#waianuenue

[vlkphoto]

Waianuenue Falls

Rainbow Falls, Hilo, HI.

Photo taken using the Spectre app. It is incredible that modern smartphones allow any Tom, Dick, or Harry to shoot photos like this, handheld, in five seconds flat, that mere years prior would have required great skill, planning, persistence, and considerable post-shoot processing to bring to this quality.

[hannahevolving]

Waianuenue falls. Hilo, Hawaii Paradise found at Waianuenue Falls, Hilo, Hawaii. Immerse yourself in the tranquil vibes and let the waterfall's magic wash over you.

[mad-promises]

Waianuenue falls. Hilo, Hawaii Paradise found at Waianuenue Falls, Hilo, Hawaii. Immerse yourself in the tranquil vibes and let the waterfall's magic wash over you.

[iareconscious]

Waianuenue falls. Hilo, Hawaii

Nature's masterpiece in full display at Waianuenue Falls in Hilo, Hawaii. Get ready to be enchanted by the cascading beauty.

[thunderstruck9]

Madsaki (Japanese, b. 1974), Waianuenue Ave. (1), 2017. Acrylic and aerosol paint on canvas, 80 x 80.2 cm.

[unteriors]

Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii.

[articulatecreatively]

Travel Writing:

Rainbow Falls by Christine Matthews

Rainbow Falls

You’ve all heard that there are 7 wonders of the world, well I believe because of Rainbow Falls there are in fact 8 wonders of the world.

I slept for most of the 17 hour flight from London to Hawaii.

Once my plane landed, I walked off the plane into the brilliant, warmth of the cloudless, sunny sky. My guide, a tall thin native with an engaging smile, introduced himself as Liko, his car was a bit noisy but it was a pleasant drive to Hilo.

I arrived at my hotel, Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel is just idyllic, my room has a double bed, a small kitchen area and a bathroom with a shower. From my balcony I can see the outdoor swimming pool and I’m going to enjoy watching the cruise ships going past in the North Pacific Ocean, I’m happy and contented. Tomorrow my trip to Rainbow Falls begins, hurry up tomorrow.

I woke up at 6.30am Sunday morning, excitement is overtaking me, busying myself getting ready and having breakfast, Liko knocks on my room door at 9am. What an amazing guide Liko is, he is so informative.

Liko informs me that Hawaii comprises of 137 volcanic islands, I’m amazed by this information.

After a short drive to Walluku River State Park, Waianuenue Avenue (this translates as rainbow water).

Liko and me take a short walk to Rainbow falls and I’m totally in awe, in front of me stands an 80ft tall and an almost 100ft in diameter waterfall. It’s a plunge waterfall, that falls into the turquoise water below, there is a rainforest, wild ginger and monster in abundance around the falls, these are non-native plants.

At 10am, the sun is in the correct position for the water mist that comes up from the waterfall, turns into the brightest, most magical rainbow. No words are suitable to explain this natural wonder.

I wish I could stay here forever. The falling water sounds like thunder and it’s so calm, watching the water fall over a lava cave.

Standing here, breathing in the fresh, unpolluted air, my eyes can’t believe what magnificence this Rainbow water is, I feel free and alive. I never want this to end.

[phvforme]

Have You Heard About These Fun Things to Do in Hawaii?

You get more enjoyment for your vacation buck with the enjoyment-filled hours you spend planning what you'll do while there. Nowhere is it more accurate than scheduling a trip to Hawaii, where there's more to do than most other places. FromPearl Harbor tours and rainforest hikes to volcanic lava flows and colorful luaus, the list of interesting things to do is a long one. If you're visiting for the first time, it can be challenging deciding what to do and what to defer to future visits. For families with blasé teenagers, Hawaii vacations will liven up their attitudes. Put them nose to nose with a shark and watch.In the Honolulu area, you'll want to walk Waikiki Beach and visit Diamond Head, and you can mix those in with plenty of pool and relaxation time. When you want to go a bit farther from the beaten path, try volcanoes and rainforests. If you're just learning your Hawaii trivia, Mauna Kea, the tallest volcano on the planet and dotted with observatories. Native Hawaiians consider it sacred ground. On the Big Island, you can see active lava flows that are some of the most unusual on earth. They're another thing that will get the attention of teenagers who are skeptical about sightseeing. You can hike to and from the spot.

