A small village located on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island, Hakalau was a thriving sugar plantation until 1974 when it shut down. There are still remnants of the village’s past, including a theater turned into a post office, the old plantation Mill, which was destroyed in the 1946 tsunami, and an old railroad bridge that leads to Hakalau Bay.
Small family farms in the village now grow coffee, tropical fruits, taro and operate cattle ranches. Surfers and local fisherman frequent the Hakalau Bay, and there is a small park with picnic tables and access to the ocean at the bottom of Hakalau Gulch.
On the Mauna Kea slopes, above town, is the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. It is a 32,733-acre (134 sq. km) wilderness park open to the public for hiking, bird watching, and photography. While it is only open to the public with permission, and only on weekends and holidays, it is a great place to take in the Hawaii wildlife. There are several endangered species that call the Refuge home, including the Hawaiian creeper, Nene, ‘io, ‘akepa, I’iwi, pueo, and the Hawaiian hoary bat. The Upper Maulau Tract, which is in the northernmost section of the wildlife refuge, is where you are allowed to hike. If you wish to make the trek, you should contact the Refuge Office at least a week prior to your visit to get a permit (808-933-6915). To access the Maulau Tract, you will need a four-wheel drive vehicle, as a portion of the road is unpaved. The refuge is approximately a two hour drive from Hilo.