Pololu Valley

Lush mountain valley/overlook with a steep, slightly rugged trail down to the valley floor and rocky black sand beach.

Location:

The scenic lookout and trailhead are found all the way at the end of highway 270, 8.1 miles past Hawi (20 mins).

Description:

Pololu Valley Lookout is accessed “around the corner” from Hawi placing it on the northeast coast. The valley emerges out from the Kohala Mountains with high plateaus on both sides. Because it’s windward facing the north ocean, it’s wet and lush here. The vista is one of the most stunning points on the entire island.

Hiking:

The trail starts at the end of the parking lot. It’s slightly rugged, but doable for most people. If you have ambulatory issues this may not be your thing, otherwise, it’s a short hike (less than a mile) down to the valley floor. From there, you can explore the black sand beach and the open end of the valley. For adventurous hikers, the trail goes up the other side and beyond to other valleys. If you are thinking about backpacking and camping look into permits.

We usually take hammocks to this spot and just chill between the trees back from the beach.

Precautions:

The ocean here can be treacherous. Swimming here is not recommended for many reasons. Unless you are very familiar with this area and highly skilled just don’t get in the ocean here.

If it has been rainy, this trail can be very slippery and should probably be avoided. Be careful at the pivot point after the first hill as there is a cliff edge. There is plenty of room on the trail to safely navigate. Just keep in mind if you want to peer off the edge or if you have small children, keep an eye on them here.