When Hawaii County closed the only road to Waipio Valley in February to everyone except for valley residents, landowners and farmers, it left many people with mixed feelings. Waipio Valley residents were happy with the closure, but other Hawaii residents felt the rule was unfair. The road is dangerous and considered one of the steepest in the U.S. as it descends 1,000 feet into the valley with some areas at nearly a 40% grade. Many visitors hiked the descent into the valley to spend the day at the valley’s black-sand beach prior to the closure, which came because of significant safety risks. Click on the link in the @sfgate bio for the story. (Photo: Michael Szonyi/Getty Images) . . . #hawaii #travel #waipiovalley