Lots of water and snacks. 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. After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the parking lot here. 4 Incredible Spots to Watch a Sunrise on the Big Island Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022 . Michele Falzone/Getty Images. ARIZONA The hike down to the bottom of the valley and to the beach is the same paved road the cars use. 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. Also, if you want an adventure, check out Kaumana Caves. The huge sea cliffs paralleling a beautiful black sand beach were simply amazing to look at. and is the oldest of 5 volcanoes that make up the Big Island. If you love sightseeing, the shuttle tour is a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon on the Big Island. Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa a lava boat rides the waves! 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. Most people do the hike down to the beach and come back up. Funny 1. There is a trail that leads through the canyon gulch at a distance but visitors are not allowed to pass beyond a certain area since it is private lands. Once at the bottom take the road to the right. 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. Both the Big Island and Maui have a diverse culinary scene with plenty of delicious food options to choose from. Big Island Activities The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. Polulu Valley/Waipio Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board - Tripadvisor The river has to be crossed, which is best done at low tide and . Walking back up the road at the end was a bit tough just due to the steep incline. Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would go again, Location: Trailhead is at the Pololu Lookout on the Big Island of Hawaii, Distance: 4.6 miles roundtrip (including the Honokane Nui Lookout). Get our brand-new trip planning series delivered directly to your inbox - for FREE (more info). https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3094/720. The Top 10 Hikes on Hawaii Island - TripSavvy Bummer! I stopped by twice once because we were in the area around 3:00 pm and the other to start the hike at 8:30 am. IDAHO 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. Polulu Valley meaning Long Spear is revered in ancient history. Amazing is an understatement. You can follow this trail over the valley floor and up the other side to the next valley: Honokane Nui. Keokea Beach park a beautiful park with nice views of the coastline with picnic grounds and public services. Streams in the valley are susceptible to flash flooding. Waipio Valley. The crossing might be dry. Most references to the Polol Valley trail refer to this trail, which ends where the beach meets the valley floor. The trail itself offers breathtaking views of the cliffs, the valley and the black sand beach on the valley floor. You can also park Waipi'o Valley is much more trying, longer, and more satisfying. Island of Hawaii Tourism Island of Hawaii Hotels Island of Hawaii Bed and Breakfast Island of Hawaii Holiday Rentals Island of Hawaii Packages Day 6: Big Island Road Trip Itinerary (Waipi'o Valley and Polol Valley) 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. The cliffs of the Kohala coastline were formed during a catastrophic landslide between 250.000 and 300.000 years ago during which a large part of the volcano slipped into the ocean. I recommend bringing along some slip on shoes to change into crossing, then back in hiking boots/shoes on other side. . There is only one way inby foot on the Muliwai Trail, a nine-mile backpacking trek ascending the north face of Waipio via a series of steep switchbacks (visible from the Waipio Valley Lookout) and winding through miles of plateau gulches and forests before descending treacherous switchbacks on Waimanu's south face to the valley floor. To see which of our walks in the Kohala Mountains is the right one for you, browse real tips and photos uploaded by other hikersand see what they had to say about each walk. 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. By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms. Dont venture too far inland to avoid trespassing and disturbing sites that shouldnt be disturbed. Pololu valley. ~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~. Pololu Valley is home to one of the many black sand beaches on the Big Island. If you are trying to decide where to hike, Waipio Valley or here, this hike is MUCH easier. Waipio Valley Hike (ROAD CURRENTLY CLOSED) Located in the flourishing green pastures of North Kohala at the end of Highway 270, Pololu Valley is simply awe-inspiring, especially at sunrise. After you pass mile marker 28, you'll get some peak a boo views to the cliffs of Pololu. There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. So I guess I do believe in miracles. 7 . The cliffs of Pololu and valley are unspoiled and have been natural until the first arrival of humans into the valley around the 15th Century. 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). 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. There is no lifeguard. By syr101, October 30, 2014 in Hawaii. Hike the Pololu Valley - letsgo-hawaii.com When you're ready, climb 300' back to the trailhead. Hike down on broken paved road. 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. just at the end of road with most day trippers coming to take pictures and 4. GRAND CANYON AZ Pololu Trail | Map, Guide - Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails The expansive black sand beach is fantastic to walk through and check out the rock sculptures and enjoy the beach. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its a rewarding view that allows you to get away from the crowds that do the Pololu Valley Hike. and is the oldest of 5 volcanoes that make up the Big Island. PICTURED ROCKS MI Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley - Hawaii - Cruise Critic Community Did this the last visit before I had this app and were heading down again this visit but its closed till probably 2025. Check out . Check the TRAVEL WITH ME PAGE to see if you can join any upcoming group tours that I am planning to review. Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability. 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. However, it didnt last long, and I was almost completely dry by the time I reached the trailhead. Hard on the way up, but totally worth it., starts with a decline up to the beach. Hawaii - Pololu Valley Hike to the Remote Honokane Nui Lookout Intermediate. Hiking Hawaii - Pololu Valley - Hawaii Real Estate Market & Trends 11:00-1:00: Take a Road Trip to Hip Hawi (#28) and explore Kapa'au. At the Pololu Valley floor, you will see a stream with large trees. explore and see in the area. Must cross water to go up the other side though. As we do for most places on the Big Island we recommend to visit Pololu Valley early in the day. Dont worry, there is plenty of time on the beach to take a breather! 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. Later in 1780, the great King Kamehameha received the war god . If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. If you are going to Pololu Valley during whale season (between ~December and March) and want to include a whale-watching picnic to your visit you should start by checking out our DIY whale watching tips. . One week on the Big Island : r/travel Big Island Hawaii VR Tour in 360 - VTHawaii.com After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the . The view of these lush valleys and cliffs into the ocean is stunning. Theres a small parking lot at the end of the road. Big Island Hikes has another hike that proceeds over to an overlook for the next valley, Honokne Nui. After that, there were a number of other people arrived. Lets get into the hike! I started walking down in order to get away from the people, but was surprised it really was a road, not a trail, and the vans driving down were a bit of a turn-off. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. But if you prepare for the crowds and mud, then I know you will enjoy the hike as much as I did. Looks good for potentially running also. There are some great views of picturesque bodies of water, including the ocean, a small lake, and a river. 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. There is often a possibility of rain at any moment. Hike Pololu Valley Big Island, Hawaii Backcountrycow | Backpacking The view of the valley from the top, surrounded by cliffs up to 2,000 feet high, is already awe-inspiring. Aloha and enjoy This Hawaii Life. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING One of the benefits of living in Hawaii is the opportunity to be outside just about every day of the year. And you are at the Pololu Valley lookout! This trip turned out to be my favorite experience on the Big Island so far. 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. We opted to take our 4x4 rental to the black sand beach at the end. There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. Look mauka and you should see a brown sign guiding you to the trail. Hike Waipio Valley Big Island, Hawaii - Backcountrycow Pololu Valley is located in north Kohala on the eastern slope of the extinct Kohala volcano at the northernmost point of the Big Island. Instead, locals would like you to know about Keokea Beach Park where there are bathrooms. Super fun, a bit challenging, but totally worth it. You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. It is split by the sublime Waipi'o River. The trail climbs the eastern ridge of Pololu through a series of muddy and often slippery switchbacks and leads to a wooden bench that overlooks the Honokane Nui Valley and part of the Honokane Iki Valley. The valley floor is 1/4 mile from the trailhead. From the beach facing the ocean, looking right (SE) we could see Kaluahine Falls funneling water into the ocean. The following 2.5 minute video shows aerial footage of the cliffs, the beach and the upper valley: The Pololu lookout gives you a magnificent view over Pololu Valley and the impressive sea cliffs that slowly crumble into the ocean. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail . Waiulili Falls - Ocean-Bound Waterfall by Waipi'o Valley Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. Lots of great scenery but you can experience that on the drive. Share More sharing options. Most people visit just day camp on the valley floor into the late hours. The scenery is breath-taking with the rough ocean waves crashing against the sea cliffs and black sand beach on one side, and the densely forrested valley on the other. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. 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. POLOLU VALLEY TRAIL--BIG ISLAND - thehikinghi 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. Consider making a stop there before you go to Pololu Valley, just in case! 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). Id love to hear what you thought or if you enjoyed the Waipio valley as much as Pololu. Youll arrive down to the black sand beach! It is still a gorgeous, worthy hike even if you are heading down to the beach. On the northern Hamakua Coast, you'll find the lush Waipio Valley. This is a popular spot, so go on off times! 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. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Big Island travel tips & recommendations , Explore Big Island Hotels & Resorts Search Now. One of the most magical experiences Ive had in Hawaii. Between 250.000 and 300.000 years ago the Kohala volcano experienced a truly massive landslide in which a part of the volcano fell into the ocean. If you desire dramatic views of Hawaii Island's northeastern coastline, including impressive cliffs, verdant valleys, and lush landscapes, head to Pololu Valley, Waipio Valley's lesser-known but still just as gorgeous cousin at the end of Hawaii Island's seven major valleys carved into the Kohala Coast. NATIONAL LAKESHORES 84. Even now, the natural beauty of Pololu looks untouched in the ages with the rugged cliffs, black sand beach and huge ocean waves crashing on the beach. HALEAKALA HI Trailhead: Take Hwy. Top 10 Volcanoes in Hawaii | Town & Tourist Have fun. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Otherwise, you can park along the side of the road before that dead end parking lot too.