stream inland ends and is mostly private lands that are off limits to explore. One of the most magical experiences Ive had in Hawaii. Near the top of the ridge you'll reach a small plateau with a large rock. LANAI The ornamental . Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. I have wondered if the Awini Trail connects the the . Sign up today on the latest for your slice of paradise! Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. downhill on the trail is rocky and wide with some nice spots for views and Various sections of the trail, which runs in a steep zigzag down the vegetated cliff face, have been rebuilt - read article.. The hike down to the bottom of the valley and to the beach is the same paved road the cars use. 270 and gawk at the beauty of the rugged northern Kohala coastline from the Polol Overlook. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapa'au. I'm kind of leaning toward Pololu for that reason. Answer 1 of 11: What is the best way to see Polulu Valley and Waipio Valley? It's about an hour and a half drive from Kona, and an hour and ten minutes from Hilo. Seeing so many people doing this, it can be seen as a form of disrespecting the land. public services or lifeguards at the beach, Bring plenty Losing and forgetting things seemed to be the common theme for our trip. Pololu Valley as seen from the trailhead. Turned out, all we needed was the water and chips. Pololu Valley is located in north Kohala on the eastern slope of the extinct Kohala volcano at the northernmost point of the Big Island. The views from the ridge are stunning into Honokane Iki and the trail leading downhill is relatively easy but note that the property on the valley floor is entirely private property and access is not permited (unless you know the owner) on the valley floor unless you can find the trail beyond which is not feasible at the moment because of over grown conditions. The Pololu Valley floor is beautiful with a river, campgrounds, etc. Before you know it, you will have made it to the Pololu Valley floor. If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. Please try again. Our popular Summary Guidesheets are now included. Start at the small, 10-car parking lot at the Pololu Valley Lookout and follow signs for the Awini Trail descending down 300 feet over half a mile to the valley floor and the beach. ZION UT Duration: 10 to 11 hours. By doing the hike, youll get better views of the black sand beach as youre going down, and its a nice scenic coastal hike! Maybe its best to think of this as a half day activity. However, rough surf and the occasional appearance of Portuguese Man-o-wars make it not the ideal beach for swimming. Large pebbles and stones cover the beach, making a satisfying rattling sound when the waves pick them up. we didn't end up going all the way. And of course, hiking down to the valley floor and spending some time on the beach is very worthwhile. Lots of wildlife near the trail. The trail can be quite muddy if it has been raining. We like to be doing actual hiking for about 2-3 hours plus the time to stop and take in the sights. 7 . Most references to the Polol Valley trail refer to this trail, which ends where the beach meets the valley floor. There also are some pretty cool things to do close to Pololu valley to make your visit into a small road trip. The hike down is mostly gravel and soil and relatively easy to climb down depending on temperature and wetness factor. Explore majestic Waipi'o Valley, the lush and tropical Hamakua Coast, and multiple stunning waterfalls on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii on this day full of fun and exciting adventure. Waipi'o Valley is much more trying, longer, and more satisfying. There are no bathrooms near the Pololu Valley trailhead. Along the river bank are tall ironwood trees with swings set up for some casual fun and really high swinging. One switchback is a particularly good spot for a photo. Views There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. This is about a 5 minute drive from the Pololu Valley trailhead. If you take the time to drive all the way toPololu Valleyat the end of Highway 270, don't settle for the view from the overlook! The beach at the bottom is fantastic, with the valley river flowing into the ocean resulting in a nice shallow play area. 3. Learn how to MAKE THE MOST OF A GUIDED TOUR. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, Are you headed to another island in Hawaii from the Big Island? 6:30-11:00: Hike into Pololu Valley. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Alternatively, you may use, Island of Hawaii Hotels and Places to Stay, Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo - a DoubleTree by Hilton, Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho`omaluhia, http://www.bigislandhikes.com/puu-waawaa/. Sounds like Pololu is more about the journey and a shorter hike. The rest of the gulches follow in order from: Parking is The Pololu Ditch Trail into the valley leading to Kapoloa Falls was closed due to the Kona earthquake in October 2006. There are several levels of visiting Pololu valley. Also, home to some unique art galleries, boutiques and restaurants located in old plantation style buildings, you can easily spend a few hours exploring and eating your way through town. Any suggestions to help us pick one over the other? Lets get into the hike! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88589471', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kohala and the Pololu Valley. There are heiaus and historical parks to explore along the way. You can also park So, Have you been to Polulu and want to go back again? Waipi'o valley Hike: A 6.5 mile round trip of medium difficulty. Steep but beautiful! Wild horses, stray dog that followed us at the hip and protected us, amazing views, a river crossing, wild fruit along the way (pomelo). There was a bit of muddy spots on the flat part of the road/trail, but easily navigable. All of the land upriver is privately owned. Waipi'o Valley hike elevation: The elevation gain is approximately 975 feet on the steepest road . Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022 . If youre interested in Pololu Valley, you may also be interested in these great Big Island activities: ROAD TRIP AMERICA JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING The Kohala coast of the Big Island stunned me yet again. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Its a relatively easy 30 minute hike down to the floor and then to the black sand beach which you can hike from end to end. There are no roads that cross this area south to north of the island. The majority of people at Pololu don't walk down, and each time I was at the beach it wasn't remotely crowded. I have read about the hike / walk to. Located along the North Kohala Coast, home to the island's most picturesque sandy beaches and incredible weather, the Pololu Valley was formed by the Kohala volcano hundreds of thousands of years ago. This is a relatively short hike to the bottom and nice to explore the slowly rambling stream that ends at the ocean or just amble from one end of the black sand beach to the cliffs on the other side and maybe do a climb to another gorge beyond if you feel challenged to do more exploring. Its a rewarding view that allows you to get away from the crowds that do the Pololu Valley Hike. 4. (You can reach it from the beach, but it involves walking over lots of rocks.) Don't miss these. The trail down to the beach drops 400 feet in 20 minutes of hikingbe warned, the hike up is difficult for those not in good physical shape and the hike down should not be attempted if you have doubts about being able to hike back up. further out and then walk to the end where the trail begins. You can even camp in the Pololu Valley. It is located on the west side of the island. Whatever the situation during your visit do NOT even think about taking the coastline to the valleys beyond Pololu. Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. Bring a flashlight. Consider making a stop there before you go to Pololu Valley, just in case! to the bottom, head for the black sandy beach (the small trails that follow the Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms, conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. It's also the northernmost valley of the same chain that includes Waipi'o Valley, which was shown on the first trip. The ocean, the enormous cliffs hugging the coastline and the lush green Pololu valley in the background are all surreal together. Answer 1 of 11: Our current itinerary gives us one day to devote to hiking aside from what we will do in one day at VNP. Be careful when it rains, very slick. WIND CAVE SD If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. Big Island Hikes has another hike that proceeds over to an overlook for the next valley, Honokne Nui. From Pololu valley on these valleys stretch towards the south-east in an impressive display that you can partly see from the Pololu lookout point. Hike down on broken paved road. If you must park along the road, ensure that you respect the private homes and heed "No Parking" signs. I recommend parking up the street slightly so that it is easy to turn around and leave at the end of your hike. Date first visited: . Unfortunately, only the beach in this valley is public. Easy to moderate. To get there you have to follow the Akoni Pule Highway (highway 270) until it ends ends 8 miles east of the town of Hawi at the Pololu Valley lookout. SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI Great info Colleen and RJ. This is a great place to bring a picnic. You won't get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. The hike felt remote and accessed some incredible jungle-like flora that I was craving while in Hawaii. The total length of this hike is . After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the parking lot here. In the event it reopens, it's likely not worth your trouble. YELLOWSTONE WY This is probably one of the best angles to photograph the coast and the mouth of the valley. We've updated both travel guides with a lot of new great information for potential visitors (and those who've been a time or two as well). You'll most likely have to park along the street and walk to the viewpoint/start of the trail. The road leading to the Pololu Valley Lookout has also been repaired - news release. Sharing road/trail with trucks and hikers would be irritating. You can also make it a one day Big Island valley beach hike kind of day and make this day on the Big Island a "Waipio Valley + Pololu Valley" kind of day. . The crossing might be dry. The only ones that can be hiked are Waipio Valley near Waimea, Waimanu Valley (from Waipio) and Pololu Valley, which must be approached from the west side. Coming back I knew I wanted to visit the Kohala area again, but this time somewhere different. Trailhead: Take Hwy. Recommended Posts. Head out to the rocky beach for a view of the ocean and rugged coastline. Looking back into the valley you can see the waters of Pololu stream. NORTH DAKOTA If youre looking for something to do somewhat in the area, you might have a look at Lapakahi State Historical Park for a top Big Island snorkeling spot and to walk through an ancient Hawaiian village, or Hapuna Beach state park which has been called one of the best beaches on the Big Island. Noel Morata is the creator of This Hawaii Life along with a small team of contributors. There is room for about 10 cars at the end of the road in a parking area that fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Best bet is to check the daily weather patterns for the day and see if it works with your plans to visit for the area. The spectacular views of the valley and the steep cliffs that end in the ocean are worth a trip on their own, but the real thing to do here is hiking to the black sand beach at the valley floor! My favorite spot on the island so majorly bummed. Next time with two others and we brought plenty of water and took about 3 hours. Polulu Valley meaning Long Spear is revered in ancient history. It is still a gorgeous, worthy hike even if you are heading down to the beach. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This hike starts at the parking lot near the Waipio Lookout. Sustainable Travel guide and itineraries for the Big Island of Hawaii. and is the oldest of 5 volcanoes that make up the Big Island. The views into Honokane Nui and the coast are simply stunning from the ridge. If you are trying to decide where to hike, Waipio Valley or here, this hike is MUCH easier. The view of the valley from the top, surrounded by cliffs up to 2,000 feet high, is already awe-inspiring. Park at the end of the highway at the Polol Valley overlook. 