Another fascinating only-in-Hawaii attraction is a seahorse farm that lets you hold one of the iconic creatures. The farm is dedicated to preserving the species and has more than 20 kinds that are being raised in captivity. It's a consciousness-raising tour that calls attention to the human-caused stress on the world's oceans and marine life. Another one-of-a-kind Hawaii attraction in Hawaii is an alien and UFO park. While it's not everyone's cup of tea, you can either take it seriously or quietly find humor in it. The founders were serious and part of a religious sect that believes life on earth descended from aliens.

On a much more high-minded (and beautiful) subject, you can view an impressive collection of Islamic art at the Shangri La home of billionaire art collector Doris Duke. Today, the tobacco heiress' home and property are operated as a museum and managed by the Honolulu Museum of Art. You'll view both art and artifacts in a breathtakingly beautiful Hawaiian setting. If you love waterfalls and visit the big island, plan to see Rainbow Falls (Waianuenue). It's located on the edge of Wailuku River State Park. An 80-foot-high waterfall is gorgeous at any time, and around 10 a.m., the sun makes natural rainbows

[kinialohaguy]

Hāʻule Ke Ānuenue

Aloha kākou. This is Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawai’i. When we get heavy rains Rainbow Falls offers specular views. Located at the top of Waianuenue avenue in Hilo near the hospital just off a little road that takes you to Wailuku State park. A great viewing area where you can watch the falls. Since there’s little tourism these days, I got the park all to myself. Further up Waianuenue avenue is…

[elderperfect]

Hospice Of Hilo

Hospice Of Hilo is a Hospice located at 1011 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI - 96720. This hospice owneship is categorized as Non-Profit, and has been certified by the government to deliver care since 08/25/89. ElderPerfect is focused on delivering accurate local information on senior housing facilities and home care providers. We’ve designed our solution to be transparent on listing the extensive options available to your family. Our excellent customer service is achieved by matching relevant facilities to your current requirements based on unique needs and budgets. We constantly review senior housing / home care providers and remove any listing that do not meet our strict policy of conduct and quality. Provider Address: 1011 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 Provider CMS Certification Number (CCN): Provider Certification Date: 8/25/89 Provider Ownership: Non-Profit Read the full article

[vivianbates]

Rainbow Falls in Wailuku River State Park

A mile and a half from downtown Hilo, the biggest city on the Big Island of Hawaii, Rainbow Falls pours over a basalt ledge in Hawaii’s longest river. The 80-foot tall waterfall takes a broad single-drop plunge. Visitors can see Rainbow Falls (and hopefully a morning rainbow) from Rainbow Falls Lookout in Wailuku River State Park, where 0.2 miles of lets-be-generous-and-call-it-hiking leads to one viewpoint facing the waterfall and another perch alongside the top of Rainbow Falls. With minimal effort and plenty of beauty as reward, Rainbow Falls belongs on every Hilo trip itinerary.

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Pull up to the parking area for Rainbow Falls Lookout, nestled within the city of Hilo, just 1.5 miles west of it’s coastal downtown. Straight ahead of the parking area is a 70-yard long viewing area facing Rainbow Falls. A paved ramp and walkway makes this area of the park wheelchair accessible. On your left as you face the waterfall, spot another trail packed with rock slab steps that rise to the brink of Rainbow Falls.

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

The easiest and best way to see Rainbow Falls is from the viewpoint that is level with the parking area. Walk out and enjoy head-on views of the waterfall. A curtain of white pours over a shelf of black basalt. Sunny mornings are the recommend moments to observe the waterfall’s renown rainbows. A park info panel offers this description of the waterfall:

The waters of the Wailuku River drop 80 feet (24 meters) to create Waiānuenue or Rainbow Falls. Plunging in front of a natural lava cave created by the powerful splash back, the water falls into the large pool below. The width of the waterfall increases during periods of heavy rainfall.

According to Hawaiian mythology, the cave in the overhang behind the waterfall was home to Hina, the mother of demigod Maui. A giant lizard named Kanu tried to drown Hina while she was in the cave, resulting in a epic battle with Maui in the Wailuku River.

Rainbow Falls might be a shorter beauty, but the volume of the river gives the waterfall heft and significance. Once you have taken in this perspective of Rainbow Falls, backtrack toward the parking area to venture up the next trail, which is steeper and slightly longer.

