If youre interested in Pololu Valley, you may also be interested in these great Big Island activities: ROAD TRIP AMERICA Once you pass the stream and campsites, the trail becomes increasingly wild. You can hike to two of the valleys at Polulu provided that you stay on the trails and not wander through the mostly land that is private . ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Bummer, this trail is closed. The beach itself is made out of a mix of black sand and large boulders. The hike down is mostly gravel and soil and relatively easy to climb down depending on temperature and wetness factor. The Kohala Volcano last erupted about 120.000 years ago (!) 3. Its also down a steep road as opposed to a natural hike. The river has to be crossed, which is best done at low tide and . Polol Valley Big Island Hikes Glum, cement and cars. Mahalo! 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. If youre challenged to extend your hike, consider going beyond to the next valley on the Honokane Nui trail to reach the Honokane gulch. Can you still hike into Waipio Valley? | Dependable There is a phenomenal view from the parking area, which is lovely for those who are not interested in the hike. Hawaii - Pololu Valley Hike to the Remote Honokane Nui Lookout On either side of the valleyare cliffs reaching almost 2000 feet in elevation with numerous cascading waterfalls. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. It is unclear if the trail continues. Head to the end of Akoni Pule Hwy (270) to come to Pololu Valley. Waipio Valley Residents Still Seek A Deal Limiting Foot Traffic On The hike felt remote and accessed some incredible jungle-like flora that I was craving while in Hawaii. Theres a small parking lot at the end of the road. For something a bit different, take a look at Kalopa State Park. From the valley floor it is a short and easy stretch to the beach. See more ideas for planning out your days on the Big Island. Only a few people continue to the Honokane Nui Lookout, so this part of the trail is less busy. Big Island Activities Hawaii - Pololu Valley Hike to the Remote Honokane Nui Lookout. Waipi'o valley is the most southern valley that carved into the Kohala volcano, where Pololu valley is at the north side of this cliff section. Waipi'o Valley Lookout - Nanaue Falls Loop from Kukuihaele. If you are trying to decide where to hike, Waipio Valley or here, this hike is MUCH easier. 4 Incredible Spots to Watch a Sunrise on the Big Island We're staying in Kolea area so the drive. The first section is steep as you climb the hillside into lush jungle-like surroundings. Wild horses, stray dog that followed us at the hip and protected us, amazing views, a river crossing, wild fruit along the way (pomelo). Youll save yourself the tight corners and the wait by parking up the street. If you just didn't get enough of the Big Island's gorgeous valleys at Pololu, there is a hike that will take you over the next ridge and into Honokane Nui "big" Valley. You won't get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. Its a relatively easy 30 minute hike down to the floor and then to the black sand beach which you can hike from end to end. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley for hiking? - Island of Hawaii Forum 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. 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). Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley only come here for the lookout. Pololu Valley - Savor the Moment Photography 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. Thanks for the suggestion PlanetR. 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. With clouds swirling overhead for the duration of my hike, it was bound to happen. MAHALO! This Stunning Big Island Valley Is Drawing Bigger Crowds And You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. Although the ground is rocky . The trailhead has no services at all no water, no restrooms, and no cell service. 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! I hope you enjoy it as much as he did! The Waipio Valley - What You Need to Know | Big Island Guide Be careful when it rains, very slick. Be prepared for the parking area to be busy when you arrive! Almost immediately upon climbing, it began to rain. Big Island Hikes has another hike that proceeds over to an overlook for the next valley, Honokne Nui. Continuing on to the Z trail provides more solitude, I'm sure. Park at the end of the highway at the Polol Valley overlook. Waipi'o Valley: How to visit and What to see - Love Big Island Behind the beach you can find large dunes and ironwood trees that protect the valley from floodwaters. Youll probably also notice some nice campsites, but camping here is illegal. At one time the valley had churches, restaurants, and schools as well as a hotel, post office, and jail. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. Absolutely beautiful. After that, there were a number of other people arrived. I did this once alone, probably took 4 hours. Great hike. Learn how to MAKE THE MOST OF A GUIDED TOUR. There is often a possibility of rain at any moment. If you hike- especially after rainy season- wear waterproof sneakers. Once at the bottom take the road to the right. Trailhead: Take Hwy. I'm kind of leaning toward Pololu for that reason. For this reason it is both referred to at the Polol Trail and the wini trail. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. Pololu valley. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. 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. I loved the dramatic and rugged landscape of the Pololu Valley Hike. and is only about a half hour hike to the bottom of this .6-mile hike. You should hike down with sturdy shoes or boots for the variable rocks, steps and slope factor. This hike starts at the parking lot near the Waipio Lookout. Lava boats can form when portions of the cone or lava channel break away & are rafted downstream. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING P.O Box 4849 TRAIL CONDITIONS. The Pololu Trail Steward program is a recent initiative in which one or more local stewards are present at the Pololu Valley trailhead to inform and educate visitors as they arrive, as well as monitor the trail and beach. 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. Alternatively, the Waipio Valley Shuttle is the original 4-wheel drive tour of "the land of curving water" and is a mesmerizing and intimate look at the valley. There are no lifeguards on the beach and the surf breaks and the beach with undertow is treacherous so swimming is not encouraged on the beach. Bring a flashlight. Hiilawe Falls - Legendary Waterfall with Temporary Flow Funny 1. There are also horses on the trail. Dont worry, there is plenty of time on the beach to take a breather! The small town of Kapaau has So, Have you been to Polulu and want to go back again? I think the admin of this web page is genuinely working hard in support of his website, for the reason that here every material is quality based material. You What island is honokaa on? - vknao.hioctanefuel.com NEW YORK Waipi'o Valley is much more trying, longer, and more satisfying. call before planning any hike. This trip turned out to be my favorite experience on the Big Island so far. Come prepared! Don't miss these. Big Island Earthquake Update. The trail can be quite muddy if it has been raining. Recommended Posts. 31. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 18. Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii, as seen from the overlook. Hiking in the Waipio Valley is amazing. The Pololu Valley Lookout; The hike into Pololu Valley; The black sand beach; Continue hiking to the next valley: the Honokane Nui trail; How to get to Pololu Valley; Things to do close to Pololu Valley; Pololu Valley history. #1. The ornamental . --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. All of the land upriver is privately owned. Once at Beach go left toward north side of valley opening. The hike at Pololu down to the beach is shorter than the . Hike: Start at the Polol Valley overlook and find the trailhead for the Awini Trail marked by an extensive array of danger signs. Its not a smooth trail, at least to the Z. The reviews here for both places suggest Pololu is also more crowded with tourists but I'm guessing they are just referring to the lookout as many of the reviews implied there are less people on the actual hiking trails past the scenic lookout.