The uphill is good and strenuous, but the first mile of the hike (the steep part) is paved and rough on your knees. So, I'd like to feature different trails that are fun . opportunity in the area. Pololu Trail | Map, Guide - Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2020, BigIslandHikes.com. 5. There are no roads that cross this area south to north of the island. 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. Regarding treading on sacred ground is not a problem if you follow the following guidelines. " The hike down to Waipio valley is on a steep paved road, . Polulu Valley/Waipio Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board - Tripadvisor 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 . Walking back up the road at the end was a bit tough just due to the steep incline. Hot lava cools to its surface to create that smooth exterior. Theme by 17th Avenue. 2023 Hawaii Travel Guide. The road eventually turns into a trail at Waipio Beach. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During its long lifetime, erosion by rainwater has cut multiple deep gulches, gorges and valley in the flanks of the windward side of the Kohala volcano. A guy at the entrance said the trail is closed to hikers and cars until further notice. Many visitors find Hawaii fascinating for its state parks and hidden sea caves. He said there is a rock fall risk and it wont be opened again until repairs are completed. 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. How long does it take to hike down to Waipio Valley? Here are some comparisons: The Waipio Valley - What You Need to Know | Big Island Guide Polol means long spear, and carves a long cleave on the northern side of Kohala Mountain. This is a great place to bring a picnic. Waipio Valley Trail [CLOSED] | Map, Guide - Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails 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 ? Honokane Nui was a victim of the October 2006 earthquake, and the trail into the valley was reportedly destroyed. 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. You won't get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. The first section is steep as you climb the hillside into lush jungle-like surroundings. We looked at info for both Waipio and Pololu Valley and can't decide which we would prefer. 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. Somewhere between .75 and 1 mile. Absolutely beautiful. Lots of wildlife near the trail. Hiking Distance: 1/2-1 mile round trip. Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022 . 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! The Polol Valley beach is mostly made up of moderately-sized polished lava rocks. 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. Saw one fisherman on the beach, and four vehicles passed us while hiking the paved section. Its steeep. 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. Hiking stick for balance is very helpful as well. 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. 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. One switchback is a particularly good spot for a photo. Bummer! . POLOLU VALLEY - 278 Photos & 80 Reviews - Yelp We like to be doing actual hiking for about 2-3 hours plus the time to stop and take in the sights. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapaau. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley - Hawaii - Cruise Critic Community Take Kohala Mountain Road on your way back ~ another stunning drive. Great for first-time visitors. Streams in the valley are susceptible to flash flooding. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. My posts got a little jumb, My Rogue River fashion: layers of sunscreen, wide-, Tools to Plan a Sensational Trip for Yourself. A gorgeous hike from the top to the gorgeous black sandy beaches of Pololu Valley, the drive alone and panoramic views of the cliffs and coastlines impresses the moment you park on the end of road. 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). I took a couple of timelapse videos and could see the light move around on the valley walls with the clouds. Hike the Pololu Valley - letsgo-hawaii.com Once at the bottom take the road to the right. to reach the bottom, On rainy Intermediate. You can explore and hike into this wondrous area via the Waipi'o Valley on one side or Pololu Valley on the other side. Crossing the river was about knee deep and definitely had some force behind it. In the late 1800s, many Chinese immigrants settled in the valley. Hiilawe Falls - Legendary Waterfall with Temporary Flow How to get to Pololu Valley. we didn't end up going all the way. 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. Its a shame that they dont realize that hiking one or two switch-backs down toward Polol Beach provides a much better photo vantage. Cool max - Light weight shorts and shirt/ hoodie. Book your tickets online for Pololu Valley Lookout, Island of Hawaii: See 1,143 reviews, articles, and 1,562 photos of Pololu Valley Lookout, ranked No.18 on Tripadvisor among 501 attractions in Island of Hawaii. Or read my tips for PLANNING A BACKPACKING TRIP in a National Park. A visit to Pololu Valley in Hawaii - Travel Photo Discovery GRAND CANYON AZ Pololu Valley as seen from the trailhead. Muliwai trail brochure Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii, as seen from the overlook. There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. May 11, 2018 Alice Kao. If you would like to learn more about living here, be sure to check out my Moving To Hawaii Resources for Hawaii Island. Its also down a steep road as opposed to a natural hike. You continue through the village of Hawi (good spot for a bite & beverage), on narrow, winding roads with one-land bridges. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapa'au. Continue to cliffs, a bit inland you will find a trail. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If it was dry I would have been fine driving it with our 4X4. . Island of Hawaii. Sounds like Pololu is more about the journey and a shorter hike. Pololu Valley to Honokane Iki Valley. Only local residents are permitted to go farther along the road. 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. The Awini trailhead can be found on the trail that runs above the beach. By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms. It also helped that I knew what to expect. The trail to Pololu Beach is a steep, dirt path. There are some great views of picturesque bodies of water, including the ocean, a small lake, and a river. The waves here are gnarly, and I wouldnt recommend swimming here, but it is beautiful to see. If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. It is a very tempting prospect; however, this is extremely dangerous as one errant wave could easily knock you off the rocks and into the ocean. So I guess I do believe in miracles. Please share your thoughts and comments below. Exercise caution when crossing and be aware of weather conditions. There is a phenomenal view from the parking area, which is lovely for those who are not interested in the hike. 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. This is one of the most adventurous and beautiful hikes we have done. 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. One day of hiking to the Big Island valley beaches, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. Hawaii - Pololu Valley Hike to the Remote Honokane Nui Lookout We list below a few things to do / places to see close to Pololu: Keokea beach park is a quiet beach park with a shower, restrooms, and picnic tables close to Hawi and Pololu Valley (2.5 miles, about 10 minutes by car). One of the benefits of living in Hawaii is the opportunity to be outside just about every day of the year. Almost immediately upon climbing, it began to rain. Most people visit just day camp on the valley floor into the late hours. Explore the western town of Hawi and try some local food and snacks. https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3094/720. Theres a bypass trail just a few feet away from the road around the muddiest areas at the bottom and before the beach. There are some switchbacks toward the bottom of the hill. Best bet is to check the daily weather patterns for the day and see if it works with your plans to visit for the area. I did this once alone, probably took 4 hours. Head out to the rocky beach for a view of the ocean and rugged coastline. It is very wide, comforting during the Pandemic to maintain some space between you and other hikers. Later in 1780, the great King Kamehameha received the war god . Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa a lava boat rides the waves! It can get especially hot and sweaty during the hike up! BIG ISLAND inform and educate visitors as they arrive, as well as monitor the trail and beach. Permanent signs are posted saying road closed and no pedestrians. syr101 . Black Sand Beaches in Hawaii, Everything You Need to Know We don't shy away from more aggressive hiking but can also enjoy something more laid back as well. Camping is not allowed at Pololu since it is on private land and permits only issued for specific research studies. Pololu Valley Lookout. At the Pololu Valley floor, you will see a stream with large trees. Want to report conditions for this trail? Pololu Valley hike: This is a 2.5 miles round trip and is pretty easy.