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 . 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. Don't miss these. Although this is lovely, I recommend further exploring the Pololu Valley and continuing to hike to the Honokane Nui Lookout. Continue to cliffs, a bit inland you will find a trail. Have fun. Learn how to MAKE THE MOST OF A GUIDED TOUR. Waipio is the southeastern most of the Hamakua coasts dramatic stream valleys. Insanely popular trail the parking area was already busy by 8:30 am. WIND CAVE SD This river is fed by agricultural runoff, so carefully consider how you treat this water before drinking. Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa a lava boat rides the waves! Liliuokalani Gardens, Hilo , by ALOHA DEAN Japanese garden in Hilo's Lili'uokalani Gardens, named for the Hawaiian monarch Queen Lili'uokalani. We just share the best of Hawaii travel, food, adventure and lifestyle to you in our updated posts and newsletters. This is a good spot for a picnic and a shower after hiking down into Pololu valley. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail . Head to the end of Akoni Pule Hwy (270) to come to Pololu Valley. This series consists of the following valleys: Water has eroded 7 deep valleys into the windward side of the Kohala Volcano of the Big Island. Over all its 25% grade. This is probably one of the best angles to photograph the coast and the mouth of the valley. Also, if you want an adventure, check out Kaumana Caves. Sign up for our free monthly updates (more info) about everything that is new and happening in Hawaii. The third guich is higher in elevation and some of the trail is very tricky with barely any trail walking the sides of loose slope but with some helpful ropes to keep you from sliding down hill. My husband did this hike a couple of weeks ago and loved it http://www.bigislandhikes.com/puu-waawaa/. #1. You climb over 750 feet with many switch backs for about one mile uphill. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail, and it no longer connects! We saw wild horses at the base of Waipio! Once you get The Pololu Valley and this coastline are particularly beautiful for the steep, greenery-covered valley walls and dramatic cliffs that fall into the ocean. Pololu Valley as seen from the trailhead. Seeing so many people doing this, it can be seen as a form of disrespecting the land. Its not a smooth trail, at least to the Z. Colleen is correct about Pololu Valley, it's beautiful and drive there is as well. Pololu Valley hike: This is a 2.5 miles round trip and is pretty easy. Bring enough water with you and keep in mind that there are no restroom facilities in the valley or at the lookout. A gorgeous hike from the top to the gorgeous black sandy beaches of Pololu Valley, the drive alone and panoramic views of the cliffs and coastlines impresses the moment you park on the end of road. My phone died part way through so I dont have photos of the horse. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. It is smooth sailing going down, but getting back up can be a real workout. Update 11/21/06 - State officials have reopened the Pololu Trail in North Kohala. Hiking stick for balance is very helpful as well. There are heiaus and historical parks to explore along the way. When you're ready, climb 300' back to the trailhead. On Dec 7, a lava boat was spotted floating down channel. How to get there? During or after rains the trail can be slippery and because of the relatively steep average grade of the trail (13%) we rate the difficulty as moderate. Youll need to relax bc youll be on edge driving - esp if its your first time. However, rough surf and the occasional appearance of Portuguese Man-o-wars make it not the ideal beach for swimming. The water here is notoriously dangerous and should only be attempted by very experienced swimmers and surfers. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. It is possible you will encounter people from the Pololu Valley Steward Program at the lookout. After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the . Hawi sounds like the kind of place I'd enjoy stopping along the way. Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail: Hapuna Beach to Mauna Kea Beach, Puukohol Heiau National Historical Site Trail, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail: Mauna Kea Beach to Hapuna Beach, Kalahuipua'a Historic Park and Fishponds Loop, Muliwai and Waimanu Valley Trail [CLOSED]. 1: Maui Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: Road to Hana (Maui) 6: Maui Itinerary 7: Maui blog posts, The second-biggest island in the chain, much of Mauis appeal comes from its natural landscape and biodiversity, including its two massive volcanoes, whale watching and marine ecosystems, 1: Oahu Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: Oahu Beaches 6: Oahu Itinerary 7: Oahu blog posts. Free cancellation: up to 24 to 72 hours before tour. If there is no room, wait or come back another day. You can also hike down the beach and up the Mulawai zigzag trail about 30 minutes to the third switchback for great views of the valley and beach. Pololu valley is at the northern tip and part of the oldest (of 5) volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii. NATIONAL LAKESHORES This trip turned out to be my favorite experience on the Big Island so far. