Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley. The Polol Valley beach is mostly made up of moderately-sized polished lava rocks. Very steep. Quickly cross the Polol River where it meets the sea. Recommended Posts. 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. We're staying in Kolea area so the drive. the Kamehameha statue in Kapaau at the Kohala civic center sits the original We looked at info for both Waipio and Pololu Valley and can't decide which we would prefer. Share More sharing options. Its steep, muddy, rocky and slippery. The Big Island of Hawaii is simply a treasure trove of beauty. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND 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/. Over all its 25% grade. Lets get into the hike! visit on sunnier days when the trail is dry and easy to hike below, There are no Sharing road/trail with trucks and hikers would be irritating. Its steeep. Only local residents are permitted to go farther along the road. MUD!! The ornamental . The roundtrip hike goes down about 420 feet to the valley floor You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. 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. Most people visit just day camp on the valley floor into the late hours. This trip turned out to be my favorite experience on the Big Island so far. The huge sea cliffs paralleling a beautiful black sand beach were simply amazing to look at. Not only is Pololu valley scenic as an overlook at the end of road, but the hike and views going downhill, the walk across the gorgeous black sand beach is a wonderful experience. Steep but beautiful! 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. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Whatever the situation during your visit do NOT even think about taking the coastline to the valleys beyond Pololu. Waipi'o Valley: How to visit and What to see - Love Big Island The stretch between the Pololu valley lookout and the black sand beach is only the first part of a more extended trail. It then passes through 12 smaller gulches on a . 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. Waipi'o valley Hike: A 6.5 mile round trip of medium difficulty. You can also park Head out to the rocky beach for a view of the ocean and rugged coastline. 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. I found this area to be relatively flat and dry. Pololu Trail | Map, Guide - Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails Or else you can take a 4x4 down and up the same road. Date first visited: . Waipio Valley. ~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~. Somewhere between .75 and 1 mile. HAWAII VOLCANOES HI The trail down to the valley floor offers great views into Pololu Valley. 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 Hike to Pololu Valley beach OR just see the lookout? Hawaii - Pololu Valley Hike to the Remote Honokane Nui Lookout Once I turned around, the journey back to the trailhead went surprisingly quick. YELLOWSTONE WY For decades, residents and visitors have traversed a steep, largely unpaved incline to the Big . Park at the end of the highway at the Polol Valley overlook. I had to press down my "mall parking anxiety" not flee the premises, lol. Maybe I'm incorrect in my assumptions. Waipio Valley Lookout attraction reviews - Waipio Valley Lookout A little off the beaten path, this hike was our favorite on the Big Island. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88584435', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kauai and Maui pretty extensively and will be heading to Maui after BI this trip. LANAI Went back in 2020. sad to hear its closed for a couple of years. 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. Big Island hike to Pololu Valley - This Hawaii Life Big Island vs Maui - Which is the Better Vacation? 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 . Youll probably also notice some nice campsites, but camping here is illegal. My favorite spot on the island so majorly bummed. He went on our last day, we were leaving on a red eye and I decided not to do it. Copyright 2020, BigIslandHikes.com. Pololu valley and waipio valley - Island of Hawaii Forum Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. 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. This Stunning Big Island Valley Is Drawing Bigger Crowds And The expansive black sand beach is fantastic to walk through and check out the rock sculptures and enjoy the beach. It is a very tempting prospect; however, this is extremely dangerous as one errant wave could easily knock you off the rocks and into the ocean. This is a great place to bring a picnic. 270 and gawk at the beauty of the rugged northern Kohala coastline from the Polol Overlook. Michele Falzone/Getty Images. A visit to Pololu Valley in Hawaii - Travel Photo Discovery But if you prepare for the crowds and mud, then I know you will enjoy the hike as much as I did. Youll need to relax bc youll be on edge driving - esp if its your first time. Followers 1. Previously, earthquake damage had closed the Pololu Valley trail, but it is once again open - and it is a hike that you must do! statue of Kamehameha 1st who united all of the Hawaiian Islands. The strenuous Z Trail can access this wild valley, otherwise, it was required a chopper tour to see Oahu is the lively center and most visited of all Hawaiian Islands. 