Respect the private land and the people living in the valley. Pololu is a relatively easy walk down and up for the healthy, albeit with some challenging footing. You can follow this trail over the valley floor and up the other side to the next valley: Honokane Nui. Photo-centric trip reports of the Big Island? The town of Honokaa near Waipio is worth a stop if you go to Waipio - I think Hawi has more character, but Honokaa is an interesting town as well. I do hope you hike down the trail from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Level Contributor 1,672 posts You can make this a part of your scenic drive around the Big Island! kam hotel and want to go to Pololu, the farthest point than work our way back stopping at places that interest us, hopefully beach. If you are only going to the Lookout, I think the WOW factor of Waipi'o is off the charts. Waipio Valley is a part of the Hilo Hamakua Heritage Coast. If Pololu then you could make a day of it by early breakfast in Waimea, then up and over (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? more, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii, Get answers to your questions about Island of Hawaii. We're staying at Fairmont Orchid. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Get our brand-new trip planning series delivered directly to your inbox - for FREE (more info). for parking (not a deal breaker if you can't get a spot at MK, then worth paying at Hapuna and/or Waialea.). Plolu means "long spear" and the name evokes the shape of the valley, whereas the mouth of Waipio is broad, almost a mile wide. Should I camp? Sometimes you will encounter horses on the road. 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. Small parking lot at end of the road at trailhead. Walk west along the beach as far as you can, take care when crossing the stream as the water is as strong as it is cold, and reach the end of the beach underneath the cliff for an unforgettable view. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112271019', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Big Island tourist site (e.g. Use hiking shoes, they help. Ditto the above re swimming. You can read more about this waterfall at the worldofwaterfalls website. It's a very well maintained trail and the views at every point are just beautiful. On the steepest part, it rises 800 ft in only 0.6 miles. Must see. The parking is just along the road because the parking lot is 10 minute parking only. The vertical distance from the overlook point down to the valley floor is 490ft (150m). Not to say Waipio isn't great because it is, but there's something truly special about Pololu and feels more secluded with no cars down there Alarmed-Marketing616 2 yr. ago Loved it.very tranquil when I was there this morningthank you for the advice! The two ahupua'a Polol and Waipio offer different perspectives on the island, and each has a unique sense of grandeur and history. 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 shoreline along Waipio Valley and Pololu Valley can make for dangerous swimming conditions, including a dangerous shorebreak and strong current. 8am-6pm. Waipio is the southeastern most of the Hamakua coasts dramatic stream valleys. Waimanu Valley. Keokea Beach Park is a short drive off the highway, past the towns of Hawi and Kapaau (both towns worth a stop to window shop or grab a snack). This series consists of the following valleys: Water has eroded 7 deep valleys into the windward side of the Kohala Volcano of the Big Island. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Really good bodysurfing here. Oahu is the lively center and most visited of all Hawaiian Islands. - You want to see some great photos? Keokea Beach Park is a great place for a picnic lunch (bring it in yourself, nothing for sale there)scenic boulder beach (not good for swimming) though locals often surf there. Remnants from this landslide can still be found under water 81 miles (130 km) from the current coastline. Go to Waipio Valley. Yeah, it was, interesting I had been through the Northridge 'quake in SoCa, too, with some other lesser quakes. Please stay on the public road when hiking in Waipio valley. There is a lookout point between the parking area and Waipio Valley where you can get a stunning view over most of the valley and the high sea cliffs stretching out to the west. Coming back uphill is easier (no loose rocks). Where can I find good live Hawaiian or local music and/or hula? Between 250.000 and 300.000 years ago the Kohala volcano experienced a truly massive landslide in which a part of the volcano fell into the ocean. Very humid, quite crowded as expected. It is possible you will encounter people from the Pololu Valley Steward Program at the lookout. The road down to Waipio valley is one of the steepest roads on the island and quite a ride! Locals will take those spots fast first thing in the morning, then leave later. There are people living in Waipio Valley. The spectacular views of the valley and the steep cliffs that end in the ocean are worth a trip on their own, but the real thing to do here is hiking to the black sand beach at the valley floor! Public parking spaces are limited there, so I think your best chances of getting one are on the way there. Polol Valley Lookout. Agree that it's probably best to go to Pololu first, and beaches on the way back - except if you get an early start, I'd try to do a quick stop at the beach at the Mauna Kea resort. 