The best road cycling routes around Kukuihaele

The steep, short road down to Waipio valley itself is (February 2024) only open to Hawaiʻi residents with ID and driving 4WD. No hikers or cyclists permitted.

Old Mamalahoa Hwy is a paved scenic road that navigates through Hawaiian jungle and open fields. Throughout the ride you can catch glimpses of the pacific through the trees. If you continue along Old Mamalahoa Hwy, you'll eventually find yourself passing a cafe where they sell smoothies, bagels, and other snacks.

There is a large farmers market here open sundays 9am to 2pm. There is a nice mix of local foods, produce, and hard goods! For those ballin' on a budget, this market accepts SNAP and EBT.

The Jodo Shu Mission is a temple, cemetery, and the first sanctioned Buddhist temple in Hawai’i. It was built in 1896 and originally named the “Hāmākua Bukkyo Kaido”, later renamed Hāmākua Jodo Mission. The total cost to build the temple was $3,000, and it was built in between five former sugar plantations. Visitors often come to visit the grave of Katsu Goto, a leader of the Japanese community who died fighting for the rights of immigrant laborers, as this is an important part of Hawai‘ian history.

Only open on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Hamakua Harvest Farmers Market is at the junction of Mamalahoa Highway 19 and Mamane St Highway 240 on a short side detour on Paau Hua Camp Road. This farmers market is a great way to support local businesses. The mission of this farmers market, as quoted from hamakuaharvest.org, is "to promote and advance Hāmākua agriculture by supporting local farmers, enriching the region’s social fabric, and promoting healthy rural lifestyles for the benefit of Hāmākua’s communities, economy, and environment." So come by and grab a bite after a long ride!

The Old Mamalahow Highway is a four-mile section of roadway sometimes just referred to as the “Scenic Route.” The road connects the towns of Waimea and Honokaa and was once the main connector before Highway 19 was built. Visitors travel the more windy road through rainforests and open green land. Bikers can get views of Onomea Bay and cross several century-old bridges. Keep an eye out for remnants of old sugar mills and enjoy the crossings of the Hakalau Stream system.

The Waipio Valley Lookout is a 300-foot walk from the parking area here and a fantastic view point at the end of the Hāmākua Heritage Corridor drive. The Hāmākua coasline is not only beautiful but sacred. The Waipiʻo Valley was the home of King Kamehameha I, when he was young.  Kamehameha I was the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and this area is marked as an important center for political, cultural, and religious life on the Big Island.

The Waipi‘o Valley Lookout offers stunning vistas of the ocean and the beautiful valley below. Take in the views from the observation deck and use the conveniently located restrooms, if needed, at this must-see stop. On clear days, you can spot the waterfall cascading directly off the cliff into the ocean.