Waipio Valley - Waimea Message Board - Tripadvisor For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. GRAND TETON WY 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. It's a short but steep hike, and parking is . The waves here are gnarly, and I wouldnt recommend swimming here, but it is beautiful to see. This video and the associated comments explain all: "Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know." Over all its 25% grade. Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. It is not considered a swimming beach and sometimes inundated with Portuguese man-o-wars, so do not try to swim this dangerous beach especially with no resources for helping in drowning conditions. Josiane St Pierre / Getty Images. (Please do not disturb anything in this ancient site it is untouched and still in wonderful condition). Waipio Valley Hike Guide: Directions, Length, and Trail Map Home During my recent trip to the Big Island, I opted to do the Pololu Valley Hike. Only a few people continue to the Honokane Nui Lookout, so this part of the trail is less busy. 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. Although I've never hiked it, I can brag that I've driven down the road with the steepest grade in the entire USA! Waipi'o Valley hike time: The hike will take a total of 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the fitness level of the group and time spent exploring the valley floor. Although the lookout provides a fabulous view, nothing compares to making into down into the valley. In Hawaii, respecting the land is a big thing in Hawaiian culture. https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3094/720. Not sure how much you've read about each hike: http://www.bigislandhikes.com/pololu-valley/, http://www.bigislandhikes.com/waipio-valley/. PEARL HARBOR HI click here to go to our instagram account, Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach. We spent the last day on the Big Island valley hopping and checking out a remote cabin on a private beach. Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa a lava boat rides the waves! Thanks for visiting This Hawaii life and checking out this post on a Big Island hike to Pololu Valley. Re crowding at over look, much more at Waipio as area of over look is much bigger, not so much at Polulu. pic.twitter.com/D9gdoFolfq. You climb over 750 feet with many switch backs for about one mile uphill. Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach Best Hikes Big Island - 12 Incredible Adventures - Tripster Travel Guide POLOLU VALLEY Hike to Pololu Valley beach OR just see the lookout? After taking more photos with the reflection of the still water, I began the climb up to the trailhead. " The hike down to Waipio valley is on a steep paved road, . . Beautiful Big Island Waterfall Hikes - Hawaii Travel with Kids Trailhead: Take Hwy. Your email address will not be published. You can get some great scenic views from the Pololu Valley lookout right near the parking area. Hard on the way up, but totally worth it., starts with a decline up to the beach. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Here are some comparisons: Polulu Valley/Waipio Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board - Tripadvisor There are parking spots directly next to the trailhead, but I recommend parking a bit further up the street because the pedestrian flow around this area is almost constant. Went back in 2020. sad to hear its closed for a couple of years. One of the benefits of living in Hawaii is the opportunity to be outside just about every day of the year. If have a 4x4, do like the locals- back up your truck and park towards the ocean- lay in back of truck -and relax. I was slipping and sliding my way to the Honokane Nui Lookout. The water here is notoriously dangerous and should only be attempted by very experienced swimmers and surfers. At the end of Highway 270 in North Kohala, the black sand beach at the mouth of Pololu Valley is accessible to adventurous visitors via a steep, 25-minute hike. Maybe its best to think of this as a half day activity. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley. Dont hike this trial - take a 4x4 down and up. The trail is located about a hundred feet from the shoreline with a small trail located with low lying ferns and on the eastern ridge of Polulu. Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley The road leading to the Pololu Valley Lookout has also been repaired - news release. 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). After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the parking lot here. Its steeep. We looked at info for both Waipio and Pololu Valley and can't decide which we would prefer. Colleen is correct about Pololu Valley, its beautiful and drive there is as well. Coming back I knew I wanted to visit the Kohala area again, but this time somewhere different. 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 trail snakes inland and back toward the ocean as you make your way across the top of this hillside. Pololu Valley was formed over 250,000 to 300,000 years ago when the Kohala Volcano experienced a huge collapse and landslide with a large part falling into the ocean and creating this massive gulch and valley that we see today. There are no bathrooms near the Pololu Valley trailhead. It's also the northernmost valley of the same chain that includes Waipi'o Valley, which was shown on the first trip. . Since you can find similar views at Pololu Valley, I'd save Waipi'o Valley for a time when the road has re-opened and it's safe to hike down to the valley. 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. Its a shame that they dont realize that hiking one or two switch-backs down toward Polol Beach provides a much better photo vantage. 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. From scenic overlook, hike down steep rocky trail to beautiful black sand and rocky beach with views of the Hamakua coast. 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. How long is pololu Valley hike? 5. Someone generously placed a new bench which conveniently turns into a table and seating area with magnificent views down the Honokane Nui. 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. Image by: Floyd Stewart/Flickr. This is a great place to bring a picnic. Pololu valley. Take that trail up until you reach edge across from Waipio lookout on other side. There is room for about 10 cars at the end of the road in a parking area that fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms, conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. 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. Liliuokalani Gardens, Hilo , by ALOHA DEAN Japanese garden in Hilo's Lili'uokalani Gardens, named for the Hawaiian monarch Queen Lili'uokalani. Good to know: there are no public restrooms at the lookout or down in the valley. The Top 10 Hikes on Hawaii Island - TripSavvy Somewhere between .75 and 1 mile. If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. Steep but beautiful! Download your copy of our No . As you get to the beach areas there is a variety of camp sites and abandoned sites with refused from ocean findings that probably washed onshore. The view of these lush valleys and cliffs into the ocean is stunning. OR if youre headed to a National Park at the last minute, check out my tips for GETTING A WALK-UP PERMIT OR FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE CAMPGROUND. Subscribe to receive 5 emails in 5 days: Call us for advice! Large pebbles and stones cover the beach, making a satisfying rattling sound when the waves pick them up. 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. Most people only drive to the end of Hwy. Couple that with the recent closure of the access road to the similarly popular Waipio Valley, and the crowds are growing. Sounds like Pololu is more about the journey and a shorter hike. By Tiphany Myers. Waipio Valley Residents Still Seek A Deal Limiting Foot Traffic On The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. Some of the cars in the morning may have been from people who were camping in the valley, but overall, it is best to mentally prepare for this popular spot to be busy. Intermediate. So, I'd like to feature different trails that are fun . From the valley floor it is a short and easy stretch to the beach. See more state parks on the Big Island. The beach itself is made out of a mix of black sand and large boulders. Many visitors find Hawaii fascinating for its state parks and hidden sea caves. POLOLU VALLEY - 278 Photos & 80 Reviews - Yelp Required fields are marked *. Take your time at the lookout, and I bet you will have some time alone. Kamehameha stature here for more information. I had to press down my "mall parking anxiety" not flee the premises, lol. I recommend parking up the street slightly so that it is easy to turn around and leave at the end of your hike. Continuing on to the Z trail provides more solitude, I'm sure. Its steep, muddy, rocky and slippery.