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. Wear good shoes for the descent/ascent part. Afternoon trip was good, with shade on the way back up. Good idea to get the car at the King Kam hotel to eliminate the extra time needed for shuttles. Beautiful views! Can anyone confirm the closure. The valley meets the ocean towards the north with a beautiful black sand beach that is cut in two by the river. ending, but rather Waipio valley. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93725113', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hilo and Akaka Falls during our road trip day. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status. That is an option not available at Pololu. If you feel like stretching your legs you can try either of the following two hikes: You can see these waterfalls already from the access road down into the valley but the best view can be gotten from the Muliwai trail described above as hike #2. How do I get from the airport to my hotel? If you prefer more isolated areas, Pololu Valley may be a better choice for you. As a paradise for active travelers it is rich in experiences that include nature, culinary discoveries, historic landmarks, shopping, nightlife and festivals. Any thoughts/suggestions on whether we should skip Wai'pio (but we plan to go to the lookout) or not? Also consider visiting lovely Waialea Bay (small admission charge for Hapuna State Park). Parking is fairly easy! Pololu Valley Trail, from the lookout down to the valley takes less than 30 mins to walk. These horses are among other things used for the guided horseback tours in the valley. Syr101 - Just a note that there aren't any food concessions at the beaches so bring some food or pick up some along the way if you're planning to eat at the beach. Directions from Puako: Take Highway 270 to the end at Pololu Lookout in North Kohala. Syr101 - Just a note that there aren't any food concessions at the beaches so bring some food or pick up some along the way if you're planning to eat at the beach. Thanks all the advice. Answer 1 of 2: We are traveling to the BI next week - very excited! So it can be best to visit these beaches for the views only! To get down to the valley floor you must either be a Big Island resident and have your own 4WD car, or be willing to pay for a tour. There is a somewhat steep dirt trail that leads to the valley and the beach (black sand, not good for swimming). here's an even better photo (a 360 degree panorama) of the trail at Pololu beach. We did both last week. The Pololu Valley Lookout gives a spectacular view over the cliffs of the Kohala volcano. The black sand beach at the valley floor looks like a beach at the end of the world. I thought it was more so on w/e's. At the end of Pololu valley lies a picturesque black sand beach. There were cows at the bottom which was awesome to see. Waiulili Falls is the second of the ocean-bound waterfalls accessible via the sacred Waipi'o Valley (the other being Kaluahine Falls). And, of course, Waipio is graced by waterfalls, while Polol is not. Sustainable Travel guide and itineraries for the Big Island of Hawaii. There's a black sand beach there, as well, and there are steep sea cliffs just like Waipi'o. Most just get out and take in the view, so if it's full wait a few minutes and a spot will open up. I've been reading this forum for months and it has been extremely helpful. This valley is one of the most beautiful and secluded places to go to for a hike on the Big Island. Some of my teen/young adult sons did mess around in the water at Pololu, but it isn't advisable. Better to go down to the next spot at Hapuna State Park. 3. Waipio and Pololu are at either end of a series of valleys . Visiting the Waipi'o Lookout is must for me every trip. Also, both of these beaches are referred to as black sand beaches. Id do a North Kohala excursion, which is far more convenient to where youre staying. 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. The reason Im giving this such a low rating is because you literally can not do anything but walk up and down the hill. But, which do you all prefer? Walk back along the beach and prepare for a tricky trek along boulders battered by the waves and a constant spray of salty water. Aerial overview of Waipio Valley. 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. Trail is slippery when wet and is rocky or packed clay. There are several levels of visiting Pololu valley. Worth it to get to the black sand beach at the bottom though. Great video on reef etiquette. Its an incredibly sacred place so you always want to be sure that youre respectful of what theyre asking (dont cross the lake at the bottom, leave certain plants alone, etc). You can see the road and some houses and agricultural activity on the valley floor. 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). Look east across the beach in the distance and notice a waterfall straight from the cliff onto the rocky shore. With a population of less than 75,000, Kauai is truly a small-town island, littered with open space, protected preserves, and old plantation history. Horses roam free and waterfalls cascade from tall cliffs. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93713130', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars at the top (and so is Waipio), a lot of people don't hike down. The trail gets slick when it has rained, but is not terribly difficult. The town of Hawi (on the way to Pololu) is good for a lunch or ice cream stop. It is nearby the lookout and has a wonderful selection of treats and drinks, with wonderful views and lots of tables. There is limited parking space available at the lookout point with minimal space to turn around so it is possible you need to turn around and park your car on the shoulder of the road and then walk back a few minutes to the valley entrance. The views are incredible. Just curious what your hours in port are? What are some good splurge or special occasion restaurants on the Big Island? Are both valleys pretty similiar? Take your time and be careful. The Kaluahine falls are visible towards to east from the black sand beach on the bottom of Waipio valley. Beautiful trail. Waipio valley was home to old Hawaiian kings and once upon a time was densely populated. Park your car in the small parking lot that is literally at the . Public parking spaces are limited there, so I think your best chances of getting one are on the way there. To get to the beach, turn right as soon as you reach the valley floor. inform and educate visitors as they arrive, as well as monitor the trail and beach. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! This is not the actual address of the spot, but it wouldn't let me enter the correct spot since there really isn't an address. Turbulent surf crashing on the black sands of the valley's rocky beach and shoreline. Waipio will give you a much better workout on the hike back up. Couldn't cook in the restaurant kitchens, so they set up BBQs outside and they cooked/baked/roasted whatever they could. 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. We just went to the Wai'pio valley lookout but did not do any of the tours because we didn't book anything in advance and the next tour was 2 hours away. 270 and gawk at the beauty of the rugged northern . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93727428', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hilo, so you wouldnt stop by en route. Pololu Valley is located in north Kohala on the eastern slope of the extinct Kohala volcano at the northernmost point of the Big Island. Truly a MUST do if youre on the big island. 1 here. The Hiilawe falls (center left) are visible from many points in the valley. Explore and enjoy, and then turn back and walk down to the shore of the ocean. Why do I need to pack warm clothes for a trip to Hawaii Island? The lookout is great for taking pictures so make sure not to forget to bring a camera. In a 30-minute call we help you set up the trip of your dreams. Mgventures - thanks for the input in regards to the directions. Before Europeans arrived, the valley was decorated with taro patches, but there's not much of that left. Entrance is free but parking is limited to 5 spots so it's all street parking. People do it, but it's not as fun that way. 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. I checked the map, packed my backpack, and off I went early in the morning. Respecting Hawaiian place names. We don't mind hikes and would like to swim at the beach. 10/10 would do again. Quite a few picnic tables, one on top of a small hill by the shore, with a covered area. Great for first-time visitors. 110% worth it!! Better to go down to the next spot at Hapuna State Park. Shorter hike down, not on a road. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 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. Waipio and Pololu are at either end of a series of valleys Waipio overlook has more 'wow factor' for the view, but Pololu has some great views as well. Gorgeous spot to sightsee. 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. At the top you can look down on Pololu valley and a beautiful black sand beach ( Pololu Valley Beach ). Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. I think if I only could only visit one, I would do Pololu Valley. Honoke'a. click here to go to our instagram account, Polol Valley: the Lookout, the Hike, and the Black Sand Beach. And once at the beach below, it's anything but crowded. This is one of my favorite hikes on the big island. 6. The hike down is scenic and easy because it is 0.5 mile downhill; however, remember you still have to come back up the same way so conserve your water. Which one? If you have any other suggestions don't be afraid to give them. Pololu is a relatively easy walk down and up for the healthy, albeit with some challenging footing. 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. Couldn't cook in the restaurant kitchens, so they set up BBQs outside and they cooked/baked/roasted whatever they could. Coming from Waimea, head east on Hwy 19 until you reach Honokaa and follow the signs for Highway 240. At the bottom of the steep road turn left to explore inlands, where banana and avocado trees line the road leading into the valley. 