You will start your journey taking the Roller Coaster of Big Island. This short section of the Old Saddle Road has many twists, turns and hills.

The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (VIS) is located at an elevation of 9,200 feet on Mauna Kea, the highest mountain in Hawaii. It serves as a base for those visiting the Mauna Kea Observatories and the summit of Mauna Kea. The VIS offers educational programs, stargazing opportunities, and information about the cultural and natural significance of Mauna Kea. It's an essential stop for tourists and researchers alike, providing insights into the astronomical research conducted at the observatories and the unique environment of Mauna Kea. The center also plays a crucial role in promoting safe and respectful visitation practices for one of the world's premier astronomical observation sites. The Mauna Kea Observatories, located near the summit, are part of a complex of independent astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories that benefit from Mauna Kea's clear skies, low humidity, and minimal light pollution.

Rainbow Falls, known in Hawaiian as Waiānuenue Falls, is a picturesque waterfall located in Hilo, Hawaii. It stands 80 feet (24 meters) tall and spans almost 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter. The falls are a part of the Hawai'i State Parks system and can be visited without an entrance fee. The waterfall is fed by the Wailuku River, which plunges into a large, turquoise-colored pool below. The surrounding gorge is lush with dense, nonnative tropical rainforest, adding to the falls' beauty. Notably, the area around the falls is rich with nonnative wild ginger and monstera plants. Rainbow Falls gets its name from the stunning rainbows that can often be seen in the waterfall's mist on sunny mornings around 10 am. The falls flow over a natural lava cave, which is said to be the mythological home of Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess, adding a layer of cultural significance to the natural beauty of the site.

The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden, is a nonprofit botanical garden and nature preserve. Nestled in a scenic valley that opens out to Onomea Bay, the garden is a haven of tranquility featuring streams, waterfalls, and a boardwalk along the ocean. It was founded by Dan J. Lutkenhouse and donated to a nonprofit trust to ensure its preservation. The garden boasts a collection of over 2,000 plant species from more than 125 families and 750 genera. It has notable collections of palms (nearly 200 species), heliconias (more than 80 species), and bromeliads (more than 80 species). Some of the mango and coconut palm trees within the garden are over 100 years old. The garden's landscape is further enriched by the presence of a three-tiered waterfall (Onomea Falls), Boulder Creek, and lava tubes on Onomea Bay, making it a picturesque and educational destination for visitors.

Akaka Falls State Park is renowned for its breathtaking 442-foot (135 m) tall waterfall, making it one of the island's most famous attractions. The park offers a loop trail that provides visitors with various vantage points to view ʻAkaka Falls as well as Kahūnā Falls, another impressive waterfall within the park that stands 300 feet (91 m) tall. The trail meanders through a lush rainforest, filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves, and draping ferns, leading to scenic overlooks of the waterfalls. Local folklore is rich with tales of the area, including the story of a stone called Pōhaku a Pele that, when struck by a branch of lehua ʻāpane, is said to call the sky to darken and rain to fall. The park is also home to the ʻoʻopu ʻalamoʻo, an endemic Hawaiian species of goby fish known for its remarkable ability to climb the wet rocks adjacent to the waterfall using a suction disk on their bellies to reach the stream above for spawning.

Umauma Falls is a stunning series of three waterfalls located on the Umauma River on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is part of the Umauma Experience, a private garden and adventure park that offers visitors a variety of activities, including zip-lining, garden tours, and river swimming. The falls are known for their scenic beauty, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, making it a popular spot for photography and nature walks. The upper two waterfalls are easily viewed from a viewing area within the park, while the third and largest waterfall cascades into a serene pool below, creating a picturesque scene that embodies the tropical beauty of Hawaii. The Umauma Experience provides guided tours that allow visitors to explore the area around the falls, including a beautiful garden with native plants and flowers.

Le belvédère de la vallée de Waipiʻo offre une vue imprenable sur le paysage luxuriant de la vallée, l'océan et les cascades qui alimentent la rivière qui coule du fond de la vallée jusqu'à la mer. Ce belvédère est un lieu prisé des visiteurs qui souhaitent admirer le paysage majestueux et commencer leur exploration de la vallée, soit en descendant à pied, soit en participant à des visites guidées respectueuses de son importance culturelle et environnementale. La vallée est réputée pour sa beauté spectaculaire, avec sa plage de sable noir en bordure, ses nombreuses cascades imposantes et ses plantations de taro. Le fond de la vallée, situé à près de 600 mètres sous le relief environnant, est accessible par une route escarpée depuis un belvédère situé au sommet du versant sud de la vallée. Cette route est réputée pour sa forte pente, avec une ascension de 240 mètres sur 1 km à une pente moyenne de 25 %, ce qui en fait la route la plus raide de sa longueur aux États-Unis et est réservée aux véhicules à quatre roues motrices.

Honokaa est un endroit idéal pour faire une halte et acheter des produits locaux. N'oubliez pas de faire un tour chez Tex Drive pour déguster des Malasadas !

Waimea est le centre de l'élevage de la région. Parker Ranch, l'un des plus grands ranchs privés d'élevage de bétail des États-Unis, joue un rôle essentiel dans la communauté. La ville est également connue pour son rodéo annuel du 4 juillet, un événement majeur. Un autre événement important à Waimea est le Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival, qui a lieu chaque année la première semaine de février. La ville abrite le siège de deux observatoires astronomiques situés sur le Mauna Kea : l'observatoire W. M. Keck et le télescope Canada-France-Hawaï. Elle abrite également l'Association internationale des observatoires lunaires.