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88624665', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui one week we'll go out there at least twice if not more). So going to Pololu Valley requires a time commitment. The view of the valley from the top, surrounded by cliffs up to 2,000 feet high, is already awe-inspiring. There are some great views of picturesque bodies of water, including the ocean, a small lake, and a river. Youll save yourself the tight corners and the wait by parking up the street. 2. Almost immediately upon climbing, it began to rain. I settled on Pololu Valley, a similar hike to Waipi'o, but with a few less people. Take that trail up until you reach edge across from Waipio lookout on other side. ATV tours in Kohala ATV outfitters take you on tours on private lands for 1.5 to 3-hour scenic tours and outdoor ATV experiences between Hawi and Polulu. Longitude: -155.7274313. Recommend bringing an extra pair of socks and a towel if you plan on crossing the River. Youll probably also notice some nice campsites, but camping here is illegal. steep with 13 percent grade going down to the valley floor and is only .6 miles Our current itinerary gives us one day to devote to hiking aside from what we will do in one day at VNP. So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! With steady warm temps year round (depending on where you are in Hawaii) it'd be a crime to not get outside! 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. GULF ISLANDS FL Pololu Valley Beach (Big Island) Pololu Valley Beach is considered a hidden gem on Hawaii Island. There are no trails heading out to the rocky beach areas but you can walk down through an old Hawaiian village and area of rock walls and pond enclosures that were probably made for growing taro, keeping animals and shelter which is truly amazing to visit. If you choose to hike down, the trail has been fixed is a challenging going through two sets of ropes for rappeling down a mostly dirt and rock area, a gorgeous walk through native fan palms and surprising a stunning natural bamboo grove. Later in 1780, the great King Kamehameha received the war god . Intermediate. Near the top of the ridge you'll reach a small plateau with a large rock. Hiking east of Polol Valley is prohibited due to private property. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. We were devastated to hear that this access road may remain closed until 2025! 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. 4. Answer 1 of 8: We are planning to spend an entire day hiking down the trail in Waipo ValleyIs there a parking area at the top ?Do we need a permitI know that there is private property there and we will respect that by not trespassing, just. If you want to drive instead of hiking down, you'll need to . Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. stream inland ends and is mostly private lands that are off limits to explore. Stay organized while planning your own trip with a TRIP PLANNING DOCUMENT. You I have wondered if the Awini Trail connects the the Northeast Coast together or is it a jungle bushwack beyond the above mentioned valleys making a connection between the roads at either end a near impossibility? Users of the website may print or download any content for personal use, but no one may reproduce this content (whether text or photographs) for any purpose in print or online without explicit permission from BigIslandHikes.com. The Volcano Van - Big Island Volcano Tours, Holualoa Inn-Big Island Bed and Breakfast, Latitude: 20.20033933 Re crowding at over look, much more at Waipio as area of over look is much bigger, not so much at Polulu. 1: Kauai Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: The Npali Coast 6: Kauai Itinerary 7: Kauai blog posts. 4 Things to Do in Stowe Vermont in the Fall. At one time the valley had churches, restaurants, and schools as well as a hotel, post office, and jail. Gear: Standard hiking gear. By doing the hike, you . Sharing road/trail with trucks and hikers would be irritating. The Waipio Valley hike down to the beach (hiking back into the valley isn't allowed) is quite a bit steeper and longer, more like 45-60 minutes each way. You have to turn around. 1:00-2:00: Drive to Waimea. If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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! syr101 . Trailhead: Take Hwy. It is unclear if the trail continues. By doing the hike, youll get better views of the black sand beach as youre going down, and its a nice scenic coastal hike! The ocean at Pololu valley is not a safe place to go swimming. The closest restrooms are at the Keokea Beach Park (10 minutes from the overlook) and just behind the King Kameha Statue which you will pass in Kapaau en-route to the overlook from Hawi. Waipio Valley is on the northern peninsula of the Big Island. The water that carved out these valleys is also the reason why these valleys were a popular place to live for the native Hawaiians: a constant supply of water is essential to grow culturally significant crops such as Taro. It takes about 30 - 45 minutes, but the walk back up will take anywhere between 1 - 1.5 hours depending on your level of physical fitness. I recommend heading inland, and youll see a stone-lined walking path. 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! A little off the beaten path, this hike was our favorite on the Big Island. Waipi'o Valley Lookout - Nanaue Falls Loop from Kukuihaele. Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii, as seen from the overlook.