https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3094/720. Locals only. The valley was the permanent home for Hawaiian ali'i (royalty) until the time of King Umi-a-Lloa. 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. If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. Park at the end of the highway at the Polol Valley overlook. Turned out, all we needed was the water and chips. 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. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. At the Pololu Valley floor, you will see a stream with large trees. My posts got a little jumb, My Rogue River fashion: layers of sunscreen, wide-, Tools to Plan a Sensational Trip for Yourself. Youll arrive down to the black sand beach! I'll make an argument for heading up to North (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Pololu Valley to Honokane Iki Valley. There are some great views of picturesque bodies of water, including the ocean, a small lake, and a river. Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa a lava boat rides the waves! Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley. We were devastated to hear that this access road may remain closed until 2025! Big Island vs Maui: Food. It is considered one of the steepest roads in the world down to an . We looked at info for both Waipio and Pololu Valley and can't decide which we would prefer. Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. It's about an hour and a half drive from Kona, and an hour and ten minutes from Hilo. 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. White top I was wearing a lightweight top from Free People. Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley. " The hike down to Waipio valley is on a steep paved road, . Only local residents are permitted to go farther along the road. Walking back up the road at the end was a bit tough just due to the steep incline. Saw wild horses at the bottom of the trail. It only takes about 30 minutes to hike down to the valley from the scenic lookout. 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. The simplest is driving to the lookout for the views, but you can also make a small (but steep) hike to the valley floor to check out the beach. click here to go to our instagram account, Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach. So be careful. Before you know it, you will have made it to the Pololu Valley floor. It then passes through 12 smaller gulches on a . The Pololu Ditch Trail into the valley leading to Kapoloa Falls was closed due to the Kona earthquake in October 2006. He went on our last day, we were leaving on a red eye and I decided not to do it. 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 hike at Pololu down to the beach is shorter than the . The water here is notoriously dangerous and should only be attempted by very experienced swimmers and surfers. In the event it reopens, it's likely not worth your trouble. Our popular Summary Guidesheets are now included. You can take a short stroll along the river bank before it stops with warning signs of private property beyond the trail areas. You can also make it a one day Big Island valley beach hike kind of day and make this day on the Big Island a "Waipio Valley + Pololu Valley" kind of day. Answer 1 of 20: We are a family of 4 with kids just out of college, We love nature, short hikes, photography. Bring a flashlight. The road was wet while we were there so I'm glad I didn't try to drive it. You can get some great scenic views from the Pololu Valley lookout right near the parking area. If you feel challenged, you can even go beyond to the other valleys beyond Pololu on a day trip or overnight stay. The valley is deeply cut into the mass of Kohala mountain, with three thousand-foot cliffs and some waterfalls up to fifteen-hundred feet. If youre staying a bit further north in one of the Waikoloa resorts on the Kohala coast, its a bit closer and might take around an hour. Image by: Floyd Stewart/Flickr. Remnants from this landslide can still be found under water 81 miles (130 km) from the current coastline. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. Consider the Salomon Trail Sense trail running shoes, which have amazing grip and flexibility while still looking like a regular shoe. There also are some pretty cool things to do close to Pololu valley to make your visit into a small road trip. I was slipping and sliding my way to the Honokane Nui Lookout. If you want to drive instead of hiking down, you'll need to . The beach at the bottom is fantastic, with the valley river flowing into the ocean resulting in a nice shallow play area. Located in the flourishing green pastures of North Kohala at the end of Highway 270, Pololu Valley is simply awe-inspiring, especially at sunrise. I suppose it is easier to slip and slide your way downhill instead of uphill. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapa'au. You will get the coastal views at the Pololu Valley lookout without even stepping foot on the Pololu Valley trail. But in 1946, the most devastating tsunami in Hawaii's history swept great waves far back into the valley. You should hike down with sturdy shoes or boots for the variable rocks, steps and slope factor. Youll find hiking up the Maliwai uncrowded. Pololu Valley is the northernmost of the Seven Valleys of the Kohala Mountains, accessible from the Pololu Valley Trail. The ornamental . Amazing is an understatement. The water that carved out these valleys is also the reason why these valleys were a popular place to live for the native Hawaiians: a constant supply of water is essential to grow culturally significant crops such as Taro. Recommend bringing an extra pair of socks and a towel if you plan on crossing the River. Although I've never hiked it, I can brag that I've driven down the road with the steepest grade in the entire USA! Good to know: there are no public restrooms at the lookout or down in the valley. The earthquake from2006 is evidence of such. 1/22/2023. PEARL HARBOR HI Waipi'o Valley - Valley of the Kings , by ALOHA DEAN The Seven Sacred Pools is part of Haleakala National Park and located on the eastern part of Maui, about 40 minutes beyond Hana. The Big Island has several great hikes, such as the Pololu Valley hike and the Waipio Valley hike, which offer stunning views of the coastline and valleys. 6.12 km. From scenic overlook, hike down steep rocky trail to beautiful black sand and rocky beach with views of the Hamakua coast. 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! With clouds swirling overhead for the duration of my hike, it was bound to happen. All of the land upriver is privately owned. It is located on the west side of the island. BRYCE CANYON UT Polol means long spear, and carves a long cleave on the northern side of Kohala Mountain. Make sure you find parking even from a distant walk to the entrance of the trail since parking is limited right at the entrance. From there you can look back into the valley seeing waterfalls unseen from other side. The vertical distance from the overlook point down to the valley floor is 490ft (150m). 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. Intermediate. What locals living near Pololu Valley would like you to know! Arriving at 8:30 am, I was a bit bummed at how busy it was already. How long does the Waipio Valley hike take? 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. just at the end of road with most day trippers coming to take pictures and 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. The hike down the side of the cliff to the valley floor is short but steep: ~420 ft in 0.6 miles (126 meters in 1.0 kilometers) and takes about 20 to 25 minutes for the average hiker. Thats because its kind of in the far north of the Big Island, and a spot where not many other things are located. The expansive black sand beach is fantastic to walk through and check out the rock sculptures and enjoy the beach. The hike down is steep, but mostly on pavement. The Muliwai Trail begins by making a challenging ascent of 1,200 feet in less than a mile on switch-backs cut into the wall of Waipio Valley. Seeing so many people doing this, it can be seen as a form of disrespecting the land. Waipi'o Valley - 3 miles roundtrip with longer options. Id love to hear what you thought or if you enjoyed the Waipio valley as much as Pololu. Waipio Valley is on the northern peninsula of the Big Island. The hike Kaloko-Honokhau National Historical Park, Puuhonua o Hnaunau National Historical Park, Ka Desert - Mauna Iki Trail from Hilina Pali Road. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. Some of the most popular scenery on the big island includes the Pololu Valley, Haleakala Volcano, Maui's Road to Hana, Waipio Valley Isle, Lanai's Kaunolu, Oahu's North Shore, and some stunning beaches that depict the true Hawaiian culture. Unfortunately, you won't find a short walk to this black sand beach in Hawaii. NORTH DAKOTA Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. Longitude: -155.7274313. Its a shame that they dont realize that hiking one or two switch-backs down toward Polol Beach provides a much better photo vantage. If you feel like having a very good workout this is the hike for you! 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). If you like exercise you also opt for a hike to the next valley. Pololu valley. If you can find the river area on the far right, there is a small pond area that is relatively safe for swimming in depending on the water levels and weather. Island of Hawaii. stream inland ends and is mostly private lands that are off limits to explore. 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. See more ideas for planning out your days on the Big Island. 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. Get our brand-new trip planning series delivered directly to your inbox - for FREE (more info). I had stopped by the trailhead the day before at about 3:00 pm, and it was only slightly more active at that time. Quan forgot her jacket upon checking out of Waimea Country Lodge. 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.