Onomea Trail, Hilo Hawaii

ONOMEA TRAIL
ROUND TRIP MILEAGE: 1.2 MILES
ELEVATION GAIN: 330’
Alakahi Trail
ALAKAHI TRAIL

These two short trails offer a nice hike from the Scenic Drive portion of the Old Mamalahoa road to a small, narrow promontory in beautiful Onomea Bay. The Donkey Trail follows Onomea stream. The trail is nicknamed "The Donkey Trail" because it actually was a trail for donkeys packing cargo from a long-defunct harbor in Onomea bay. The north end of Onomea bay once featured a large natural arch called Onomea arch, but an earthquake shook it down in 1956. These trails are best for sunny days -- it is very slippery when wet, so give them plenty of time to dry out after a rainshower. The Onomea Trail follows the alignment of the Old Government Road into Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden, with a short detour along Alakahi Stream. These trails have no fee but you will have to pay if you wish to visit the grounds of the Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden.