pololu valley to waipio valley hike

White top I was wearing a lightweight top from Free People. We walked the opposite direction along the beach, crossed the river inflow and went to the large rocks before turning around. Steep on the way down but you really feel it on the way back. Pololu Valley to Honokane Iki Valley. I recommend parking up the street slightly so that it is easy to turn around and leave at the end of your hike. Waipio is a sacred area, we have never gone down it, because it seems disrespectful to go "touring" there. Check out the other things I did on the Island of Hawaii: Have you done the Pololu Valley Hike or the Waipio Valley Hike? There is no lifeguard. The first section is steep as you climb the hillside into lush jungle-like surroundings. 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 ? 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). Check out the details here for more images and inspiration to doing this tour. , especially if you plan to hike to Honokane Nui Lookout there is no cell reception once you enter the Pololu Valley. The Big Island has several great hikes, such as the Pololu Valley hike and the Waipio Valley hike, which offer stunning views of the coastline and valleys. 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. 18. Take that trail up until you reach edge across from Waipio lookout on other side. You'll hear from me shortly. If you are visiting in the winter months (from ~December to ~March) this is a great place to try and see humpback whales. 6.12 km. Polulu Valley meaning Long Spear is revered in ancient history. Most references to the Polol Valley trail refer to this trail, which ends where the beach meets the valley floor. The valley was the permanent home for Hawaiian ali'i (royalty) until the time of King Umi-a-Lloa. The third guich is higher in elevation and some of the trail is very tricky with barely any trail walking the sides of loose slope but with some helpful ropes to keep you from sliding down hill. UTAH Theres a bypass trail just a few feet away from the road around the muddiest areas at the bottom and before the beach. 6:30-11:00: Hike into Pololu Valley. 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. During or after rains the trail can be slippery and because of the relatively steep average grade of the trail (13%) we rate the difficulty as moderate. The following 2.5 minute video shows aerial footage of the cliffs, the beach and the upper valley: The Pololu lookout gives you a magnificent view over Pololu Valley and the impressive sea cliffs that slowly crumble into the ocean. At least 1 liter of water You cannot go wrong with, Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Stay Organized with this Trip Planning Template, Day 4 was our last day on the river, and I finally, Lodge fashion is a little different from river fas, Primarily rafting, we also did a little hiking on, A Rogue waterfall! Sharing road/trail with trucks and hikers would be irritating. In Hawaii, respecting the land is a big thing in Hawaiian culture. Both the Big Island and Maui have a diverse culinary scene with plenty of delicious food options to choose from. I loved the dramatic and rugged landscape of the Pololu Valley Hike. Most people visit just day camp on the valley floor into the late hours. And you are at the Pololu Valley lookout! If you desire dramatic views of Hawaii Island's northeastern coastline, including impressive cliffs, verdant valleys, and lush landscapes, head to Pololu Valley, Waipio Valley's lesser-known but still just as gorgeous cousin at the end of Hawaii Island's seven major valleys carved into the Kohala Coast. EVERGLADES FL On either side of the valleyare cliffs reaching almost 2000 feet in elevation with numerous cascading waterfalls. Also the water was too high for us to be able to cross without getting soaked above the knees so we missed the back half because we werent prepared. The beach has no services, so plan accordingly. Waipi'o Valley - Valley of the Kings , by ALOHA DEAN The Seven Sacred Pools is part of Haleakala National Park and located on the eastern part of Maui, about 40 minutes beyond Hana. Coming back I knew I wanted to visit the Kohala area again, but this time somewhere different. opportunity in the area. 31. There also are some pretty cool things to do close to Pololu valley to make your visit into a small road trip. Easy to moderate. Instead, you must walk down a rocky hiking trail for about 20 minutes. So going to Pololu Valley requires a time commitment. Big Island-Hiking from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley. and is only about a half hour hike to the bottom of this .6-mile hike. The view of these lush valleys and cliffs into the ocean is stunning. 2023 Hawaii Travel Guide. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 2. There is often a possibility of rain at any moment. Once you get closer, youll start to see signs for Pololu Valley. Our current itinerary gives us one day to devote to hiking aside from what we will do in one day at VNP. Various sections of the trail, which runs in a steep zigzag down the vegetated cliff face, have been rebuilt - read article.. 