Hāmākua is a district on the northeast coast of Hawaiʻi's Big Island (one of the six traditional districts of the island, known as moku), but also the name of the coastline in the region, the "Hāmākua Coast", approximately 80km long, ending at Waipiʻo Valley and the uninhabited Waimanu Valley. The rainfall due to the prevailing northeasterly tropical trade winds produces steep erosional valleys and cliffs, showing evidence of frequent landslides. The lush vegetation and lack of sandy beaches contrasts sharply with other regions of the island. The district stretches south through the central plateau to the summit of Mauna Loa. To the north beyond Waipiʻo Valley is the Kohala district, with the older volcano Kohala mountain.
Nanue Falls is actually a series of waterfalls located at about 29 km north of Hilo. What most people see of the waterfall is the lower end of it. Further upstream are larger waterfalls, but getting there requires a hike along Nanue Stream, a rather steep and unpleasant trail. Downstream from the bridge is another waterfall, the top of which can be reached by following the steep trail that leads down from the guardrail 23m beyond the bridge. Hiking along the stream is not a good idea because the boulders are slippery and there is always the danger of flash floods. So it is best to just view the stream and waterfall from the Nanue Stream bridge on Old Mamalahoa Highway.
About the stamps
The first stamp, depicting Spicebush Swallowtail, is part of a definitive series with butterflies, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is part of the series Building a Nation, about which I wrote here.
References
Hamakua - Wikipedia
Nanue Falls, Big Island - to-hawaii.com
Sender: Denise
Sent from Greenvale (New York / United States), on 04.02.2014
Photo: Ann Cecil
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