Hawaii's Green Sand Beach

If you don't have a 4x4 vehicle, you can walk to this beach from South Point. It is 3 miles each way, no shade, no facilities. Bring lots of water and your walking shoes. If you don't want to hike and still don't have a 4x4 vehicle, there are some very nice taxi drivers who will drop you at the beach for a fee.

We think it's great that so many people are discovering this unique and wonderful beach, but want to remind folks about a few things. Please don't remove the green sand from the beach. We know it is pretty and special, but if everyone takes some, there eventually won't be any left at all. Also, this area of the island is the site where the first Polynesians landed in Hawaii and is a very special place for the Hawaiian people.

Want to do something great for Hawaii that shows you really care about our lovely islands? Bring a bag with you when heading out for Green Sands and help pick up some of this trash.

Most of this trash washes in from the ocean, but since we all want to enjoy this beautiful coastline, why not help keep it beautiful?

Mahalo!

Got great pictures of your adventures around the Big Island? Submit them to BigIslandMotorcycleCo [at] yahoo.com and we'd love to publish them here on our blog!

Happy Fourth of July!

Yeehaw! We had a great time at the Parker Ranch Rodeo today celebrating the holiday with all the talented paniolo.

Competitors lining up for the American and Hawaiian national anthems

Gotta love that Waimea rain!

Action

Keiki paniolo

All dressed up

Well-loved

Races

How did you celebrate the Fourth of July?

Motorcycle Route: Zipline + North Kohala

Up for some adventure? In this route we combine a great zipline tour with our friends down at Big Island Eco Adventures with awesome, twisty roads, good food, and dazzling views.

- First things first, if you wanna zip you gotta book in advance. This tour company is very popular and is booked at least a week in advance.
- Allow yourself at least an hour to get to the zipline check in center from Big Island Motorcycle Co.
- From Big Island Motorcycle Co. in Waikoloa, head north on Hwy 19 by making a left at the light.
- After 10 miles you will come to a T intersection. Make a left toward Hawi.
- After about 2 miles make a right onto Akoni Pule Hwy toward Hawi.
- Continue along this hwy until you reach the town of Hawi (the first town you come to) and make a right on to Hawi Road just before the old-fashioned gas station.
- On your immediate right is the zipline check-in. There are big signs pointing the way.
- Enjoy your zipline tour! Below are some highlights from the tour we tagged along on:

Dustin getting geared up

6WD ride through the back country to get to the ziplines

Gorgeous waterfall where we enjoyed complementary snacks

A happy zipper!

A nervous zipper!

Cheeee Hoooooo!

Zipline Check-in

- All that adventure will surely make you hungry. Fortunately, there are several good options within walking distance of the zipline check-in. Bamboo has been voted best restaurant on the island for many years, and is right across the street. Super fresh sushi (they make their own wasabi!) can be had at Sushi Rock, also across the street. There is also mexican, plate lunch style, and deli options available all in this one little town. Yum!
- Now that your belly is full, let's get in some adventurous riding. From the zipline check-in, head up Hawi Road (NOT the way you came) toward Waimea and continue to follow the signs toward Waimea.
- This is our favorite riding road on the island. Lots of great twisties and amazing mountain-to-ocean views.
- This road eventually dumps you into the town of Waimea. Make a right at the stop sign toward Kawaihae.
- After about 10 miles make a left onto Hwy 19 toward Kona/Waikoloa.
- After another 10 miles you reach the traffic light for the Waikoloa Beach Resort, make a right and you are back at Big Island Motorcycle Co.


View Motorcycle Route: Zipline + North Kohala in a larger map

Are you up for it? Give us a call to book the tour and the motorcycle rental at 808-886-2011 or email us at BigIslandMotorcycleCo [at] yahoo.com

Be sure to check out our other motorcycle routes by clicking on the tab above. 

Double Valley Motorcycle Route!

Double Valley Ride

Minimum 4 hours

Waipio Valley Overlook

- From Big Island Motorcycle Co. in Waikoloa, head north on Hwy 19 by taking a left at the traffic signal.
- After about 10 miles you will reach a T intersection, take a left onto Hwy 270 toward Hawi.
- You will want to explore the towns of Hawi and Kapa'au, about another 30 miles. Very cute restaurants, galleries, and shops. The King Kamehameha statue is in Kapa'au.
- Keep going on 270 until the road ends, this is Pololu Valley.

Owner Gwen with her folks at Pololu

- You can hike down into Pololu Valley if you wish and check out the very beautiful black sand beach (not good for swimming though). This takes about an hour round trip if you don't hang at the beach for very long. The trail is steep but quick and manageable for most ability levels.
- From here you will want to find Hwy 250 toward Waimea. You will have to back track a few miles and look for the signs on your left. If you miss the first turn-off, there is another one in the town of Hawi.
- Hwy 250 is our favorite ride on the island. Twisty roads, sparse traffic, and stunning scenery make it a must-ride. This highway runs along the spine of the Kohala mountains so it's cool and shady and you will be able to see the landscape all the way down to the ocean. Gorgeous.

Hwy 250

Hwy 250

- At the T intersection make a left. Then make another left at the traffic light onto Hwy 19 toward Honokaa. You will be in the town of Waimea. There are many places to stop and have a bite here as well as good shopping and even a visit to the historic Parker Ranch.
- Continue on Hwy 19 toward Honokaa for about 13 miles and make a left onto Plumeria St (look for the signs that say Honokaa and Waipio Valley).
- Make another left at the stop sign onto Waipio Road. Take this road about 7 miles, following the signs to Waipio Valley.

Waipio Valley (sorry bout the finger!)

- You can enjoy the views of Waipio Valley from the overlook but you will not be able to ride into the valley on your motorcycle. The grade is very steep and the park rangers will stop you anyway. If you wish to go into the valley, you can walk down (a mile down, very tough, especially on the way back up) or catch a ride from someone in a 4WD.
- You will want to check out Honokaa town (the town you passed through when you made a L at the stop sign to get to Waipio). They have some fun shops and Tex's Drive In makes the best malasadas (Portugese Donuts).
- To get back to Big Island Motorcycle Co. get back to Hwy 19 and head toward Waimea. You will have to make a right onto Lindsey St. to stay on Hwy 19 then after 10 miles you will need to make a left to stay on Hwy 19 (toward Kona). Turn right onto Waikoloa Beach Drive after another 10 miles and find us in the Kings' Shops.


View Larger Map


To find out more about pricing and our rental bikes, click on the "rentals" tab above.

To make a reservation call 808-886-2011 or write to bigislandmotorcycleco (at) yahoo.com

On the road again

My husband is an avid motorcyclist and this blog came about because together we own a motorcycle tour company on the Big Island of Hawaii. We want our customers to be able to get to get to know us and give us feedback on what they want in a tour. And as always we are more than willing to share vacation tips and advice.

Like I said my husband is an avid motorcyclist. The truth is it had been nearly four years since my last ride on a motorcycle when I went for a spin on the Yamaha he recently got for me. "You need to get back on the road," he said. And he was right in so many ways. Heart pounding and knees shaking I climbed on for that first ride. Even though it was only around the block I was reminded that there is nothing else in the world like motorcycling. The rush, the confidence, the speed, the joy. Boy had I been missing out.

So I was a little rusty, and I got chased by a killer dog, and I killed the engine a few times. It's ok because I know that with a few more days of practice I'll be out on the open road and loving it.