Wao Kele o Puna
Wao Kele o Puna is a verdant rainforest valley on the east flank of Mauna Loa, known for native ʻōhiʻa trees, koa, and robust stream ecology.
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Geography
| Address | Wao Kele o Puna, Hawaiʻi, USAWao Kele o Puna Scenic Drive |
|---|---|
| Continent | Pacific |
| Region | Oʻahu-Pīhoa-Hilo |
| Subregion | Hawaiian Islands |
| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaiʻi |
| County | Hawaiʻi County |
| District | Lower Puna District |
| City | Pāhoa |
| Neighborhood | Wao Kele o Puna |
| Postal Code | 96778 |
| Timezone | PacificHonolulu |
| Latitude | 19.532 |
| Longitude | -154.943 |
| Maps |
4:13 PM LOCAL TIMENestled above the rural town of Pāhoa, Wao Kele o Puna is a rainforest valley that offers a rare glimpse of _Hawaiian lowland ʻōhiʻa and koa forests. The landscape is carved by clear, fast-flowing streams and shaded by dense canopies—best explored via the Wao Kele o Puna Scenic Drive and short hikes that reveal native and secondary-growth forest patches. Visitors come for native birdwatching, plant ecology, and the sense of seclusion that contrasts with the island's more touristed high-elevation and coastal areas. Expect humid conditions, potential for mud after rain, and trails that connect to broader networks in the Lower Puna region. Wao Kele o Puna provides a quiet refuge for hikers and nature-study and forms an ecological counterpoint to nearby geothermal fields and urbanized zones.
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