It is located on the west side of the island. That is why only a part of the hike is described here. How to get there? How to get to Pololu Valley. Consider making a stop there before you go to Pololu Valley, just in case! Must cross water to go up the other side though. PICTURED ROCKS MI WYOMING Starting at the Waipio Valley overlook (photo above), the hike down to the black sand beach on the valley floor is about 1.5 miles or 2.4 kilometers. Stay organized while planning your own trip with a TRIP PLANNING DOCUMENT. Waipi'o Valley Lookout - Nanaue Falls Loop from Kukuihaele. One switchback is a particularly good spot for a photo. Noel Morata is the creator of This Hawaii Life along with a small team of contributors. A short way across you will come to a stream. If you are trying to decide where to hike, Waipio Valley or here, this hike is MUCH easier. By syr101, October 30, 2014 in Hawaii. This river is fed by agricultural runoff, so carefully consider how you treat this water before drinking. inform and educate visitors as they arrive, as well as monitor the trail and beach. Youll save yourself the tight corners and the wait by parking up the street. NEW YORK If it was dry I would have been fine driving it with our 4X4. CARDIO!! Did not make it to the top; Ill be back! If you're interested in Waipio Valley, you may also be interested in these great Big Island activities: Pololu Valley hike Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley. Although I would have loved to explore more of this scenic valley, I decided to continue on to the Honokane Nui Lookout. There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. If you are visiting in the winter months (from ~December to ~March) this is a great place to try and see humpback whales. You can explore and hike into this wondrous area via the Waipio Valley on one side or Pololu Valley on the other side. Waipio Valley is on the northern peninsula of the Big Island. Permanent signs are posted saying road closed and no pedestrians. Our current itinerary gives us one day to devote to hiking aside from what we will do in one day at VNP. This hike covers about 20 km, depending on how long you want to walk. Next time with two others and we brought plenty of water and took about 3 hours. It shocked me to make it back to the Pololu Valley floor without falling. You can get pictures of the ocean, or even the interior ridges of the valleys are stunning. The reviews here for both places suggest Pololu is also more crowded with tourists but I'm guessing they are just referring to the lookout as many of the reviews implied there are less people on the actual hiking trails past the scenic lookout. Dont worry, there is plenty of time on the beach to take a breather! The black sand beach at Pololu Valley can be rocky if a storm has washed away the black sand. Although the ground is rocky . It is very wide, comforting during the Pandemic to maintain some space between you and other hikers. The Pololu Valley Lookout gives a spectacular view over the cliffs of the Kohala volcano. Bummer, this trail is closed. If you like exercise you also opt for a hike to the next valley. The Kohala Volcano last erupted about 120.000 years ago (!) This trip turned out to be my favorite experience on the Big Island so far. They get to share Polols great historical and cultural values, along with the and significance the area has for those living in and visiting Kohala. SOUTH DAKOTA A lush tropical forest surrounded by almost 500 ft high cliffs and fronted by an ocean that more often than not has high surf and rough waves. Turned out, all we needed was the water and chips. Should be great! The roundtrip hike goes down about 420 feet to the valley floor If youre staying a bit further north in one of the Waikoloa resorts on the Kohala coast, its a bit closer and might take around an hour. And if it becomes a big problem, thats when there may even start to be more serious talks about limiting visitors to visit such places like Pololu Valley. But I think it'd be a shame to miss North Kohala, and an added bonus is the "loop" drive whereas with Waipio, you have to drive the same way there and back ~ and deal twice with Waimea traffic, which can be tedious at times. I have done both several times. During my recent trip to the Big Island, I opted to do the Pololu Valley Hike. The earthquake from2006 is evidence of such. You should hike down with sturdy shoes or boots for the variable rocks, steps and slope factor. This landslide is responsible for the now famous sea cliffs on the windward Kohala shoreline but also triggered a giant tsunami that left marine deposits multiple 100 ft high on the other islands (read more). Afterward, most people left the valley, and it has been sparsely . Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022 . BE ADVISED: PARKING AT WAIPIO LOOKOUT COUNTY PARK IS LIMITED TO 24 HOURS. visit on sunnier days when the trail is dry and easy to hike below, There are no many unique galleries and shops worth exploring while you are in the area. The 9-mile Muliwai Trail from Waipi'o Valley into Waimanu Valley is rough, hazardous and extremely steep in spots, so only experienced backcountry hikers should attempt it. The Waipio Valley hike is one of the most beautiful and magical hiking spots on the Big Island. Bring a windbreaker or rain jacket just in case. As a paradise for active travelers it is rich in experiences that include nature, culinary discoveries, historic landmarks, shopping, nightlife and festivals. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. It also helped that I knew what to expect. Thanks for visiting today and checking out this post on this Big Island hike to Pololu Valley I hope you are inspired to plan a visit and enjoy these wonderful attractions. MAHALO! syr101 . GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC Hawi sounds like the kind of place I'd enjoy stopping along the way. From scenic overlook, hike down steep rocky trail to beautiful black sand and rocky beach with views of the Hamakua coast. If you just didn't get enough of the Big Island's gorgeous valleys at Pololu, there is a hike that will take you over the next ridge and into Honokane Nui "big" Valley. The Volcano Van - Big Island Volcano Tours, Holualoa Inn-Big Island Bed and Breakfast, Latitude: 20.20033933 stream inland ends and is mostly private lands that are off limits to explore. We're staying in Kolea area so the drive time is not too much different to either. ~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~. Liliuokalani Gardens, Hilo , by ALOHA DEAN Japanese garden in Hilo's Lili'uokalani Gardens, named for the Hawaiian monarch Queen Lili'uokalani. This is a gorgeous walk with stunning views and one of our 5 favorite hikes on the Big Island! Cross Waipi'o Beach and visit Muliwai Trail Overlook on a 4.88-mile round trip hike that has climbs on each side of the valley that total 1,300 feet of elevation gain. Instead, locals would like you to know about Keokea Beach Park where there are bathrooms. I'd suggest taking the Waipio Valley Shuttle if you have young kids in tow. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail . In my very limited experience (twice at Waipio, three times at Pololu), I've actually found Waipio more crowded. (driving directions using google maps). Waipi'o Valley is much more trying, longer, and more satisfying. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Instagram Subscribe to our Newsletter, Phantom 4 Drone footage of Pololu Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii, Pro tip (for the early birds): The Pololu Lookout is a, This is a gorgeous walk with stunning views and one of our. Steep on the way down but you really feel it on the way back. It is possible you will encounter people from the Pololu Valley Steward Program at the lookout. Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. The crossing might be dry. Once at Beach go left toward north side of valley opening. Couple that with the recent closure of the access road to the similarly popular Waipio Valley, and the crowds are growing. 270 to the northern Kohala Coast, past the towns of Hawi and Kapa'au. The hike at Pololu down to the beach is shorter than the one at Waipio, but it's on a hiking trail, vs. Waipio where you'll be hiking on a poorly maintained, very steep . The Kohala Volcano last erupted about 120.000 years ago (!) Yay, it worked! Losing and forgetting things seemed to be the common theme for our trip. It is smooth sailing going down, but getting back up can be a real workout. Pololu Valley is the northernmost of the Seven Valleys of the Kohala Mountains, accessible from the Pololu Valley Trail. Although I've never hiked it, I can brag that I've driven down the road with the steepest grade in the entire USA! You'll most likely have to park along the street and walk to the viewpoint/start of the trail. Its one of those hikes where you start with a downhill, so you will need to climb out at the end. There are heiaus and historical parks to explore along the way. Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. The trail snakes inland and back toward the ocean as you make your way across the top of this hillside. All rights reserved. So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! P.O Box 4849 TRAIL CONDITIONS. Once at the bottom take the road to the right. If you hike- especially after rainy season- wear waterproof sneakers. Since this hike will likely take 3-4 hours, here is what I recommend you bring with you on the Pololu Valley Hike: The trailhead is at the end of a dead-end road and very easy to find! Amazing is an understatement. This website's use is your expressly conditioned acceptance of the terms, conditions, and disclaimers found within our Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability page without any modifications. Waipio Valley. More information at the Keokea beach park website. If you must park along the road, ensure that you respect the private homes and heed "No Parking" signs. Park at the end of the highway at the Polol Valley overlook. The trail, sometimes referred to as Awini Trail, that leads down to the black sand beach (Pololu Valley Beach) takes approximately half an hour to hike. Download your copy of our You can also make it a valley beach hike kind of day and make this day on the Big Island a "Pololu Valley + Waipio Valley" kind of day. This 22 mile network of flumes and ditches is essential for the water supply of a part of the island but also made sure that there are no permanent residents anymore in Pololu Valley. One day of hiking to the Big Island valley beaches, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. After that, there were a number of other people arrived. Most references to the Polol Valley trail refer to this trail, which ends where the beach meets the valley floor. The ornamental . Quickly cross the Polol River where it meets the sea. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail, and it no longer connects! It is considered one of the steepest roads in the world down to an . If have a 4x4, do like the locals- back up your truck and park towards the ocean- lay in back of truck -and relax. Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. Hot lava cools to its surface to create that smooth exterior. More of the, many black sand beaches on the Big Island, Hawaii packing list: THE top things to pack for Hawaii. Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. I have done both several times. At the coast there is a beautiful black sand beach constantly pounded by the Pacific Ocean waves. Super fun, a bit challenging, but totally worth it. The weather at Pololu Valley is variable from cloudy and windy to stormy clouds and rain and then to blue sky, and you can even get all three happening on the same day.