Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Its also down a steep road as opposed to a natural hike. Various sections of the trail, which runs in a steep zigzag down the vegetated cliff face, have been rebuilt - read article.. 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. 6.12 km. WAIPIO VALLEY ROAD Hike OR drive to Waipio Valley beach OR just see Muliwai trail brochure Hiking on the Big Island Maluhia Hale at Hualalai I found this area to be relatively flat and dry. 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. The water here is notoriously dangerous and should only be attempted by very experienced swimmers and surfers. The trailhead begins at the end of the road. Bummer, this trail is closed. Download your copy of our The third guich is higher in elevation and some of the trail is very tricky with barely any trail walking the sides of loose slope but with some helpful ropes to keep you from sliding down hill. Head to the end of Akoni Pule Hwy (270) to come to Pololu Valley. And then basically you will be driving to a dead end. This is a popular spot, so go on off times! As a paradise for active travelers it is rich in experiences that include nature, culinary discoveries, historic landmarks, shopping, nightlife and festivals. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Hike the Pololu Valley - letsgo-hawaii.com Theres also a trail that starts from the Pololu Valley lookout that goes down to sea level and makes for a great coastal hike. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley - Hawaii - Cruise Critic Community For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. of the beach with the impressive 500 foot cliffs make for a fantastic photo Quan forgot her jacket upon checking out of Waimea Country Lodge. Be prepared for the parking area to be busy when you arrive! After taking more photos with the reflection of the still water, I began the climb up to the trailhead. Maybe I'm incorrect in my assumptions. Pololu Valley is home to one of the many black sand beaches on the Big Island. 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. Thanks for visiting This Hawaii life and checking out this post on a Big Island hike to Pololu Valley. Noel Morata is the creator of This Hawaii Life along with a small team of contributors. 3. days, it is muddy and extremely slippery, Look to Hawaii's Awini Trail Is The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of - OnlyInYourState It's a short but steep hike, and parking is . The dirt and root trail can be steep in places, but the various views of the valley along the way make even part of the walk worth it. BADLANDS SD After you pass mile marker 28, you'll get some peak a boo views to the cliffs of Pololu. Pololu Valley to Honokane Iki Valley. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. Pololu valley and waipio valley - Island of Hawaii Forum The hike at Pololu down to the beach is shorter than the . Take Kohala Mountain Road on your way back ~ another stunning drive. The Big Island of Hawaii is simply a treasure trove of beauty. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND The trail down into the valley is a section of the old government road to wini. Pololu valley is at the northern tip and part of the oldest (of 5) volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii. You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. Answer 1 of 20: We are a family of 4 with kids just out of college, We love nature, short hikes, photography. 4. Losing and forgetting things seemed to be the common theme for our trip. It might take around 30 minutes to hike down to the beach from the lookout. The beach has no services, so plan accordingly. Waipi'o Valley: How to visit and What to see - Love Big Island IDAHO In this video, we'll take you on a journey to the Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. only come here for the lookout. to reach the bottom, On rainy Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. This breathtaking view will leave you wanting more!If you're loo. After one more switchback inland, you emerge from the trees to see the view at Honokane Nui Lookout. If it was dry I would have been fine driving it with our 4X4. The Waipio Valley - What You Need to Know | Big Island Guide . This is a gorgeous walk with stunning views and one of our 5 favorite hikes on the Big Island! Check out the other things I did on the Island of Hawaii: Have you done the Pololu Valley Hike or the Waipio Valley Hike? I have read about the hike / walk to. Once you pass the stream and campsites, the trail becomes increasingly wild. Theres a small parking lot at the end of the road. By Tiphany Myers. Pololu is amazingly breathtaking, but the hike is almost straight down. But, it's not a kid-friendly hike. MAUI Did not make it to the top; Ill be back! 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. 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. 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. Both times, the parking area was packed. 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. It is unclear if the trail continues. --Ernest Hemingway, Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley, Re: Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u46mHlI3pD0. Hiking Pololu Valley to Honokane Iki Valley kenjiSAITO 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 is located on the west side of the island. 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. 31. If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. 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. Polol Valley Hike, Big Island Hawaii 2023 - Hawaii vacation.com YELLOWSTONE WY Youll save yourself the tight corners and the wait by parking up the street. The trail snakes inland and back toward the ocean as you make your way across the top of this hillside. Can these both be done on the same day? If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. Wild horses, stray dog that followed us at the hip and protected us, amazing views, a river crossing, wild fruit along the way (pomelo). Sign up today on the latest for your slice of paradise! Keep in mind though that the land further back is privately owned and that there are sacred burial sites deeper in the valley. Interested? 