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. leave, so there is a lot of turnover for the parking spots. I have read about the hike / walk to. If you would like to learn more about living here, be sure to check out my Moving To Hawaii Resources for Hawaii Island. Saw one fisherman on the beach, and four vehicles passed us while hiking the paved section. All Rights Reserved. All of the land upriver is privately owned. While the "hike" down to the beach isn't extensive, it's so rewarding. The river has to be crossed, which is best done at low tide and . The leeward side of the Kohala volcano is one of the best places on the Big Island to see whales from the shore. Ultra grateful to the couple from Tennessee who gave us a lift back up in their Toyota Tacoma- even though we left a pricey hiking pole in their car by accident- grateful to have not done the hike up- my body/feet wouldve just gotten too torn up! Colleen is correct about Pololu Valley, its beautiful and drive there is as well. Hawaii Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting The commissions help support Moderately Adventurous stay alive and kicking. We spent the last day on the Big Island valley hopping and checking out a remote cabin on a private beach. This is a gorgeous walk with stunning views and one of our 5 favorite hikes on the Big Island! MAUI Camping is not allowed at Pololu since it is on private land and permits only issued for specific research studies. PICTURED ROCKS MI If you hike- especially after rainy season- wear waterproof sneakers. explore and see in the area. Also the water was too high for us to be able to cross without getting soaked above the knees so we missed the back half because we werent prepared. 4. Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022 . May 11, 2018 Alice Kao. We walked the opposite direction along the beach, crossed the river inflow and went to the large rocks before turning around. There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. 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. How long does it take to hike down to Waipio Valley? If it was dry I would have been fine driving it with our 4X4. 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. I could not tell in person which way it went from the lookout, so if you are planning to go further, you will have to do additional research. A group of Chinese immigrants settled in the valley in the late 1800 and built churches . On Dec 7, a lava boat was spotted floating down channel. There people are often volunteering their time to give visitors information about visiting the valley and the make sure parking only happens in allowed spaces. ARIZONA I loved the dramatic and rugged landscape of the Pololu Valley Hike. Please have a chat with them when you arrive to learn more about the area and treat them kindly. Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. Shop around on. Bryan C. Sacramento, CA. Various sections of the trail, which runs in a steep zigzag down the vegetated cliff face, have been rebuilt - read article.. Start early - like 730-8 in morning. 2. Take the time to explore. How to get there? CARDIO!! Island of Hawaii. Pololu valley is at the northern tip and part of the oldest (of 5) volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapa'au. Bring a flashlight. We opted to take our 4x4 rental to the black sand beach at the end. There are are group tours that lead visitors directly to see the waterfall at Pololu called Kapoloa Falls, this is managed by Hawaii Forest and Trail. Enjoy the views, the walk, the beach. Hiking Pololu Valley to Honokane Iki Valley kenjiSAITO Any suggestions to help us pick one over the other? Island of Hawaii. Got there at 10 and parking was "80% full" on a Friday. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. 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. Hiking east of Polol Valley is prohibited due to private property. With more time and better weather, we would have attempted the longer hike to Waimanu. The waves here are gnarly, and I wouldnt recommend swimming here, but it is beautiful to see. The wind blowing in the shrubs and trees and helicopters buzzing close over your head enhance the expansive view. Its not a smooth trail, at least to the Z. Muliwai trail brochure It is smooth sailing going down, but getting back up can be a real workout. The valley was the permanent home for Hawaiian ali'i (royalty) until the time of King Umi-a-Lloa. Waipi'o Valley Lookout - Waipio'o Valley Loop from Kukuihaele . Hiking on the Big Island Maluhia Hale at Hualalai Regarding treading on sacred ground is not a problem if you follow the following guidelines. 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. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. By doing the hike, youll get better views of the black sand beach as youre going down, and its a nice scenic coastal hike! There is room for about 10 cars at the end of the road in a parking area that fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Big Island Hawaii VR Tour in 360 - VTHawaii.com 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. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail . This hike starts at the parking lot near the Waipio Lookout. This video and the associated comments explain all: "Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know." Take the steep hike down the tropical cliff and towards the black sandy beach below. (You can reach it from the beach, but it involves walking over lots of rocks.) The trailhead has no services at all no water, no restrooms, and no cell service. Hawi sounds like the kind of place I'd enjoy stopping along the way. You'll hear from me shortly. After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the parking lot here. Lots of wildlife near the trail. Not only will you beat most of the crowds but you will also benefit from more pleasant temperatures. The total length of this hike is . Both times, the parking area was packed. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. There are several levels of visiting Pololu valley. There are heiaus and historical parks to explore along the way. Lava boats can form when portions of the cone or lava channel break away & are rafted downstream. done with your hiking adventure, check out all these other fun things to WHAT TO WEAR SNORKELING So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! POLOLU VALLEY - 278 Photos & 80 Reviews - Yelp Pololu Valley Trail, from the lookout down to the valley takes . . That is why only a part of the hike is described here. Super fun, a bit challenging, but totally worth it. 6:30-11:00: Hike into Pololu Valley. We were devastated to hear that this access road may remain closed until 2025! Also found a beautiful waterfall. Black Sand Beaches in Hawaii, Everything You Need to Know Permanent signs are posted saying road closed and no pedestrians. It shocked me to make it back to the Pololu Valley floor without falling. Head to the end of Akoni Pule Hwy (270) to come to Pololu Valley. The view of the valley from the top, surrounded by cliffs up to 2,000 feet high, is already awe-inspiring. See more ideas for planning out your days on the Big Island. days, it is muddy and extremely slippery, Look to You won't get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. Pololu Valley Lookout. The trail itself offers breathtaking views of the cliffs, the valley and the black sand beach on the valley floor. The trail can be quite muddy if it has been raining. This is one of the most adventurous and beautiful hikes we have done. by Murph1 Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:36 am. So Pololu Valley is one of the great coastal valleys on the north side of the Big Island. 6. Hike Pololu Valley Big Island, Hawaii 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. 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. How to get to Pololu Valley. 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. More information at the Keokea beach park website. We looked at info for both Waipio and Pololu Valley and can't decide which we would prefer. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88589471', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kohala and the Pololu Valley. The Pololu Valley floor is beautiful with a river, campgrounds, etc. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. Colleen you need to do this hike. The Pololu Ditch Trail into the valley leading to Kapoloa Falls was closed due to the Kona earthquake in October 2006. You can see this now as a series of 7 valleys (a valley has a flood plane at the valley floor) of which Polol Valley is the most northern one. 18. The small town of Kapaau has A gorgeous visit to Polulu Valley on the west side of Hawaii. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. where Julie and I were fortunate enough to see flowing lava While Waipi'o Valley was the easternmost of the valleys in the Kohala Mountains in northeast Big Island, Pololu Valley was the westernmost of these valleys. The Kohala Volcano last erupted about 120.000 years ago (!) One week on the Big Island : r/travel A guy at the entrance said the trail is closed to hikers and cars until further notice. . Saw wild horses at the bottom of the trail. Hike Pololu Valley Big Island, Hawaii Backcountrycow | Backpacking Make sure you find parking even from a distant walk to the entrance of the trail since parking is limited right at the entrance. WAIPIO VALLEY ROAD Hike OR drive to Waipio Valley beach OR just see Easy to moderate. That one's so close to the resort that we could do that in addition to either of the two I asked about. But, it's not a kid-friendly hike. Once on the valley floor, the flora changes abruptly into large ironwood trees just behind the beach. Pololu Valley is a solid 1.5 hours from Kona, maybe more depending on where on the Kona coast youre staying. 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. Waipi'o Valley - 3 miles roundtrip with longer options. Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. At the coast there is a beautiful black sand beach constantly pounded by the Pacific Ocean waves. 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. Waipi'o is a mile wide at the coast and almost six miles deep. The ascent on both ends of this hike will test your cardiovascular system but are well worth it. Find climbing partners in Oceania and Pacific Islands. Thanks, rj, for the encouragement! Going Beyond Polulu Valley-Hard Hike On Hawaii Island Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa a lava boat rides the waves! If you're heading there from one of the main towns, the drive is still about an hour and a half from Hilo, and two hours from Kona. WYOMING I have done both several times. In my very limited experience (twice at Waipio, three times at Pololu), I've actually found Waipio more crowded. Noel Morata is the creator of This Hawaii Life along with a small team of contributors. But the hike up is quite steep. On the day we hiked, it was pretty crowded and there were lots of cars driving throughout the trail (maybe one ever minute or two). You wont get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. You can find a more concise description of this hike at the bigislandhikes website. Waipio Valley Hike (ROAD CURRENTLY CLOSED) 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. We would love to see things that are truly unique to big island; we have hiked (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The passing clouds threaten rain but also provide dynamic skies in your photos. 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. Regarding treading on sacred ground is not a problem if you follow the following guidelines. Consider making a stop there before you go to Pololu Valley, just in case! There is no lifeguard. My phone died part way through so I dont have photos of the horse. You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. Have fun. Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. It can be distressing for locals to see people coming out of the bushes near the Pololu Valley trailhead, presuming why people are coming out of the bushes. Polol Valley Big Island Hikes opportunity in the area. The black sand beach at the valley floor looks like a beach at the end of the world. GRAND CANYON AZ There are also horses on the trail. He said there is a rock fall risk and it wont be opened again until repairs are completed.