Visiting the Waipi'o Lookout is must for me every trip. Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach We just went to the Wai'pio valley lookout but did not do any of the tours because we didn't book anything in advance and the next tour was 2 hours away. There were cows at the bottom which was awesome to see. I think we will visit Pololu Valley we stopped at those two historical markers that Chi_Dave mentioned. Pololu Valley lookout parking (views!) + What's the trailhead parking here's an even better photo (a 360 degree panorama) of the trail at Pololu beach. Truly a MUST do if youre on the big island. Keokea Beach Park is a short drive off the highway, past the towns of Hawi and Kapaau (both towns worth a stop to window shop or grab a snack). On your drive up Highway 270, be sure to stop for a look-see in the quaint town of Hawi. To get down to the valley floor you must either be a Big Island resident and have your own 4WD car, or be willing to pay for a tour. Public parking spaces are limited there, so I think your best chances of getting one are on the way there. Yes, north on #19 which connects to #270, through Hawi and then to Pololu. Waipio is the southeastern most of the Hamakua coasts dramatic stream valleys. I included a couple of beaches on the route (Hapuna and Waialea) that would be worth checking out on the Kohala Coast. How can I visit Mauna Kea summit and/or the Visitor Information Station? It is a gorgeous beach (I've stayed there a few times pre-earthquake). Pololu Valley Trail, from the lookout down to the valley takes less than 30 mins to walk. Hi'ilawe Falls Hi'ilawe Falls I included a couple of beaches on the route (Hapuna and Waialea) that would be worth checking out on the Kohala Coast. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93723305', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kohala Mountains, then hike down to Pololu Valley along the beach, then back up for dinner in Hawi, and maybe depending on time of year back around to one of the South Kohala area beaches for sundown. If you have any other suggestions don't be afraid to give them. Syr101 - Just a note that there aren't any food concessions at the beaches so bring some food or pick up some along the way if you're planning to eat at the beach. 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. I would highly recommend making time to see them both if possible. Having said that, if you can walk down at Pololu, it's a nice hike. How long of a stay at Pololu do you think is adequate. Syr101 - Just a note that there aren't any food concessions at the beaches so bring some food or pick up some along the way if you're planning to eat at the beach. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status. Respecting Hawaiian place names. With a population of less than 75,000, Kauai is truly a small-town island, littered with open space, protected preserves, and old plantation history. Privacy Policy. Trail is a perfect hike. Enjoy this 0.9-mile out-and-back trail near Kapaau, Hawaii. 3. And, of course, Waipio is graced by waterfalls, while Polol is not. Dont waste your time on this one, the view is gorgeous but I would never classify this as a hike its simply a walk down a hill to a beach youre not allowed to touch anything on.. skip it and go somewhere else for the day. The 7 Best Places to Watch the Sunrise on the Big Island 83 reviews of Pololu Valley Lookout "PLEASE READ! Waipio Valley is a part of the Hilo Hamakua Heritage Coast. For wither, you get to walk along shore. These stones can make it uncomfortable to walk into the water so if you do want to take a swim try to bring shoes that can get wet. Report inappropriate content Lauren D Los Angeles. Hikers are respectful by nature, that argument is not good enough to appropriate the whole area. THE famous Big Island Hawaii valleys - Flashpacking America Subscribe to receive 5 emails in 5 days: Call us for advice! Parking is fairly easy! Going to either would be a great way to spend a day! That must have been quite the experience! You can follow this trail over the valley floor and up the other side to the next valley: Honokane Nui. Waipio will give you a much better workout on the hike back up. I've been reading this forum for months and it has been extremely helpful. On your way through Hawi if it's lunch time or close try Bamboo- i love the ambience,, and their fish is good. Just be sure not to poach any of the loungers that are there for hotel guests, When I visit the Big Island, I always have to make the drive all the way up to the Pololu Lookout. There is a bench at the end of the trail overlooking the Honokane Nui Valley. Also consider visiting lovely Waialea Bay (small admission charge for Hapuna State Park). Fortunately, they only had some cosmetic cracks, even though some of them were pretty scary-looking. The land discovered at the end of the movie by the survivors (spoiler alert!) Very humid, quite crowded as expected. You can find a more concise description of this hike at the bigislandhikes website. 