The Shepherds's review, Big Island tours & activities, fun things to do in Big Island | HawaiiActivities.com

Mules and a guide who lives in the valley

We had not seen Waipio Valley except from the overlook. Before the trip, we were not aware of the possibility of seeing Waipio from a mule-drawn wagon (after the hair-raising ride to the bottom in a 4-wheel drive van). We loved it. The guide had plenty of history and agricultural information to share as he and the mules pulled us through the roads and fords to get well up the valley away from the mouth of the river flowing through the valley. The tour is about 45 minutes and does not include the black sand beach, due to restriction on tours in that area. Photography is oddly difficult from the wagon, but the tour was enjoyable and enlightening.