Steps up to the viewpoint at the brink of Rainbow Falls

Top of Rainbow Falls

Leave the parking area again and begin up rock steps that ascend the slope south of Rainbow Falls. Metal railings along the staircase assist with the climb. After around thirty steps, the trail levels out atop the basalt ledge beside Rainbow Falls.

Walk up to the railing at an overlook by the brink of Rainbow Falls. Watch the waterfall pour over the edge of the jagged basalt ledge. Look down on a pool that extends to the right, below the viewing area where you just stood. Wailuku River makes its way past the pool to the left on its course to the coast. The exposed banks of the river signal just how much higher the water level can get.

Wailuku River below Rainbow Falls

The most interesting thing about the top of Rainbow Falls might not be the waterfall itself (you get a better view from the lower viewpoint). Instead, it is the wild depressions and pools in the riverbed surrounding the top of the waterfall that draw your attention. The basalt surface is full of strange pockets and other shapes.

Pools in the rocks beside Rainbow Falls

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The trail end at the top of Rainbow Falls. Footpaths continue upriver through a grove of banyan trees, but this area appears to be off limits. Flash flooding and rapid rises in the river have proven deadly, so exploring beyond the trail has risks.

Once you’ve seen the top of Rainbow Falls and gazed up and down the river, follow the step-packed trail down to the parking area to complete this 0.2-mile round trip hike with 40 feet of elevation change. Dogs and bikes are not allowed on this outing. Parking at Rainbow Falls Lookout in Wailuku River State Park is free, so get out and enjoy!

Boiling Pots Lookout

A short distance up the river from Rainbow Falls Lookout, find Boiling Pots Lookout positioned over an area of the river made up of pools resembling boiling pots. Some people like to use these pools as swimming holes during the right conditions. Wailuku River is prone to dangerous flash floods (the translation for Wailuku is “waters of destruction”). Observe all barriers and signs.

Want to see another waterfall? Check out nearby ‘Akaka Falls, which is 5.5 times taller than Rainbow Falls.

To get to Rainbow Falls Lookout: Take Hawaii 19 (Hawaii Belt Road) to the center of Hilo and head inland on Waiamuenue Avenue. Drive 1 mile and stay right through a split with Kaumana Drive to continue up Waianuenue Avenue, following signs for Rainbow Falls. Drive another quarter mile and turn right onto Rainbow Drive. The parking area for the lookout is on the right after another quarter mile.

To get to Boiling Pots Lookout, continue up Rainbow Drive and reconnect with Waianuenue Avenue. Turn right and drive 1.3 miles farther up Waianuenue Avenue. Turn right onto Pe’epe’e Falls Road. Go one block and turn left into the parking area for Boiling Pots Lookout.

Trailhead address: Rainbow Falls Lookout, Rainbow Drive, Hilo, HI 96720 Trailhead coordinates: 19.71885, -155.1085 (19° 43′ 07.9″N 155° 06′ 30.6″W)

from hikespeak.com https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/rainbow-falls-wailuku-river-state-park-hilo-hawaii/

[eating-with-saraahchaa]

Travel Bites: Hilo edition

Over the weekend, I went to Hilo for my best friend's white coat ceremony. Yan Yee got into the pharmacy school at University of Hawaii: Hilo! She loves food more than anyone I know, so she took us to all of her favorite spots as soon as we got there.

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It was raining the moment we landed, so she took us to eat pho for dinner on Friday night. We went to Lam's Garden. They serve Vietnamese and Chinese food.

Yan Yee was telling us all about how large the portion is and we just had to see and try for ourselves!

We got the V12, which is the equivalent of a combination pho here in Honolulu. We also got some sides to try.

The spring rolls were made with taro, which we didn't like. The fried dumplings were very delicious! Crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside.

The V12 pho was HUGE. It was loaded with noodles and plenty of meat. The pho broth was surprisingly sweet. Almost like an oxtail soup broth. The meat was a bit dry, but easily fixable with the soup. I couldn't finish this. There was just too much food.

Lam's Garden Restaurant

127 Kilauea Ave. Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 933-3388

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The next day she took us to her favorite poke place, Poke Market. This is the girl who hates eating fish even more than I do, so I was shocked she eats poke!

