The first stop on our falls tour. It’s a park of big, beautiful waterfall, in case you hadn’t sorted that out.

Take the right fork after Mile Marker 1 on Waianuenue Avenue in downtown Hilo and follow the signs to Rainbow Falls. Continue past Rainbow Falls for approximately one mile to Peepee Falls.

• Be prepared for some easy hiking. Walking, really, but there are some stairs and inclines.
  
• Alright first things first, do not go around asking everyone where PeePee falls is. That’s not how you say it. It’s pronounced Pay-a Pay-a Falls =).

This is a tidy little inlet where you can sit with a group and eat lunch (which is precisely what we did).

Follow Highway 19 northward, along the coast, approximately 12 miles to the beach park. At the site of a tall, 100-foot bridge, look for a small sign pointing down a side road. The road leads down into the valley to the beach park.

For the more adventurous, there is a rope swing above the inlet. There’s also some surfing farther out toward the shore, but I have no idea how to rate the quality of surfing venues.

‘Akaka Falls, is a 442 ft. tall waterfall. ‘Akaka is the Hawaiian name for this feature. “‘Akaka” means “A rent, split, chink, separation; to crack, split, scale”. The accessible portion of the park lies high on the right shoulder of the deep gorge into which the waterfall plunges, and the falls can be viewed from several points along a loop trail through the park. Also visible from this trail is Kahūnā Falls.

• The sign says “no swimming,” but you can hike down the gorge and traipse around the rocks and things. The water isn’t swift at all down there, so if you take a plunge, perhaps nobody will mind.
  
• Oh, and please refrain from the “caca” jokes. Especially in the same day as seeing Pe’e Pe’e Falls.

This was on the south side of the big island, and made a nice, relaxing last stop to our vacation.

Punalu’u Beach Park is located off Hwy 11 on south shore, south of Hilo.

• Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles frequent this beach, sunbathing on the warm sand. Come and view these wonderful turtles, but please don’t touch them or scare them. They are endangered species and the bacteria transferred to them via our human skin can kill them as they have no immune system for it.

Thurston Lava tube is a a 350-500 year-old lava tube at the summit of Kilauea Caldera in Hawaii Volcano National Park. Lava flowing from Kilauea are responsible for the formation of this lava tube. Lava tubes are formed by underground lava hardening on the outside of the flow while lava continued to flow within. This is a very efficient way for lava to flow without cooling very fast. The result is a hollow tube. Lava tubes can extend over many miles, though this one extends only 150 meters. This lava tube tends to be cool and damp inside, with lava stalagmites and stalactites. The area surrounding the Thurston Lava Tube is considered a rain forest.

To find Thurston Lava Tube take Highway 11 to Volcano and enter the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Once you pass the park gatehouse make the first left onto Crater Rim Drive. Continue on Crater Rim Drive 1.6 miles until you come to the Thurston Lava Tube and Kilauea Iki parking lot: park in the spaces to your right. The lava tube is across the road from you. Just cross the road and follow the paved walkway.

• Bring a flashlight. Not for the claustrophobic.
  
• The entrance to the Thurston lava tubes are just a few steps away from where you park your car. Very convenient, thus this place can be crowded during peek tourist seasons.