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. Beyond that, though, the drive to & from is part of the experience. 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. I loved the dramatic and rugged landscape of the Pololu Valley Hike. If you're interested in Waipio Valley, you may also be interested in these great Big Island activities: Pololu Valley hike Views I recommend parking up the street slightly so that it is easy to turn around and leave at the end of your hike. Pololu Valley is located in north Kohala on the eastern slope of the extinct Kohala volcano at the northernmost point of the Big Island. We were devastated to hear that this access road may remain closed until 2025! There is a phenomenal view from the parking area, which is lovely for those who are not interested in the hike. NORTH DAKOTA You climb over 750 feet with many switch backs for about one mile uphill. If youre challenged to extend your hike, consider going beyond to the next valley on the Honokane Nui trail to reach the Honokane gulch. Users of the website may print or download any content for personal use, but no one may reproduce this content (whether text or photographs) for any purpose in print or online without explicit permission from BigIslandHikes.com. 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. With steady warm temps year round (depending on where you are in Hawaii) it'd be a crime to not get outside! It was sprinkling and gusting when I first arrived at the lookout, but luckily the wind did calm down for me to be able to enjoy the view and grab some photos. The Pololu Ditch Trail into the valley leading to Kapoloa Falls was closed due to the Kona earthquake in October 2006. Dont worry, there is plenty of time on the beach to take a breather! There are some switchbacks toward the bottom of the hill. Keokea Beach park a beautiful park with nice views of the coastline with picnic grounds and public services. If youre interested in Pololu Valley, you may also be interested in these great Big Island activities: ROAD TRIP AMERICA Any suggestions to help us pick one over the other? So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! Waipi'o Valley is much more trying, longer, and more satisfying. Look mauka and you should see a brown sign guiding you to the trail. Glow, horses. Waipio Valley. Got there at 10 and parking was "80% full" on a Friday. 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/. 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! Hike down on broken paved road. and is the oldest of 5 volcanoes that make up the Big Island. Polol Valley is the first valley from the right. A group of Chinese immigrants settled in the valley in the late 1800 and built churches . 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. One of the most magical experiences Ive had in Hawaii. WIND CAVE SD and is the oldest of 5 volcanoes that make up the Big Island. click here to go to our instagram account, Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach. My husband did this hike a couple of weeks ago and loved it http://www.bigislandhikes.com/puu-waawaa/. Aloha and enjoy This Hawaii Life. Getting There. 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. Make sure you find parking even from a distant walk to the entrance of the trail since parking is limited right at the entrance. We saw wild horses at the base of Waipio! So be careful. P.O Box 4849 TRAIL CONDITIONS. What locals living near Pololu Valley would like you to know! Hiilawe Falls - Legendary Waterfall with Temporary Flow Once you reach the valley, you'll pass through a small picnic area and can either continue on the path above the beach or go down and wiggle your toes in some black sand. And you are at the Pololu Valley lookout! The passing clouds threaten rain but also provide dynamic skies in your photos. 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. But if you prepare for the crowds and mud, then I know you will enjoy the hike as much as I did. I have done both several times. The "beach" is nothing but boulders usually, and the view isn't worth the extra work. This magnificent wild valley is at the head of the Kohala Coast, the oldest part of the island with deep valleys and picturesque beaches. Bryan C. Sacramento, CA. The Pololu Valley floor is beautiful with a river, campgrounds, etc. The trail can be quite muddy if it has been raining. In the event it reopens, it's likely not worth your trouble. After that, there were a number of other people arrived. Whether you are on a guided tour exploring the otherworldly landscapes shaped by lava, stargazing atop Mauna Kea, or relaxing seaside in a luxury B&B, the Big Island is sure to impress! Shop around on. This is one of the most adventurous and beautiful hikes we have done. 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. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. If you feel like having a very good workout this is the hike for you! The path washes away, so you have to do it on a dry day, and when you get down, its a bit anticlimactic. Pololu valley. 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. Never drink the water and do not swim with open cuts. Amazing is an understatement. The valley is deeply cut into the mass of Kohala mountain, with three thousand-foot cliffs and some waterfalls up to fifteen-hundred feet. The hike down to the bottom of the valley and to the beach is the same paved road the cars use. Unfortunately, you won't find a short walk to this black sand beach in Hawaii. Its a rewarding view that allows you to get away from the crowds that do the Pololu Valley Hike. It is considered one of the steepest roads in the world down to an . Hike: Start at the Polol Valley overlook and find the trailhead for the Awini Trail marked by an extensive array of danger signs. Otherwise, you can park along the side of the road before that dead end parking lot too.
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