We were greeted when we walked in and handed us samples of everything they had to try. Everything was delicious.

You have the option of choosing one choice or two choices. Each bowl comes with two sides.

I got the tako poke and the marlin poke. The tako was crunchy and seasoned perfectly. The marlin was flavorful and fresh. The two sides I got was lomi tomato and sweet potato. The lomi tomato was nothing impressive. However, the sweet potato was to die for. Surprisingly, it complimented the poke well. Just take my word and get the sweet potato. You won't be disappointed!!

Poke Market

41 Waianuenue Ave. Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 961-5915

Instagram: @poke.market

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After Poke Market, we walked across the street to Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack. They are known for their unique ice cream cones. They have a large menu on the wall offering smoothies, coffee, ice cream and sandwiches.

I got the ube soft serve with honey (the worker said honey is his favorite topping) with rainbow sprinkles. Yan Yee got the midnight unicone (ube & black Velvet vanilla).

The honey was a really great touch on the ice cream, but the ube wasn't anything too impressive. I would recommend the midnight unicone to get the best of both worlds. It's not often you find black vanilla ice cream! Plus it's Instagram worthy!

Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack

54 Waianuenue Ave. Hilo, HI 96720

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Our last stop was Hawaiian Style Cafe. They serve local comfort food. This was another place where Yan Yee said the portions were huge! There was quite a line when we got there and we had to wait 30 minutes.

We decided to each other something and share it. After looking on Yelp, we decided to try the truffle oil garlic fries, Mok-A-Sauras loco moco, beef stew, and pancake.

They weren't kidding when they said the loco moco and pancake is huge! Everything tasted delicious too! The beef stew didn't taste like a tomato sauce base and was really thick. The loco moco was seasoned to perfection. Adding kalua pork and spam- genius. We couldn't finish everything and took it back to the hotel for our midnight snack. If you're looking to get the most out of your money, this is the place to go. PS- they do charge a sharing fee if each person doesn't order something.

Hawaiian Style Cafe

681 Manono St. #101 Hilo, HI 96720

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Honestly, you'll never be hungry in Hilo. There is so much food options and everything is so close together!

Happy munching!

[punalavaflow]

GET surcharge approved: Council increases tax a day before state deadline

A one-quarter percent surcharge will be added to the general excise tax in Hawaii County starting Jan. 1, following action Friday by the County Council.

After teetering on the winning and losing side of a 5-4 vote for months, the bill passed 7-2 just one day before the state-imposed deadline. Voting no were Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha and Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles.

Almost all the council members were unhappy with the compromise measure.

“I’m going to be voting yes to one of the stupidest bills I ever saw,” said Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung.

But with a $5 million hole in the budget caused by the loss of property taxes from lava-plagued Puna, and big hikes in costs from collective bargaining and other employee-related expenses, the majority of the council felt it had no choice.

The tax is projected to raise $10 million for the fiscal 2018-19 budget year that starts Sunday, and $25 million a year after that, before it expires Dec. 31, 2020.

Coming around to vote yes since the GET surcharge failed 4-5 on June 19 were Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara, Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy and Kohala Councilman Tim Richards.

O’Hara, who asked for reconsideration of the failing vote in a special council session, supported the GET as a way to diversify county revenues but balked at the compromise bill because it cut the percentage the state allowed from one-half percent to one-quarter percent and shortened the time it would be in effect from Dec. 31, 2030, to Dec. 31, 2020.

“This could be a much better piece of legislation,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara pushed for a commitment that the bill would be changed to a 2030 expiration date before the year is out. But her colleagues refused to do so, with several questioning whether they were even allowed to make that pledge under the Sunshine Law.

Lee Loy also previously supported the increase, but voted against the bill last time because the administration hadn’t provided a detailed accounting of how the new money would be spent. That was provided Friday.

Lee Loy also pushed for the full half-percent with a later expiration date. She said if the council killed the bill on the table, it would have another chance to vote on the full amount in January, although it wouldn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2020.

“I never wanted to bring a Band-Aid,” Lee Loy said. “I wanted to bring the cure.”

Richards consistently pushed for a rebalancing of revenue streams by adding the GET surcharge while reducing property taxes and gas taxes. He bristled that the GET without those decreases raises the $518 million budget to $523 million, even taking into account the estimated $5 million loss in property taxes.