3. In a 30-minute call we help you set up the trip of your dreams. Caution, as high surf, undertow, and rip tides occur in the ocean here. From Pololu valley on these valleys stretch towards the south-east in an impressive display that you can partly see from the Pololu lookout point. Where can I camp (tent or camper) and what are the rules? We spent the last day on the Big Island valley hopping and checking out a remote cabin on a private beach. The average grade of the road is 25%, but peaks at 40%. She didn't seem to work for any authority. Trail is a perfect hike. Traffic in Kailua Kona can be slow, but we found it was more of a problem with congestion trying to drive from one end of the town to the other - e.g. These falls only exist when it is raining a LOT. Turn right once you reach the valley floor to get to this beautiful black sand beach. Pololu is the northwestern most of those valleys. Need info on backpacking and wilderness camping, Resort Fees on Big Island & Other Islands, Browse all 30,517 Island of Hawaii topics . On the way to Pololu, you can visit Lapakahi State Historical Park and the Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. Swimming in summer should be good. The Mauna Kea had some major damage, so they brought over some guests from there for the rest of their stays. Elevation Gain: 300'. north to south or vice versa. Polol Valley is the first valley from the right. Polol translates to " long spear" in Hawaiian and is named for the many battles that took place in the region. Image adapted from source (by Eric Tessmer). Waipio is longer and harder but on a road. Suggestions: From the Fairmont, hop over to Honokaope black sand beach, at the south end of Mauna Lani Resort, in the 49 Black Sands subdivision. You dont need to drive or walk down into the valley to get to the overlook which makes it a VERY popular spot to check out the valley. There was no need for concern. I think Pololu Valley has more to offer on your way to / from it, than Waipio. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. I and a lot of others on this fourm have a ton of bad experiences with bad folks down there.. No (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? For wither, you get to walk along shore. Locals will take those spots fast first thing in the morning, then leave later. The views from the lookout are better at Waipio are better; but if youre willing to walk a bit of the trail into Pololu Valley, views become just as spectacular. I think Pololu Valley sounds like the better option. Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail: Hapuna Beach to Mauna Kea Beach, Puukohol Heiau National Historical Site Trail, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail: Mauna Kea Beach to Hapuna Beach, Kalahuipua'a Historic Park and Fishponds Loop, Muliwai and Waimanu Valley Trail [CLOSED]. 4. 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. (driving directions using google maps). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-1665103', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rental car firms will allow you to drive even their 4x4.s into the valley.. Take heed take a tour for your safety. I've read that the best way into Wai'pio Valley is a wagon or horse tour, but that it is ok to hike into. kam hotel and want to go to Pololu, the farthest point than work our way back stopping at places that interest us, hopefully beach. Fortunately, they only had some cosmetic cracks, even though some of them were pretty scary-looking. The beach looks beautiful and is a very good place to relax after coming down into the valley, but take care with going into the water. Or, you can eat at restaurants at the hotels. Once down at the bottom, it's a nice walk parallel to the beach at Pololu (we haven't hiked down Waipio, but I think it's the same there however, there's a creek at the bottom of Waipio that could be difficult to cross if the water is high.). Which Island do you recommend? Theres a group of local volunteers that wait up too on the parking lot to check you in and give you a run down on the history. My husband and I will be staying on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You had to wait until he "unticked" and would allow a car to take that "tick" You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. You absolutely work for it on the way back up but even then its still very doable. Really good bodysurfing here. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112270925', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');the Big Island for 4 nights in April on our way to Maui. Just be sure not to poach any of the loungers that are there for hotel guests, When I visit the Big Island, I always have to make the drive all the way up to the Pololu Lookout. Best boogie boarding, body surfing beaches. Views are Dont post pictures please! 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. Some, if not all, car rental companies here on the Big Island explicitly mention in the rental agreement that it is not permitted to drive your rental car down into Waipio valley. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 39 min to complete. Several of the images in this guide have been provided by Georgios Tsiminis (Instagram, Flickr).
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