270 and gawk at the beauty of the rugged northern . Pololu Valley has lots of trees and beautiful vegetation growing along the trail. This spot is lesser known than the Waipio Valley, but is certainly worth the effort to get to. Turbulent surf crashing on the black sands of the valley's rocky beach and shoreline. The stretch between the Pololu valley lookout and the black sand beach is only the first part of a more extended trail. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Itnwoukd be curious to know how many times she was there. Are both valleys pretty similiar? It is a gorgeous beach (I've stayed there a few times pre-earthquake). And once at the beach below, it's anything but crowded. Where can I find good live Hawaiian or local music and/or hula? 3. I would highly recommend making time to see them both if possible. The Hapuna Prince handled it well - safety was absolutely their first thing. Both valleys were heavily farmed historically, but today there no more loi kalo (taro ponds) in Polol, unlike Waipio, which is still home to many Native Hawaiian kalo farmers. - Links to TR's from 2010 to present. Wai'pio Valley vs. Pololu Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board Swimming in summer should be good. Emerald, foliage-filled cliffs, cradling Pololu's valley floor and its winding, freshwater stream. If you feel like stretching your legs you can try either of the following two hikes: You can see these waterfalls already from the access road down into the valley but the best view can be gotten from the Muliwai trail described above as hike #2. I think Pololu Valley has more to offer on your way to / from it, than Waipio. If I ever go back I will definetly do one of the tours, but we don't feel bad about missing it because of all the other things we saw. Entrance is free but parking is limited to 5 spots so it's all street parking. Honoke'a. Shares the beach area with the Prince Hapuna Beach Hotel. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93711639', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Big Island in August and only have time for one of these. I will just add that Waipio does have more of a sandy beach if you want to hang out for a while. Great video on reef etiquette. Can anyone confirm the closure. If you are visiting in the winter months (from ~December to ~March) this is a great place to try and see humpback whales. Pololu Valley (famous views!) Hike to Pololu Valley beach OR just see There are people living in Waipio Valley. The beach looks beautiful and is a very good place to relax after coming down into the valley, but take care with going into the water. Shorter hike down, not on a road. They are not trail guides and I wonder on who's authority they act, if any. Quan forgot her jacket upon checking out of Waimea Country Lodge. Just curious what your hours in port are? Another option is trying to find a parking spot over at the Hapuna Prince Hotel (I was staying at the Hapuna Prince DURING the earthquakes!!) You will lose sight of the waterfalls but fear not and persist, for standing next to Kaluahine Falls is an experience somewhere between calm ecstasy and utter relaxation. 4. Fortunately there are enough people with this issue to sustain a lively business of Waipio Valley tours that take people down to the valley floor. Manageable trail for anyone reasonably fit, though it's definitely uneven and required careful footing in places. north to south or vice versa. What are some good splurge or special occasion restaurants on the Big Island? 8am-6pm. Ive driven down Waipio a few times but not sure the reward at the end is worth the walk down and then back up unless you plan on staying for a while. I do hope you hike down the trail from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Pololu Valley Lookout | Go Hawaii Re: Pololu Valley vs Waipi'o Valley 4 years ago Save Also, both of these beaches are referred to as black sand beaches. The town of Honokaa near Waipio is worth a stop if you go to Waipio - I think Hawi has more character, but Honokaa is an interesting town as well. She didn't seem to work for any authority. Wear good hiking shoes as the trail is very Rocky down and can be slippery especially after rain. Oahu is the lively center and most visited of all Hawaiian Islands. Look east across the beach in the distance and notice a waterfall straight from the cliff onto the rocky shore. Definitely Pololu, and definitely hike down to the beach, its beautiful from above but awesome when your down at sea level. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Let's Go Hawaii - Hiking the Pololu Valley The beach itself is made out of a mix of black sand and large boulders. They by coming back down #250 you get a completely different view and it makes a loop of the drive per this route. Waipio is a short side trip along the Hamakua Coast, so that can work, if youre only going to the overlook. I think you'll really enjoy having rental cars very easy to drive in Hawaii (except for Honolulu which is more of a challenge) and it's so nice to just go at your own pace. Pololu Trail: 956 Reviews, 1,404 Photos, Map - Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails 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. Glad to hear that that route offers nice views. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. You absolutely work for it on the way back up but even then its still very doable. The steady supply disappeared in 1905 when the Kohala Ditch network was completed. Agree that it's probably best to go to Pololu first, and beaches on the way back - except if you get an early start, I'd try to do a quick stop at the beach at the Mauna Kea resort. kam hotel and want to go to Pololu, the farthest point than work our way back stopping at places that interest us, hopefully beach. Need info on backpacking and wilderness camping, Resort Fees on Big Island & Other Islands, Browse all 30,517 Island of Hawaii topics . The Hapuna Prince handled it well - safety was absolutely their first thing. Awesome. We share our favorite tips and images on Instagram, click here to go to our instagram account. This trail DOES NOT go all the way to Waipio Valley. I think those days are past me now, though the last time I did it I was 70. Big Island hike to Pololu Valley - This Hawaii Life By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Forgot to mention - when you're on the #270, if skies are clear you'll be able to see Maui wonderful views! Interested? 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. Shares the beach area with the Prince Hapuna Beach Hotel. Waipio will give you a much better workout on the hike back up. There is a somewhat steep dirt trail that leads to the valley and the beach (black sand, not good for swimming). . We have also gone down for a horse back ride, and I have twice hiked down, across the beach and up the other side about half way. Behind the beach you can find large dunes and ironwood trees that protect the valley from floodwaters. Woman in parking lot "recommended" not to hike, due to weather. The rest of the gulches follow in order from: Pololu Valley; 2. Pololu Valley Awini Trail Information & More - Hawaii Guide Suggestions: From the Fairmont, hop over to Honokaope black sand beach, at the south end of Mauna Lani Resort, in the 49 Black Sands subdivision. p.s. The waterfalls that you can see in the final scenes are the Kaluahine Falls which you can only see on rainy days from the ocean or the valley floor. In Pololu Valley, a lush tropical forest surrounds 500-foot-high cliffs and fronts, an ocean that often has high surf and rough waves. Waipio Valley Sunrise. Image credit: Eric Tessmer, source. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 39 min to complete. Wear good shoes for the descent/ascent part. The average grade of the road is 25%, but peaks at 40%. Free cancellation: up to 24 to 72 hours before tour. We were incredibly disappointed. 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. Not everyone brings a 4WD car that is allowed to drive down to the valley floor or is up to the challenge of walking down themselves. Pololu Valley Trail, from the lookout down to the valley takes less than 30 mins to walk. Lots of roots and rocks, not too steep. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. From Hilo, take 19 going west until Honokaa and take Highway 240, looking for signs for Waipi'o Valley. Dont venture too far inland to avoid trespassing and disturbing sites that shouldnt be disturbed. We are staying in the Waikaloa area. That must have been quite the experience! Mahalo! As you drive north on Highway 270 where the black lava landscapes of the Kohala Coast give way to the flourishing, green pastures of North Kohala, you'll be rewarded at the end of your journey with an unforgettable view from the Polol Valley Overlook. I absolutely love the drive through Hawi & Kapaa. Dont let AllTrails fool you, its actually closer to a 900 foot elevation gain! I'll stop in Hawi for Tropical Dreams ice creamyummy:), Probably still worth trying to get one of the spots at Mauna Kea - people come and go all day, so a spot just might be available, or if you get there early enough, it might not be filled yet gorgeous beach, and Hapuna is now charging $5. Waipi'o can also be hiked into, but the hike down is hard and the hike up is murder. Overview of Waipio Valley from the opposite side. As a paradise for active travelers it is rich in experiences that include nature, culinary discoveries, historic landmarks, shopping, nightlife and festivals. Better to go down to the next spot at Hapuna State Park. I've stayed at both hotels, both good beaches. Just be sure not to poach any of the loungers that are there for hotel guests, When I visit the Big Island, I always have to make the drive all the way up to the Pololu Lookout. Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Pololu Valley is a solid 1.5 hours from Kona, maybe more depending on where on the Kona coast you're staying. Dont worry, there is plenty of time on the beach to take a breather! Public parking spaces are limited there, so I think your best chances of getting one are on the way there. The highway ends at the picturesque lookout for this valley. Looking for general advice on visiting the Island of Hawaii. We're staying at Fairmont Orchid. I think if I only could only visit one, I would do Pololu Valley. - You want to see some great photos? You can extend the hike by going up to the next overlook, too. Polol means long spear, and carves a long cleave on the northern side of Kohala Mountain. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Some bitched and moaned about not being able to use the elevator, not being able to get right back to the rooms (they checked every one of them for issues like things fallen off walls, TVs fallen down, cracks), stuff like that. The one-lane Waipio Valley Road offers only a few spots where vehicles can inch by each other. I think Pololu Valley sounds like the better option. 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 road shared with. Short but steep. Which one would be better to do and why. The views are incredible. The views from the lookout are better at Waipio are better; but if youre willing to walk a bit of the trail into Pololu Valley, views become just as spectacular. The views are amazing as you take the steep access road into the valley. 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. In a 30-minute call we help you set up the trip of your dreams. Susan - I thought Rte 19 was the way to go to Pololu. Island of Hawaii If you are driving to points west from Hilo, then swinging by Waipio makes sense. I saw other people mention Fresh Off the Grid too for some good smoothies. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112324513', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kohala mountain road- it's a beautiful windswept and sometimes rainswept drive but it's worth it. 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. Hiking down gave me a little concern for the return trip. Really good bodysurfing here. 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. At the King Kam, you shouldn't have too much trouble heading north on #19 - same with coming back. She also had a sheet saying g the trail was closed tomorrow, but again no specific agency. All the things Chi-Dave mentioned are great, and Hawi town is a great stop. for parking (not a deal breaker if you can't get a spot at MK, then worth paying at Hapuna and/or Waialea.). Wai'pio Valley vs. Pololu Valley - Island of Hawaii Forum Interested? This 22 mile network of flumes and ditches is essential for the water supply of a part of the island but also made sure that there are no permanent residents anymore in Pololu Valley. You wouldnt have time to hike down. We will be in Kona one day on a cruise, renting a car, and want to do some hiking and swimming. Polol Valley Big Island Hikes 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. Waimanu Valley. [deleted] 2 yr. ago Either way make sure you're respectful. We got a lecture from the lady at the top telling us that she was advising people not to hike down. Swimming at either beach is dangerous (rip currents & undertow), so you'd want to limit your swimming to beaches on the S. Kohala coast on the way there or back. Beautiful view at the end and cool rocky beach! From the valley floor it is a short and easy stretch to the beach. They by coming back down #250 you get a completely different view and it makes a loop of the drive per this route. We were recommended to save time for this hike by 4 different locals. The Kaluahine falls are visible towards to east from the black sand beach on the bottom of Waipio valley. Look for whales offshore in the winter. I got the feeling that she gave the same recommendation for one reason or another just to stop people from hiking down. And, KamaainaK, yeah maybe we'll skip these. 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. You can also find bathrooms, a picnic area and historic information at the overlook. Take your time and be careful. Once down at the bottom, it's a nice walk parallel to the beach at Pololu (we haven't hiked down Waipio, but I think it's the same there however, there's a creek at the bottom of Waipio that could be difficult to cross if the water is high.). Why do I need to pack warm clothes for a trip to Hawaii Island? Waipio (or Waipio) Valley is named after the meandering Wailoa Stream that runs through the valley (wai-pio means curved water in the Hawaiian language) and is about one mile wide and six miles deep. Polulu Valley/Waipio Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board - Tripadvisor 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. Beautiful hike!!! I would recommend it. Last time I was there, he kept a "tick" list and wouldn't let anyone through once he ticked off enough cars to take up the public access parking. Get to know this 1.4-mile out-and-back trail near Kapaau, Hawaii. Thanks for all of your help! Going Beyond Polulu Valley-Hard Hike On Hawaii Island Polol Valley is another one of the seven valleys along Kohala volcano that's been sculpted by thousands of years of erosion. There are several levels of visiting Pololu valley. Don't wear sandals, Crocs, flip-flops, Birkenstocks, etc. Waipio and Pololu are at either end of a series of valleys Waipio overlook has more 'wow factor' for the view, but Pololu has some great views as well. To get to the beach, turn right as soon as you reach the valley floor. We are traveling to the BI next week - very excited! It is possible you will encounter people from the Pololu Valley Steward Program at the lookout. You can see the road and some houses and agricultural activity on the valley floor. Better to go down to the next spot at Hapuna State Park. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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