That's approximately 2.2 million tourists who annually crowd onto roughly eight-plus miles of beach. If your vacation objective is to work on your tan while ordering umbrella drinks, by all means join them. But if what you're really after is a bit of isolation, some stupendous beauty, and the occasional bout of activity, consider taking a few days to explore the Hana Highway.
Most people tackle it as a long, exhausting day trip from the west-side resorts.
But, as we discovered, passing through is no substitute for being there. What keeps the masses from flocking to this side of the island are the calamitous roads and the tendency toward inclemency. A tiny peninsula jutting out beside Waipio Bay, Huelo roosts over volcanic cliffs, verdant valleys and a rolling ocean. Huelo has a number of very private places to stay, from the very affordable to the exotic luxury. We were booked at the Huelo Point Flower Farm, in the tiny, free-standing Gazebo with one of the best views I've ever savored.