So be careful. Continue to cliffs, a bit inland you will find a trail. Totally closed as of last Friday for all hikers and cars for an indefinite amount of time! After taking more photos with the reflection of the still water, I began the climb up to the trailhead. I found this area to be relatively flat and dry. This is about a 5 minute drive from the Pololu Valley trailhead. Gear: Standard hiking gear. Keokea beach park is a quiet beach park with a shower and picnic tables close to Hawi and Pololu Valley. It also helped that I knew what to expect. Amazing is an understatement. Yay, it worked! statue of Kamehameha 1st who united all of the Hawaiian Islands. Try not to get blown away by the incredible views and crazy wind at the Honokane Nui Lookout. 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 - 3 miles roundtrip with longer options. You'll end up in Waimea, perfect place to have a beer (or whatever) and savor your day. The trail is The stretch between the Pololu valley lookout and the black sand beach is only the first part of a more extended trail. Mahalo! Walking back up the road at the end was a bit tough just due to the steep incline. Look mauka and you should see a brown sign guiding you to the trail. Dont worry, there is plenty of time on the beach to take a breather! I recommend parking up the street slightly so that it is easy to turn around and leave at the end of your hike. Have fun. Lots of water and snacks. Youll need to relax bc youll be on edge driving - esp if its your first time. Near the top of the ridge you'll reach a small plateau with a large rock. 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. Kaloko-Honokhau National Historical Park, Puuhonua o Hnaunau National Historical Park, Ka Desert - Mauna Iki Trail from Hilina Pali Road. 7 . Lava boats can form when portions of the cone or lava channel break away & are rafted downstream. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. All of the land upriver is privately owned. Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. 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. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING 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). You will get the coastal views at the Pololu Valley lookout without even stepping foot on the Pololu Valley trail. so sad! These packs would be a more comfortable experience. 3. I would choose Pololu - there are some nice beaches to stop at on the S. Kohala coast (although you could incorporate those into a Waipio drive as well) - but the drive up #270 and down #250 provides a lot of amazing scenery, which for me would be the deciding factor in favour of Pololu. I'm kind of leaning toward Pololu for that reason. I had the Honokane Nui Lookout to myself for a good 15 minutes before another couple arrived. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Camping is not allowed at Pololu since it is on private land and permits only issued for specific research studies. So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! Useful 3. Duration: 10 to 11 hours. 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. 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. The Volcano Van - Big Island Volcano Tours, Holualoa Inn-Big Island Bed and Breakfast, Latitude: 20.20033933 With steady warm temps year round (depending on where you are in Hawaii) it'd be a crime to not get outside! Regarding treading on sacred ground is not a problem if you follow the following guidelines. LANAI Once at Beach go left toward north side of valley opening. Especially with kids. 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. Oahu is the lively center and most visited of all Hawaiian Islands. 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. 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. 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. See more ideas for planning out your days on the Big Island. Right Colleen, I have read about the further hike across Pololu but forgot. 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. MICHIGAN So, Have you been to Polulu and want to go back again? We looked at info for both Waipio and Pololu Valley and can't decide which we would prefer. Keep in mind though that the land further back is privately owned and that there are sacred burial sites deeper in the valley. Re crowding at over look, much more at Waipio as area of over look is much bigger, not so much at Polulu. Youll finally get to a high ridge with magnificent views of Honokane and the other cliffs of the Kohala mountains. A guy at the entrance said the trail is closed to hikers and cars until further notice. Your email address will not be published. By doing the hike, you . Colleen you need to do this hike. One of the best places to hike on the Big Island is the Pololu Valley. Cool max - Light weight shorts and shirt/ hoodie. 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 . If you're heading there from one of the main towns, the drive is still about an hour and a half from Hilo, and two hours from Kona. Michele Falzone/Getty Images. Absolutely beautiful. CARDIO!! 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. Getting There. We opted to take our 4x4 rental to the black sand beach at the end. Large pebbles and stones cover the beach, making a satisfying rattling sound when the waves pick them up. 1 Year, 2 Kids, 800 Sq Ft [PDF Download] $ 20.00. I had to press down my "mall parking anxiety" not flee the premises, lol. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. syr101 . Unfortunately, you won't find a short walk to this black sand beach in Hawaii. I hope you enjoy it as much as he did! With clouds swirling overhead for the duration of my hike, it was bound to happen. In terms of color, its not the blackest black sand beach on the Big Island, but the wet sand can make it appear especially black. 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. , each with hip pockets for easier access to small items. Longitude: -155.7274313. There are some switchbacks toward the bottom of the hill. You can take a short stroll along the river bank before it stops with warning signs of private property beyond the trail areas. 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 are some trails parallel to the beach that make it easy to get to the other side of the valley (and continue the hike to other valleys) that are worth exploring if you have 20 minutes and a bit of energy to spare. And of course, hiking down to the valley floor and spending some time on the beach is very worthwhile. Also, if you want an adventure, check out Kaumana Caves. In this video, we'll take you on a journey to the Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. How long does the Waipio Valley hike take? 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. You wont get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. Never drink the water and do not swim with open cuts. The "beach" is nothing but boulders usually, and the view isn't worth the extra work. It is possible you will encounter people from the Pololu Valley Steward Program at the lookout. Take the time to explore. The beach itself is made out of a mix of black sand and large boulders. The beach at the bottom is fantastic, with the valley river flowing into the ocean resulting in a nice shallow play area. opportunity in the area. Only local residents are permitted to go farther along the road. Take Kohala Mountain Road on your way back ~ another stunning drive. The trail can be quite muddy if it has been raining. Some of the cars in the morning may have been from people who were camping in the valley, but overall, it is best to mentally prepare for this popular spot to be busy. Consider the Salomon Trail Sense trail running shoes, which have amazing grip and flexibility while still looking like a regular shoe. 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. If you feel challenged, you can even go beyond to the other valleys beyond Pololu on a day trip or overnight stay. By: Wasabi Tours. Youll arrive down to the black sand beach! Its also down a steep road as opposed to a natural hike. 4. Remnants from this landslide can still be found under water 81 miles (130 km) from the current coastline. (driving directions using google maps). Crossing the river was about knee deep and definitely had some force behind it. Losing and forgetting things seemed to be the common theme for our trip. All rights reserved. The 9-mile Muliwai Trail from Waipi'o Valley into Waimanu Valley is rough, hazardous and extremely steep in spots, so only experienced backcountry hikers should attempt it. During my recent trip to the Big Island, I opted to do the Pololu Valley Hike. It is located on the west side of the island. Please try again. BE ADVISED: PARKING AT WAIPIO LOOKOUT COUNTY PARK IS LIMITED TO 24 HOURS. Leave before 12, or youll be stopping a lot to share the road. 270 and gawk at the beauty of the rugged northern Kohala coastline from the Polol Overlook. But if you prepare for the crowds and mud, then I know you will enjoy the hike as much as I did. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND Fun stuff. I could not tell in person which way it went from the lookout, so if you are planning to go further, you will have to do additional research. By hiking, youll get better views of the beach down below, which is notable for being a black sand beach! Waipi'o Valley hike elevation: The elevation gain is approximately 975 feet on the steepest road .