pololu valley to waipio valley hike

In my very limited experience (twice at Waipio, three times at Pololu), I've actually found Waipio more crowded. I found this area to be relatively flat and dry. 84. Next time with two others and we brought plenty of water and took about 3 hours. IDAHO Your email address will not be published. These links do not cost you anything and help provide the necessary funding to maintain this website. steep with 13 percent grade going down to the valley floor and is only .6 miles Instead, locals would like you to know about Keokea Beach Park where there are bathrooms. Not only is Pololu valley scenic as an overlook at the end of road, but the hike and views going downhill, the walk across the gorgeous black sand beach is a wonderful experience. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. I have done both several times. The hike down is steep, but mostly on pavement. More information at the Keokea beach park website. MAMMOTH CAVE KY According to oral history, as many as 10,000 people lived in Waipio Valley before Captain Cook's landing in 1778. I was slipping and sliding my way to the Honokane Nui Lookout. Glow, horses. Looking into Waimanu Valley, which was the next valley over from Waipi'o Valley. Aloha and enjoy This Hawaii Life. 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 ? Your email address will not be published. The waves here are gnarly, and I wouldnt recommend swimming here, but it is beautiful to see. MAUI You can explore and hike into this wondrous area via the Waipio Valley on one side or Pololu Valley on the other side. Never drink the water and do not swim with open cuts. The first section is steep as you climb the hillside into lush jungle-like surroundings. You can also park The Waipio Valley hike is one of the most beautiful and magical hiking spots on the Big Island. But, it's not a kid-friendly hike. Also, if you want an adventure, check out Kaumana Caves. If you feel like having a very good workout this is the hike for you! If youre challenged to extend your hike, consider going beyond to the next valley on the Honokane Nui trail to reach the Honokane gulch. You will get the coastal views at the Pololu Valley lookout without even stepping foot on the Pololu Valley trail. 4. To get there you have to follow the Akoni Pule Highway (highway 270) until it ends ends 8 miles east of the town of Hawi at the Pololu Valley lookout. Its one of those hikes where you start with a downhill, so you will need to climb out at the end. A group of Chinese immigrants settled in the valley in the late 1800 and built churches . Great hike. Try to respect nature and pack out all trash (as per usual). I had to press down my "mall parking anxiety" not flee the premises, lol. So please, for everyones sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes! Yes, it is a busy trail, which is why I recommend continuing to the Honokane Nui Lookout if you have the fitness to do so. The beach has no services, so plan accordingly. Maybe I'm incorrect in my assumptions. Once you pass the stream and campsites, the trail becomes increasingly wild. Tried to hike to waterfall but it crosses into private property and couldnt get to it. If you would like to learn more about living here, be sure to check out my Moving To Hawaii Resources for Hawaii Island. We'll update this page if and when it reopens. The hike itself is fairly steep, but it's not a super hard hike. Shop around on. On my trips to the Big Island of Hawaii I have had the opportunity to hike down into both Pololu and Waipio Valleys and up the trails on the far rims towards Honopue and Waimanu Valleys respectively. You can find a more concise description of this hike at the bigislandhikes website. You won't get 2-3 hours of hike, 45 minutes down and up. of the beach with the impressive 500 foot cliffs make for a fantastic photo Check out the details here for more images and inspiration to doing this tour. Sturdy shoes I wore tennis shoes, but it would have been helpful to have more grip on the muddy sections on the way to Honokane Nui Lookout. Although the lookout provides a fabulous view, nothing compares to making into down into the valley. Once at Beach go left toward north side of valley opening. When you're ready, climb 300' back to the trailhead. Keokea beach park is a quiet beach park with a shower and picnic tables close to Hawi and Pololu Valley. My husband did this hike a couple of weeks ago and loved it http://www.bigislandhikes.com/puu-waawaa/. Bummer! Located along the North Kohala Coast, home to the island's most picturesque sandy beaches and incredible weather, the Pololu Valley was formed by the Kohala volcano hundreds of thousands of years ago. The mounds of sand behind the beach are a fun place to spend some time. --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. 2023 Hawaii Travel Guide. These stones can make it uncomfortable to walk into the water so if you do want to take a swim try to bring shoes that can get wet. Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. This is a good spot for a picnic and a shower after hiking down into Pololu valley. How to get there? Most people only drive to the end of Hwy. we didn't end up going all the way. You will find the trailhead near the parking lot. Its also down a steep road as opposed to a natural hike. Expect this hike to the top of the ridge to take an additional 45 minutes to an hour both ways. We have been adventuring around the island for over 10 years and love living here. 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. Cool 2. The "beach" is nothing but boulders usually, and the view isn't worth the extra work. Once you get the Kamehameha statue in Kapaau at the Kohala civic center sits the original If you are visiting in the winter months (from ~December to ~March) this is a great place to try and see humpback whales. Longitude: -155.7274313. GRAND TETON WY The road eventually turns into a trail at Waipio Beach. You'll end up in Waimea, perfect place to have a beer (or whatever) and savor your day. Start at the small, 10-car parking lot at the Pololu Valley Lookout and follow signs for the Awini Trail descending down 300 feet over half a mile to the valley floor and the beach. The hike down to the bottom of the valley and to the beach is the same paved road the cars use. Take that trail up until you reach edge across from Waipio lookout on other side. The water here is notoriously dangerous and should only be attempted by very experienced swimmers and surfers. Especially with kids. You can take a short stroll along the river bank before it stops with warning signs of private property beyond the trail areas. 