Update 11/21/06 - State officials have reopened the Pololu Trail in North Kohala. There is room for about 10 cars at the end of the road in a parking area that fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Alternatively, the Waipio Valley Shuttle is the original 4-wheel drive tour of "the land of curving water" and is a mesmerizing and intimate look at the valley. 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. Bring a flashlight. I took a couple of timelapse videos and could see the light move around on the valley walls with the clouds. 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]. White top I was wearing a lightweight top from Free People. Exploring Hawaii's Big Island volcanoes and valleys | CNN Travel (You can reach it from the beach, but it involves walking over lots of rocks.) Permanent signs are posted saying road closed and no pedestrians. The ascent on both ends of this hike will test your cardiovascular system but are well worth it. Steep on the way down but you really feel it on the way back. Waiulili Falls - Ocean-Bound Waterfall by Waipi'o Valley If you like exercise you also opt for a hike to the next valley. I had stopped by the trailhead the day before at about 3:00 pm, and it was only slightly more active at that time. Theres a sense of magic here. 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. My husband did this hike a couple of weeks ago and loved it http://www.bigislandhikes.com/puu-waawaa/. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. See more ideas for planning out your days on the Big Island. This river is fed by agricultural runoff, so carefully consider how you treat this water before drinking. 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. Waipi'o Valley: How to visit and What to see - Love Big Island Right Colleen, I have read about the further hike across Pololu but forgot. Top 10 Volcanoes in Hawaii | Town & Tourist 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. Also, if you want an adventure, check out Kaumana Caves. Your email address will not be published. The beach at the bottom is fantastic, with the valley river flowing into the ocean resulting in a nice shallow play area. So be careful. 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. Beautiful place. Beyond the Lookout: Exploring the Big Island's Pololu Valley There are some switchbacks toward the bottom of the hill. The hike up was a bit strenuous, but it was only a mile long so we made it up the steep bits in about 30 minutes. If you start hiking later, the humidity will get you, and the crowds start at 9-10. 270 to the northern Kohala Coast, past the towns of Hawi and Kapa'au. The ocean, the enormous cliffs hugging the coastline and the lush green Pololu valley in the background are all surreal together. MAUI 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! 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. Hiking Hawaii - Pololu Valley - Hawaii Real Estate Market & Trends Easy to moderate. Subscribe to receive 5 emails in 5 days: Call us for advice! The Waipio Valley hike is one of the most beautiful and magical hiking spots on the Big Island. 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. Hiking Hawaii - Pololu Valley. Check out the other things I did on the Island of Hawaii: Have you done the Pololu Valley Hike or the Waipio Valley Hike? Large pebbles and stones cover the beach, making a satisfying rattling sound when the waves pick them up. Try not to get blown away by the incredible views and crazy wind at the Honokane Nui Lookout. 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. Liliuokalani Gardens, Hilo , by ALOHA DEAN Japanese garden in Hilo's Lili'uokalani Gardens, named for the Hawaiian monarch Queen Lili'uokalani. 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. Wai'po Valley Road is also part of the trail route, and it is also closed to pedestrian traffic. This is one of the most adventurous and beautiful hikes we have done. 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. days, it is muddy and extremely slippery, Look to If you do, please be mindful that you are visiting sacred land. The hike down is steep, but mostly on pavement. Yay, it worked! can find more details about the original Start early - like 730-8 in morning. Be prepared for the parking area to be busy when you arrive! High surf, undertow, and rip tides are frequently present so only go in the water if you are a good swimmer and dont get in too deep. Seeing so many people doing this, it can be seen as a form of disrespecting the land. The view from the third switchback of Z-Trail offers the most amazing view of Waipio Valley and is well worth the effort to reach. Instead, you must walk down a rocky hiking trail for about 20 minutes. Our current itinerary gives us one day to devote to hiking aside from what we will do in one day at VNP. On the northern Hamakua Coast, you'll find the lush Waipio Valley. Both times, the parking area was packed. You won't get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. Before you know it, you will have made it to the Pololu Valley floor. 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. Waipio Valley Hike Guide: Directions, Length, and Trail Map Home WYOMING The huge sea cliffs paralleling a beautiful black sand beach were simply amazing to look at. The water here is notoriously dangerous and should only be attempted by very experienced swimmers and surfers. Stunning View of the Waipio Valley #shorts - YouTube Somewhere between .75 and 1 mile. 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. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley for hiking? - Island of Hawaii Forum Waipio Valley - Waimea Message Board - Tripadvisor 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). For this reason it is both referred to at the Polol Trail and the wini trail. Various sections of the trail, which runs in a steep zigzag down the vegetated cliff face, have been rebuilt - read article.. We walked the opposite direction along the beach, crossed the river inflow and went to the large rocks before turning around. HALEAKALA HI The trail is We were devastated to hear that this access road may remain closed until 2025! It's still worth coming here to enjoy the view from the lookout, which I believe is the most beautiful vantage on the island! 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. Pololu Valley is located in north Kohala on the eastern slope of the extinct Kohala volcano at the northernmost point of the Big Island. Black Sand Beaches in Hawaii, Everything You Need to Know Also it can be more of a last minute hike, as well as being much easier. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Slick when wet. The beach itself is made out of a mix of black sand and large boulders. Otherwise, you can park along the side of the road before that dead end parking lot too. PEARL HARBOR HI And of course, hiking down to the valley floor and spending some time on the beach is very worthwhile. 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. It is considered one of the steepest roads in the world down to an . 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 ? Very steep. Lots of water and snacks. We just share the best of Hawaii travel, food, adventure and lifestyle to you in our updated posts and newsletters. Big Island Hikes has another hike that proceeds over to an overlook for the next valley, Honokne Nui. Regarding treading on sacred ground is not a problem if you follow the following guidelines. Take Kohala Mountain Road on your way back ~ another stunning drive. He thought I would like it, so next trip for sure! This short trail has beautiful coastal views. Waipi'o is a deep valley on the Hmkua Coast on the north side of the Big Island of Hawai'i. