunami. While in Laupahoehoe visit the "Laupahoehoe Train Museum", a small community run museum that honors the colorful history of the Hilo Railroad, which began in 1899 and lasted to 1946, when railroad tracks and facilities were irreparably damaged by the devastating tidal wave. The museum is located in an old railway company home, which is furnished as it would have been in the 1930's.

The next plantation town on the coast is Honoka'a. Take a "step back in time" when you visit this town that just recently ceased operating as the last sugar plantation on the island. As you stroll through Honoka'a, you can still feel that bygone era. At the end town is the famous Waipio Valley, also known as the "Valley of Kings". Dramatic cliff backdrops and a 1200 feet waterfall create an awesome and unforgettable view of Hawaii.

The Hamakua Coast real estate values are growing exponentially and should be considered by those looking for magnificent coastline views, expansive privacy and affordable tropical value.