Pololu Valley: Making the hike ~ Shawn Ann

While visiting the Big Island of Hawai’i, you must take a drive around the Kohala Coat area and make your way to the very end of Highway 270. There you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable view from the Pololu Valley Overlook. From here you have the choice just to look out at the beautiful valley and ocean or take a hike down to the bottom where the beauty is never ending.

Pololu Valley

Not everyone can make the hike down to the lower part of Pololu Valley, and that is okay. You can see most of the beauty just looking out from the top of the lookout.

Looking out at Pololu Valley from the top

Just because you cannot make the hike down, doesn’t mean you cannot see the valley for all of its beauty. Looking out one way you see the beauty of the valley and all the greenness that there is. It is mesmerizing and just breath taking. You look the other way out at the valley, and you see not only the beauty of the valley but also the beauty of the ocean as well as the coastline.

Looking down to the valley and seeing the ocean

On a raining day, you can also see some waterfalls coming from over the cliffs.

Hiking Pololu Valley

If you can make the hike down to the bottom of Pololu Valley, you will want to ensure you are prepared. It is NOT an easy hike, and you will want to have a lot of water with you. Be warned, there are no facilities in the area, and you will need lots of water. Yes, I needed to stress that for the second time.

Taking the hike down to Pololu Valley from the lookout

Although there is a pathway down to the bottom of the valley, it is a rough path down. It is not paved, and if it is raining, then the ground will be slippery and very muddy.

Taking the hike through tree caves

Going back up is just as bad, if not worse of a trip because depending on the time of day you took the hike you may find that it is raining. If it is raining, then you have to not only worry about the rough terrain but also the possibility of water running down the path.

Taking the hike back up to Pololu Valley Lookout

In the end, you will be happy you took the hike to the bottom, you have a beautify black/grey sand beach and the beautiful valley to walk through and enjoy. We did not go swimming in the ocean, although we did wade in the water a little. I can’t say for sure how safe the waters are and have heard that they are not very safe for swimming, but I don’t know this for sure. Swim at your own risk.