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail . FLORIDA, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SITES Crossing the river had water a bit above our knees, but again, it was well worth it to get to the rocks at the far end of the beach. The black sand beach at Pololu Valley can be rocky if a storm has washed away the black sand. Youll find hiking up the Maliwai uncrowded. Once you get MOUNT RUSHMORE SD There are no lifeguards on the beach and the surf breaks and the beach with undertow is treacherous so swimming is not encouraged on the beach. Only a few people continue to the Honokane Nui Lookout, so this part of the trail is less busy. 2022 Closure Notice On February 25, 2022, the County of Hawaii issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipio Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate . 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). 1/22/2023. 270 to the northern Kohala Coast, past the towns of Hawi and Kapaau. Just dont expect a quiet reprieve into nature. Its a shame that they dont realize that hiking one or two switch-backs down toward Polol Beach provides a much better photo vantage. Noel Morata is the creator of This Hawaii Life along with a small team of contributors. Hot lava cools to its surface to create that smooth exterior. 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. 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. Continue to cliffs, a bit inland you will find a trail. 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 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. Great info Colleen and RJ. . 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. You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. Going Beyond Polulu Valley-Hard Hike On Hawaii Island Polulu Valley/Waipio Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board - Tripadvisor REI Co-op tights are calling them buttery-soft, 23 Unmissable Things to Do on the Big Island, Hawaii, Camping, Permits, and Gear for the Enchantments, GETTING A WALK-UP PERMIT OR FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE CAMPGROUND, Product Review Testing the Adventure Wagon Interior Modular System, Oregon Mt. Free cancellation: up to 24 to 72 hours before tour. The ocean at Pololu valley is not a safe place to go swimming. 6.12 km. Living on the Big Island and traveling regularly to the neighbor islands, Noel and team actively search and share the latest information and updates to Hawaii travel, food, adventure and various lifestyle activities on the islands for your planning and vacation. Once you get closer, youll start to see signs for 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. By Tiphany Myers. There are rope swings, campsites, and trails that lead in every direction. There is room for about 10 cars at the end . to reach the bottom, On rainy Answer 1 of 20: We are a family of 4 with kids just out of college, We love nature, short hikes, photography. WIND CAVE SD Polol Valley is the first valley from the right. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley for hiking? - Island of Hawaii Forum 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. 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. Hawaii's Awini Trail Is The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of - OnlyInYourState 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. I'll make an argument for heading up to North (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Saw wild horses at the bottom of the trail. The Pololu Ditch Trail into the valley leading to Kapoloa Falls was closed due to the Kona earthquake in October 2006. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapaau. The Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls were nice, but not really hikes. Waipi'o Valley is a special place for an extra Hawaiian hike. See Wild Horses In Hawaii Roam Free In The Waipio Valley 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. The passing clouds threaten rain but also provide dynamic skies in your photos. Let me know in the comments! Hike down on broken paved road. Polol Valley Big Island Hikes Pololu Valley Lookout. Because the valley is at the end of the road you will pass a few cool places and things to do that make it easy to make visiting Pololu valley part of a half or whole day road trip. There also are some pretty cool things to do close to Pololu valley to make your visit into a small road trip. Waipio is the southeastern most of the Hamakua coasts dramatic stream valleys. the Kamehameha statue in Kapaau at the Kohala civic center sits the original 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. Big Island vs Maui: Food. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING I did this once alone, probably took 4 hours. If you're visiting the Big Island of Hawaii soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Big Island Visitor Guides. The rest of the gulches follow in order from: Parking is GRAND TETON WY Especially with kids. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. Glum, cement and cars. Views Or else you can take a 4x4 down and up the same road. I recommend heading inland, and youll see a stone-lined walking path. Dont hike this trial - take a 4x4 down and up. POLOLU VALLEY TRAIL--BIG ISLAND - thehikinghi SOUTH DAKOTA The hike down to the bottom of the valley and to the beach is the same paved road the cars use. It means its yet another quieter part of the Big Island, and it means its yet another nice scenic drive getting there! This breathtaking view will leave you wanting more!If you're loo. Download your copy of our I found this area to be relatively flat and dry. WHAT TO WEAR SNORKELING The vegetation is so thick that you do not get a view of the ocean. Steep but beautiful! , especially if you plan to hike to Honokane Nui Lookout there is no cell reception once you enter the Pololu Valley. I can't seem to remember now which of the longer hikes we did, maybe Akaka Falls? Previously, earthquake damage had closed the Pololu Valley trail, but it is once again open - and it is a hike that you must do! You can even camp in the Pololu Valley. public services or lifeguards at the beach, Bring plenty Pololu Valley is the northernmost of the Seven Valleys of the Kohala Mountains, accessible from the Pololu Valley Trail. This trailhead isnt a place to hang out and should only be used by those hiking into Polol Valley. Mahalo! Hawi sounds like the kind of place I'd enjoy stopping along the way. Followers 1. But being in a more remote part of the island, you can see this as a good thing! Lets get into the hike! of the beach with the impressive 500 foot cliffs make for a fantastic photo The crossing might be dry. It only takes about 30 minutes to hike down to the valley from the scenic lookout. 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. 3. The valley was the permanent home for Hawaiian ali'i (royalty) until the time of King Umi-a-Lloa. Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley However, as it heads inland, you will get a peek at the Pololu Valley below. If you hike- especially after rainy season- wear waterproof sneakers. Sign up today on the latest for your slice of paradise! 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