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. Pololu Valley is an easy drive from Highway 270 through idyllic towns like Hawaii and Kapaau. 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. Couple that with the recent closure of the access road to the similarly popular Waipio Valley, and the crowds are growing. From scenic overlook, hike down steep rocky trail to beautiful black sand and rocky beach with views of the Hamakua coast. Check out all the fun details of this Big Island hike to Pololu Valley. You can explore and hike into this wondrous area via the Waipio Valley on one side or Pololu Valley on the other side. 02:09. We like to be doing actual hiking for about 2-3 hours plus the time to stop and take in the sights. If youre challenged to extend your hike, consider going beyond to the next valley on the Honokane Nui trail to reach the Honokane gulch. just at the end of road with most day trippers coming to take pictures and Don't miss these. You can follow this trail over the valley floor and up the other side to the next valley: Honokane Nui. It is smooth sailing going down, but getting back up can be a real workout. Not sure how much you've read about each hike: http://www.bigislandhikes.com/pololu-valley/, http://www.bigislandhikes.com/waipio-valley/. March 3, 2023. I suppose it is easier to slip and slide your way downhill instead of uphill. More of the, many black sand beaches on the Big Island, Hawaii packing list: THE top things to pack for Hawaii. A guy at the entrance said the trail is closed to hikers and cars until further notice. There is room for about 10 cars at the end of the road in a parking area that fills up quickly, especially on weekends. I'm kind of leaning toward Pololu for that reason. For more information, please visit, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Sign up for our free monthly updates (more info) about everything that is new and happening in Hawaii. If you head over to the stream, you will see a beautiful view of the Pololu Valley. The vegetation is so thick that you do not get a view of the ocean. 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. Bummer! Also it can be more of a last minute hike, as well as being much easier. Tried to hike to waterfall but it crosses into private property and couldnt get to it. 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! It's about an hour and a half drive from Kona, and an hour and ten minutes from Hilo. On the northern Hamakua Coast, you'll find the lush Waipio Valley. Or else you can take a 4x4 down and up the same road. LANAI 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. Maybe its best to think of this as a half day activity. This hike starts at the parking lot near the Waipio Lookout. There are some switchbacks toward the bottom of the hill. The trail is located about a hundred feet from the shoreline with a small trail located with low lying ferns and on the eastern ridge of Polulu. Hiking Distance: 1/2-1 mile round trip. 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. In my very limited experience (twice at Waipio, three times at Pololu), I've actually found Waipio more crowded. 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. Really grateful for a kind couple from Seattle gave us a lift up from beach to parking lot! After hiking Waipio Valley, it was about an hour and 20 minute drive to the . I have done both several times. Permanent signs are posted saying road closed and no pedestrians. Thanks for visiting This Hawaii life and checking out this post on a Big Island hike to Pololu Valley. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. WIND CAVE SD Try not to get blown away by the incredible views and crazy wind at the Honokane Nui Lookout. Subscribe to receive 5 emails in 5 days: Call us for advice! 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. OAHU The passing clouds threaten rain but also provide dynamic skies in your photos. Great hike. steep with 13 percent grade going down to the valley floor and is only .6 miles 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. Depending on recent rains and time of year it can be relatively low or quite high. The trail, sometimes referred to as Awini Trail, that leads down to the black sand beach ( Pololu Valley Beach) takes approximately half an hour to hike. Keokea Beach park a beautiful park with nice views of the coastline with picnic grounds and public services. We don't shy away from more aggressive hiking but can also enjoy something more laid back as well. Its steeep. It also helped that I knew what to expect. one of my friends got a cut on their ankles and we asked a local for a ride up and not having to climb us was the highlight of the trip, INDEFINITE CLOSURE: as of February, 2022, the road leading to this trailhead, Wai'po Valley Road, is closed indefinitely.