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. Bring enough water with you and keep in mind that there are no restroom facilities in the valley or at the lookout. LANAI And then basically you will be driving to a dead end. By doing the hike, you . public services or lifeguards at the beach, Bring plenty Youll arrive down to the black sand beach! I'm hoping to hike part of the Muliwai Trail in May. He said there is a rock fall risk and it wont be opened again until repairs are completed. Island of Hawaii Tourism Island of Hawaii Hotels Island of Hawaii Bed and Breakfast Island of Hawaii Holiday Rentals Island of Hawaii Packages 1: Maui Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: Road to Hana (Maui) 6: Maui Itinerary 7: Maui blog posts, The second-biggest island in the chain, much of Mauis appeal comes from its natural landscape and biodiversity, including its two massive volcanoes, whale watching and marine ecosystems, 1: Oahu Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: Oahu Beaches 6: Oahu Itinerary 7: Oahu blog posts. The beach itself is made out of a mix of black sand and large boulders. Thats because its kind of in the far north of the Big Island, and a spot where not many other things are located. From there you can look back into the valley seeing waterfalls unseen from other side. 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. We've updated both travel guides with a lot of new great information for potential visitors (and those who've been a time or two as well). 6.12 km. Subscribe to receive 5 emails in 5 days: Call us for advice! Tagged with: waipio, waipi'o . The trail down to the beach drops 400 feet in 20 minutes of hikingbe warned, the hike up is difficult for those not in good physical shape and the hike down should not be attempted if you have doubts about being able to hike back up. only come here for the lookout. The vertical distance from the overlook point down to the valley floor is 490ft (150m). Almost immediately upon climbing, it began to rain. It can be distressing for locals to see people coming out of the bushes near the Pololu Valley trailhead, presuming why people are coming out of the bushes. Stay organized while planning your own trip with a TRIP PLANNING DOCUMENT. It is possible you will encounter people from the Pololu Valley Steward Program at the 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. Unfortunately, rain washed out the trail . Hiking Hawaii - Pololu Valley. The sacred Waipio Valley was once the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I, and is an important site for Hawaiian history and culture. The trail can be quite muddy if it has been raining. Expect 1-1.5 miles of total hiking + beach exploring; more if you continue along Awini Trail, Hike down to beach is moderate to strenuous when hiking out, Big Island Hotels, Resorts, B&Bs, & Vacation Rentals, Big Island Tours, Excursions, & Adventures. With more time and better weather, we would have attempted the longer hike to Waimanu. We just share the best of Hawaii travel, food, adventure and lifestyle to you in our updated posts and newsletters. This hike covers about 20 km, depending on how long you want to walk. ZION UT Lots of great scenery but you can experience that on the drive. There is often a possibility of rain at any moment. You can explore and hike into this wondrous area via the Waipi'o Valley on one side or Pololu Valley on the other side. Looks good for potentially running also. Download your copy of our Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88584435', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kauai and Maui pretty extensively and will be heading to Maui after BI this trip. To see which of our walks in the Kohala Mountains is the right one for you, browse real tips and photos uploaded by other hikersand see what they had to say about each walk. The Volcano Van - Big Island Volcano Tours, Holualoa Inn-Big Island Bed and Breakfast, Latitude: 20.20033933 Kamehameha stature here for more information. Can these both be done on the same day? After you pass mile marker 28, youll get some peak a boo views to the cliffs of Pololu. All of the land upriver is privately owned. 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. Losing and forgetting things seemed to be the common theme for our trip. We would love to see things that are truly unique to big island; we have hiked (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? There is a rugged, inaccessible coastline filled with lush scenic valleys on the northern coast of the Big Island. And so, on a January morning earlier this year, trail shoes, blister cream, extra bandages, water bottles and emergency One-Ton Chips from Hilo's Maebo Noodle Factory in tow, we set out from the Pololu Valley lookout ready for anything nature chose to send our way on the hike to the valley floor. It shocked me to make it back to the Pololu Valley floor without falling. further out and then walk to the end where the trail begins. Continuing on to the Z trail provides more solitude, I'm sure. You'll most likely have to park along the street and walk to the viewpoint/start of the trail. Youll save yourself the tight corners and the wait by parking up the street. Youll probably also notice some nice campsites, but camping here is illegal. Easy to moderate. We're staying in Kolea area so the drive. 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. Maybe its best to think of this as a half day activity. Its steep, muddy, rocky and slippery. Its not a smooth trail, at least to the Z. By doing the hike, youll get better views of the black sand beach as youre going down, and its a nice scenic coastal hike! It is split by the sublime Waipi'o River. We walked the opposite direction along the beach, crossed the river inflow and went to the large rocks before turning around. Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022 . If you like exercise you also opt for a hike to the next valley. I suppose it is easier to slip and slide your way downhill instead of uphill. 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. There is a bench at the end of the trail overlooking the Honokane Nui Valley. Polol means long spear, and carves a long cleave on the northern side of Kohala Mountain. All rights reserved. And of course, hiking down to the valley floor and spending some time on the beach is very worthwhile. See more state parks on the Big Island. Hike down on broken paved road. The views into Honokane Nui and the coast are simply stunning from the ridge. White top I was wearing a lightweight top from Free People. Please have a chat with them when you arrive to learn more about the area and treat them kindly. Also, home to some unique art galleries, boutiques and restaurants located in old plantation style buildings, you can easily spend a few hours exploring and eating your way through town. The commissions help support Moderately Adventurous stay alive and kicking. 5. Good workout. There are are group tours that lead visitors directly to see the waterfall at Pololu called Kapoloa Falls, this is managed by Hawaii Forest and Trail. As we do for most places on the Big Island we recommend to visit Pololu Valley early in the day. No . Recommend bringing an extra pair of socks and a towel if you plan on crossing the River. Waipio Valley is on the northern peninsula of the Big Island. Here are some comparisons: Consider making a stop there before you go to Pololu Valley, just in case! 1/22/2023. . picture taking. It is located on the west side of the island. syr101 . NATIONAL LAKESHORES Lots of water and snacks. (read more about the geological history of Kohala). inform and educate visitors as they arrive, as well as monitor the trail and beach. This is a gorgeous walk with stunning views and one of our 5 favorite hikes on the Big Island! 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. Saw one fisherman on the beach, and four vehicles passed us while hiking the paved section. 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]. 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. All partners and related links comply with our Advertising Disclosures. The hike down is mostly gravel and soil and relatively easy to climb down depending on temperature and wetness factor. 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. The vegetation is so thick that you do not get a view of the ocean. You can also hike down the beach and up the Mulawai zigzag trail about 30 minutes to the third switchback for great views of the valley and beach. 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/. After one more switchback inland, you emerge from the trees to see the view at Honokane Nui Lookout. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. The uphill is good and strenuous, but the first mile of the hike (the steep part) is paved and rough on your knees. Not sure how much you've read about each hike: http://www.bigislandhikes.com/pololu-valley/, http://www.bigislandhikes.com/waipio-valley/. High surf, undertow, and rip tides are frequently present so only go in the water if you are a good swimmer and dont get in too deep. However, it didnt last long, and I was almost completely dry by the time I reached the trailhead. The roundtrip hike goes down about 420 feet to the valley floor Beautiful place. Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms, conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. Waipio Valley Hike (ROAD CURRENTLY CLOSED) There is no lifeguard. Waipio Valley Lookout discounts - what to see at The Big Island (Hawaii island) - check out reviews and 4 photos for Waipio Valley Lookout - popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Waipio Valley Lookout Answer 1 of 11: Our current itinerary gives us one day to devote to hiking aside from what we will do in one day at VNP. 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. 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. Most references to the Polol Valley trail refer to this trail, which ends where the beach meets the valley floor. Sharing road/trail with trucks and hikers would be irritating. Pololu is amazingly breathtaking, but the hike is almost straight down. Mahalo! HAWAII VOLCANOES HI PICTURED ROCKS MI You continue through the village of Hawi (good spot for a bite & beverage), on narrow, winding roads with one-land bridges. Permanent signs are posted saying road closed and no pedestrians. 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. Waipi'o Valley hike distance: The round trip hike from the lookout parking lot to the black sand beach and back is just over 3 miles. At Pololu, btw, you can go to the far end of the beach and hike up another mile or so for a view of the next valley over. Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. 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. Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would go again, Location: Trailhead is at the Pololu Lookout on the Big Island of Hawaii, Distance: 4.6 miles roundtrip (including the Honokane Nui Lookout). It's also the northernmost valley of the same chain that includes Waipi'o Valley, which was shown on the first trip. On Dec 7, a lava boat was spotted floating down channel. Any suggestions to help us pick one over the other? I took a couple of timelapse videos and could see the light move around on the valley walls with the clouds. The cliffs of the Kohala coastline were formed during a catastrophic landslide between 250.000 and 300.000 years ago during which a large part of the volcano slipped into the ocean. This is about a 5 minute drive from the Pololu Valley trailhead. One of the benefits of living in Hawaii is the opportunity to be outside just about every day of the year. MUD!! If you love sightseeing, the shuttle tour is a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon on the Big Island. Jump-start your day on the Big Island by making your way to any of these four spots to witness a stellar sunrise. 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. This is a great place to bring a picnic. 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 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. Sustainable Travel guide and itineraries for the Big Island of Hawaii.