Kolekole Beach Park, Hamakua Coast, Hawaii 1972

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1972, showcases the lush tropical landscape of Kolekole Beach Park on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island, Hawaii. The archival image features the dramatic contrast between the natural beauty of a small roadside waterfall cascading into the Kolekole Stream and the industrial scale of the massive steel trestle bridge that spans the gulch. This bridge, a prominent landmark along Highway 19, was originally built to serve the region’s thriving sugar industry. In the foreground, tourists in period-correct 1970s vacation attire—including aloha shirts and sun hats—stroll across the manicured green lawn near stone-encased park benches. The background reveals the rocky coastline where the stream meets the Pacific Ocean, framed by dense tropical foliage and ironwood trees. Kolekole Beach Park is still standing today and remains a popular spot for locals and visitors to enjoy the scenery and freshwater swimming, though the historic bridge has undergone significant seismic retrofitting and repairs over the decades to maintain its structural integrity. This factual record preserves the serene atmosphere and iconic infrastructure of Hawaii’s northern coast during the early seventies. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.