Richards urged the administration not to spend all of the increase, but to put it aside for safekeeping for future emergencies. The bill, he said, is “contorted.”

“We’re here with increased revenue … We’ve increased our expenses to match our revenue streams,” Richards said. “We’re talking about balancing our budget, not expanding it.”

Revenue from the GET can be used only for transportation-related projects such as roads, mass transit and trails. But because about $4 million in mass transit expenses are paid from the general fund, shifting that to the GET fund will free up most of the $5 million to patch the hole in the budget. That will allow current county services to continue.

That’s if property taxes in Puna and elsewhere on the island don’t continue dropping. Because no one knows when and where the lava will stop, the real loss won’t be known for some time.

“I really feel that $5 million is going to be very short,” Mayor Harry Kim told the council. “The county of Hawaii is going through a very difficult time right now. … This county needs your help.”

Kim reminded the council that he can’t spend “one dollar” without council approval.

After spending $4.9 million to cover the budget hole, the county wants to spend an additional $3.6 million of the GET for buses and equipment, programs such as shared ride and bike share, and expanded routes, said Deputy Finance Director Nancy Crawford.

About $1.5 million of the 2018-19 tax will be used to plan and design Ane Keohokalole Highway phase III. Acquisition of rights of way for that project will account for an additional $1 million in 2019-20.

Also from the $25 million in taxes in 2019-20, $11.5 million will go for mass transit and $700,000 will be spent acquiring rights of way for Oneo Lane.

And $5.6 million will be spent on preventive maintenance for Kawili Street, Alii Drive, Kinoole Street and Manono Street, while $6.4 million goes for major resurfacing projects on Lanikaula Street, Waianuenue Avenue, Kamehameha Avenue, Kilauea Avenue, Komohana Avenue and Mamalahoa Highway-Kiloa Road.

Kanuha and Ruggles have consistently voted no.

Kanuha has said his district already pays some of the highest taxes on the island, and constituents don’t want to pay more.

Ruggles said her district is the poorest and the “poorest of the poor” will feel the hit the most.

Her statements drew a reaction from Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter, the council chairwoman.

“I’m not willing to cut the services of the poorest of the poor who use our facilities,” Poindexter said.

Because the tax is itself taxed, the tax on a $100 purchase will increase by 26 cents, raising the purchase from $104.17 to $104.43, once the 4 percent state GET is also taken into account.

That translates into $2.27 monthly for a household spending $10,000 annually on taxed items, $11.36 monthly for those spending $50,000 annually and $22.72 monthly for those spending $100,000 annually, Crawford said.

The tax isn’t applied on most medications or on SNAP food assistance.

“I’m extremely grateful for this decision,” Kim later said in a statement. “This is nothing but good for the people of this island. We needed so badly to try to make this a better place.”

Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.

The post GET surcharge approved: Council increases tax a day before state deadline appeared first on Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

from Hawaii News – Hawaii Tribune-Herald https://ift.tt/2KtM2pz

[colinpurrington]

Rainbow Falls (Waianuenue) on the Wailuku River State Park near Hilo, Hawai'i. Beautiful, but to be honest I really just wanted to look for Stimpson’s goby (Sicyopterus stimpsoni), the Hawaiian endemic that has the ability to scale vertical rock faces at waterfalls using suction cups. As if that wasn’t cool enough, they also maintain adorable little gardens rocks. Really. I need to go back.

[elderperfect]

Hilo Medical Center

Hilo Medical Center is a senior housing facility located at 1190 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI - 96720. There are 35 certified beds at this location. Medicare has issued this facility an overall rating of 5 which has been registered to provider senior healthcare since 01/01/67. ElderPerfect is focused on delivering accurate local information on senior housing facilities and home care providers. We’ve designed our solution to be transparent on listing the extensive options available to your family. Our excellent customer service is achieved by matching relevant facilities to your current requirements based on unique needs and budgets. We constantly review senior housing / home care providers and remove any listing that do not meet our strict policy of conduct and quality. Provider Address: 1190 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 Provider Number: 125002 Provider Type: Medicare and Medicaid Provider Since: 1/1/67 Provider Ownership: Government - State Read the full article

[kinialohaguy]

Early Morning Showers