I included a couple of beaches on the route (Hapuna and Waialea) that would be worth checking out on the Kohala Coast. 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! Better to go down to the next spot at Hapuna State Park. Polulu Valley/Waipio Valley - Island of Hawaii Message Board - Tripadvisor Subscribe to receive 5 emails in 5 days: Call us for advice! The Pololu Valley Lookout gives a spectacular view over the cliffs of the Kohala volcano. 1 here. Waipio Valley or Pololu Valley - Hawaii - Cruise Critic Community Theme by 17th Avenue. Short and fairly steep trail with beautiful views and a black sand and stone beach at the bottom. If you do go down to the valley floor make sure to bring your swimsuit. kam hotel and want to go to Pololu, the farthest point than work our way back stopping at places that interest us, hopefully beach. Couldn't cook in the restaurant kitchens, so they set up BBQs outside and they cooked/baked/roasted whatever they could. Which one would be better to do and why. Waipio is the southeastern most of the Hamakua coasts dramatic stream valleys. Waipi'o can also be hiked into, but the hike down is hard and the hike up is murder. And trip up was much easier than this grandma expected. At the King Kam, you shouldn't have too much trouble heading north on #19 - same with coming back. The trail itself is a very steep hill like others have said, its very wet and slippery so can be a challenge to go down and up again unless youre in good shape. 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. lovebigisland.com, gohawaii.com, bigislandguide.com, and so on). Pololu Valley Lookout | Go Hawaii I included a couple of beaches on the route (Hapuna and Waialea) that would be worth checking out on the Kohala Coast. Waipio is longer and harder but on a road. This trail DOES NOT go all the way to Waipio Valley. Poolulu or Waipio valley? : r/BigIsland - Reddit At the bottom of the steep road turn left to explore inlands, where banana and avocado trees line the road leading into the valley. Pololu Valley Beach Hike. The Kaluahine falls are visible towards to east from the black sand beach on the bottom of Waipio valley. Pololu valley is one of the gulches at the tail end of gulches that were formed with the erosion of the Kohala Volcano. 4. Locals will try to get some wave time in before heading to school/workThe gate keeper is pretty strict on how many cars he will even let through to look for spaces. 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. Steep and short but worth it! Mud reported earlier is mostly dry. On the steepest part, it rises 800 ft in only 0.6 miles. Waiulili Falls - Ocean-Bound Waterfall by Waipi'o Valley Your options to get down to the valley floor with a tour range from: Explore majestic Waipio Valley, the lush and tropical Hamakua Coast, and multiple stunning waterfalls on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii on this day full of fun and exciting adventure. 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. Kailua-Kona to Waipio Valley is about a 1.5 hour drive. Exploring Hawaii's Big Island volcanoes and valleys | CNN What to do the day of a red eye flight out. The hike at Pololu down to the beach is shorter than the one at Waipio, but it's on a hiking trail, vs. Waipio where you'll be hiking on a poorly maintained, very steep road shared with. Awesome ocean views all the way down to the beach. I thought it was more so on w/e's. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Both valleys were heavily farmed historically, but today there no more loi kalo (taro ponds) in Polol, unlike Waipio, which is still home to many Native Hawaiian kalo farmers. You wouldnt have time to hike down. Short but steep. Honokne Nui. Really good bodysurfing here. You can see the steep Waipio Valley access road, the black sand beach, and taro fields. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! Unfortunately it is not safe to follow the trail any further because part of the trail came down in the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake. While the falls didn't look all that tall from the ground, we were fortunate to see the falls from a helicopter. As a first-time visitor to the Big Island I didnt know what to do so I got some local knowledge on where I could go to make memories. There was no need for concern. Pololu Valley Trail, from the lookout down to the valley takes less than 30 mins to walk. Pololu Valley vs Waipi'o Valley - Island of Hawaii Forum These hikes, however, are not easy. by kenji SAITO on June 21, 2021. 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. There's a black sand beach there, as well, and there are steep sea cliffs just like Waipi'o. Which one would be better to do and why. 1: Kauai Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: The Npali Coast 6: Kauai Itinerary 7: Kauai blog posts. I think we will visit Pololu Valley we stopped at those two historical markers that Chi_Dave mentioned. Great video on reef etiquette. Want to report conditions for this trail? I think those days are past me now, though the last time I did it I was 70. 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 into photography, one consideration would be that views from Waipio are generally west facing, whereas at Pololu, they generally face east. I have a car rented at King. 10/10 would do again. To this day, the memory of Waipio Valley fills me with joy and dreams of going back. How long of a stay at Pololu do you think is adequate. Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, 2270 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 801 , Honolulu, HI, 96815, Phone: 800-GOHAWAII, Fax: 808-924-0290, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Right around 400 feet. Also, I keep hearing about the traffic in Kona, how bad is it. 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. Pololu Valley Trail, from the lookout down to the valley takes less than 30 mins to walk. 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. They are not trail guides and I wonder on who's authority they act, if any. 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. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Waipi'o (or Waipio) Valley is named after the meandering Wailoa Stream that runs through the valley ( wai-pio means curved water in the Hawaiian language) and is about one mile wide and six miles deep. Big Island hike to Pololu Valley - This Hawaii Life inform and educate visitors as they arrive, as well as monitor the trail and beach. We will be in Kona one day on a cruise, renting a car, and want to do some hiking and swimming. It's popular so there are almost always other people there. Savor the Black Sand Beach. She didn't seem to work for any authority. Well worth it! Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near Halemaumau Crater. 8am-6pm. Forgot to mention - when you're on the #270, if skies are clear you'll be able to see Maui wonderful views! The trail gets slick when it has rained, but is not terribly difficult. Awini Trail: 478 Reviews, 1,385 Photos, Map - Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails That seems right to me. Plolu means "long spear" and the name evokes the shape of the valley, whereas the mouth of Waipio is broad, almost a mile wide. Polol means long spear, and carves a long cleave on the northern side of Kohala Mountain. I've been reading this forum for months and it has been extremely helpful. Interested? 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. Take your time and be careful. The Hapuna Prince handled it well - safety was absolutely their first thing. 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. 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. 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. This magnificent wild valley is at the head of the Kohala Coast, the oldest part of the island with deep valleys and picturesque beaches. This is one of my favorite hikes on the big island. Now however, the valley is mostly wilderness interspersed with taro fields (Taro is a traditional Hawaiian staple food) and a couple of dozens of inhabitants. Why do I need to pack warm clothes for a trip to Hawaii Island? As of September 19, 2022 access to the valley floor with a covered 4WD vehicle (no ATV!) 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. If you are driving to points west from Hilo, then swinging by Waipio makes sense. Any thoughts/suggestions on whether we should skip Wai'pio (but we plan to go to the lookout) or not? Last time I was there, he kept a "tick" list and wouldn't let anyone through once he ticked off enough cars to take up the public access parking. Thanks for all of your help! Or, you can eat at restaurants at the hotels. Must see. In a 30-minute call we help you set up the trip of your dreams. 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. I had to leave the valley as I was running out of daylight to cross the rocky path and climb up the incredible steep road back onto the lookout. for parking (not a deal breaker if you can't get a spot at MK, then worth paying at Hapuna and/or Waialea.). 5. No matter what else you do, go to the valley!. This valley is one of the most beautiful and secluded places to go to for a hike on the Big Island. Glad to hear that that route offers nice views. Which one? Don't wear sandals, Crocs, flip-flops, Birkenstocks, etc. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Some bitched and moaned about not being able to use the elevator, not being able to get right back to the rooms (they checked every one of them for issues like things fallen off walls, TVs fallen down, cracks), stuff like that. On your way through Hawi if it's lunch time or close try Bamboo- i love the ambience,, and their fish is good. Best boogie boarding, body surfing beaches. Rips, sharky. Powered by Invision Community. Waipio is a sacred area, we have never gone down it, because it seems disrespectful to go "touring" there. 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. Absolutely stunning scenery, gorgeous the whole way down. Pololu has more rocks on the shoreline and not a place I would swim. You can read more about this waterfall at the worldofwaterfalls website. The trail itself offers breathtaking views of the cliffs, the valley and the black sand beach on the valley floor. I've been reading this forum for months and it has been extremely helpful. The black sand beach is a great place for a quick dip. The beach is split in two by the river coming out of the valley, and depending on the amount of water it can be difficult to cross. 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. 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. If I could only choose one, which would you recommend? You can also find bathrooms, a picnic area and historic information at the overlook. 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. Couldn't cook in the restaurant kitchens, so they set up BBQs outside and they cooked/baked/roasted whatever they could. 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. Wai'pio Valley vs. Pololu Valley - Island of Hawaii - Tripadvisor We're staying at Fairmont Orchid. 4 days on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ?
pololu valley vs waipio valley