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. Re crowding at over look, much more at Waipio as area of over look is much bigger, not so much at Polulu. 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. But if you prepare for the crowds and mud, then I know you will enjoy the hike as much as I did. By: Wasabi Tours. One thing my hubby and I really enjoy on vacation is a scenic drive with some character (we are obsessed with Road to Hana--if we're in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The earthquake from2006 is evidence of such. If you want to drive instead of hiking down, you'll need to . But, it's not a kid-friendly hike. . You can explore and hike into this wondrous area via the Waipio Valley on one side or Pololu Valley on the other side. Look for the rope swings that are usually present. The roundtrip hike goes down about 420 feet to the valley floor Waipio Valley Hike (ROAD CURRENTLY CLOSED) After you pass mile marker 28, you'll get some peak a boo views to the cliffs of Pololu. Its steep, muddy, rocky and slippery. On my trips to the Big Island of Hawaii I have had the opportunity to hike down into both Pololu and Waipio Valleys and up the trails on the far rims towards Honopue and Waimanu Valleys respectively. Funny 1. There is limited parking space available at the lookout point with minimal space to turn around so it is possible you need to turn around and park your car on the shoulder of the road and then walk back a few minutes to the valley entrance. The photos he took were spectacular. The trail to Pololu Beach is a steep, dirt path. You can find a more concise description of this hike at the bigislandhikes website. I settled on Pololu Valley, a similar hike to Waipi'o, but with a few less people. Crossing the river was about knee deep and definitely had some force behind it. (Although you will pass through the cute Hawi town.). Here are some comparisons: It is unclear if the trail continues. Its one of those hikes where you start with a downhill, so you will need to climb out at the end. There is no lifeguard. The Polol Valley beach is mostly made up of moderately-sized polished lava rocks. The simplest is driving to the lookout for the views, but you can also make a small (but steep) hike to the valley floor to check out the beach. It's still worth coming here to enjoy the view from the lookout, which I believe is the most beautiful vantage on the island! Start early - like 730-8 in morning. (driving directions using google maps). You can stick around for 10 minutes to snap a few pictures of the breathtaking coastline and take in the scenery but the real attraction at Pololu is the short but steep hike down into the valley and the black sand beach at the valley floor. The string of gulches on the Hamakua and Kohala side of the island starts at Polulu and ends up in Waipio valley on the other side of the island. Super fun, a bit challenging, but totally worth it. 270 to the northern Kohala Coast, past the towns of Hawi and Kapa'au. With more time and better weather, we would have attempted the longer hike to Waimanu. We don't shy away from more aggressive hiking but can also enjoy something more laid back as well. Steep on the way down but you really feel it on the way back. 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. It is considered one of the steepest roads in the world down to an . MAMMOTH CAVE KY The Kohala Volcano last erupted about 120.000 years ago (!) Saw one fisherman on the beach, and four vehicles passed us while hiking the paved section. Hikes on the Big Island - This Hawaii Life, Isaac Art Center Waimea - This Hawaii Life, Waimea Farmers Markets - This Hawaii Life, Black sand beaches of Hawaii - This Hawaii Life, Kapoho black sand beach - This Hawaii Life, Big Island hike to Ha'ena Beach - This Hawaii Life, Green sand beach on the Big Island - This Hawaii Life, Free or cheap things to do on the Big Island - This Hawaii Life, Big Island hike to Narnia - This Hawaii Life, Big Island hike at Puuwaawaa - This Hawaii Life. Maybe I'm incorrect in my assumptions. Lava boats can form when portions of the cone or lava channel break away & are rafted downstream. If you start hiking later, the humidity will get you, and the crowds start at 9-10. We list below a few things to do / places to see close to Pololu: Keokea beach park is a quiet beach park with a shower, restrooms, and picnic tables close to Hawi and Pololu Valley (2.5 miles, about 10 minutes by car). Waipi'o Valley hike distance: The round trip hike from the lookout parking lot to the black sand beach and back is just over 3 miles. All Rights Reserved. Hawaii Police said a 2000 Toyota 4Runner was traveling downhill on Waipio Access Road, when it experienced a brake failure and collided with a 2004 Ford Econoline, a tour van, traveling uphill. Some of the most popular scenery on the big island includes the Pololu Valley, Haleakala Volcano, Maui's Road to Hana, Waipio Valley Isle, Lanai's Kaunolu, Oahu's North Shore, and some stunning beaches that depict the true Hawaiian culture. So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! 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. Although I've never hiked it, I can brag that I've driven down the road with the steepest grade in the entire USA! According to oral history, as many as 10,000 people lived in Waipio Valley before Captain Cook's landing in 1778. At the Pololu Valley floor, you will see a stream with large trees. Not only will you beat most of the crowds but you will also benefit from more pleasant temperatures. All Rights Reserved. The Pololu Valley Lookout gives a spectacular view over the cliffs of the Kohala volcano. The Pololu Valley and this coastline are particularly beautiful for the steep, greenery-covered valley walls and dramatic cliffs that fall into the ocean. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. Colleen is correct about Pololu Valley, it's beautiful and drive there is as well. Get our brand-new trip planning series delivered directly to your inbox - for FREE (more info). to reach the bottom, On rainy One of the benefits of living in Hawaii is the opportunity to be outside just about every day of the year.
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