Pololu Valley

Great views from the top of you’re not a very active person. Having said that, this hike is NOT recommended if you’re not wearing sensible shoes and have at least a liter of water per person. Hats and sunglasses are also recommend but not essential.
This is a rough hike with boulders and multiple switchbacks. Physically fit people will not find it particularly challenging, but if in doubt, or you have small children, admire the view from the top.
If you elect to make the hike, you will be rewarded with black sandy beaches, and amazing views of the north shore. If you’re reading this in advance, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy!

Totally beautiful spot. The hike down took us about 10 minutes and was pretty simple. Wear good running shoes or hiking shoes. Some people were wearing flip flops and I seriously don’t know how they did it. The hike down can be hard on the knees so if you’ve got knee trouble, take your time and go down slowly, or avoid this hike altogether.
Once you reach the beach, it’s pretty darn stunning! There’s more than just a beach though, there’s also the valley with a little river running through it, some hammocks strung up in trees, a large swing/​seesaw, and beautiful trees. We saw one couple who had made a small fire too.
The beach is beautiful and long, and has black sand and black rocks. It’s really quite something. But be careful if you plan to swim, the current is quite strong and we got carried off in no time. We noticed that the area right off the path is a bit calmer and you can walk out very far and still only have the water up to your mid-​shins, but we had walked further down the beach and gone in by there… And it was deeper and we got swept away pretty far.
The water also has a lot of rocks in it, and can really hurt your feet. So bring some water shoes if you have some. Seriously. I wish we had.
We also got the treat of two 70-​something year olds who were swimming naked… That was fun. Especially since I mentioned earlier that the water was mid-​shin, which means they had their junk out for the whole beach to see most of the time they were in the water LOL.
The hike back up took us 12 minutes. We didn’t stop at all, but we also weren’t going super quickly… We’re in fairly good shape and did notice a number of people stopped along the way — no big deal though, you can stop to catch your breath a few times and it’ll still only take you 15 – 20 minutes. The hike isn’t really difficult at all, it’s just that you’ve got to watch where you’re going cause you’re walking on rocks and branches the whole way. There were also plenty of kids doing this trek up and down (10 and under) and they had no trouble.
I really recommend this hike if you’re looking for a short hike to a beautiful spot!

Beautiful stop on the big island. We were staying near Waikoloa where it is so sunny and dry. We drove up here toward Hawi and were surprised by the rain. So check your weather app for different areas around the island, it varies greatly!
Anyway, this hike is beautiful. Its an easy drop at the beginning, making you wonder why it’s rated «moderate». But it can be slippery after a rain so be careful. And that easy drop at the beginning is a steep climb at the end on your way back. I’m not a hiker. Bring your water bottle and camera. Wish we would have had our bathing suits and a towel for the beach at the bottom, looks like a nice swim if there aren’t any currents. I don’t know why they say it’s 4 miles, the path is half a mile at most from your car to the beach at the bottom. I guess if you want to explore the coast further it can be as long as you want. But I would definitely recommend this hike, and I would do it again. Lots of beautiful scenery.

Loved this hike and it was very accessible! Just at the very end of the road. It was raining when we got there so we waited about 10 minutes at the public park/​picnic area down the road until it cleared up. So glad we waited. Gorgeous hike with amazing views of the coast and forest. Like other reviewers said, don’t do this in flip flops, I was wearing my water shoes, which were perfect for the muddy steep trail.

This is one of my favorite hikes on the big island. I recommend that you come early in the day. Crowds will be very light, and parking will be a breeze. There are stunning vistas all the way down the hike. At the bottom there is a wonderful beach to hang out on. Be sure to bring some water; the hike back up is mildly strenuous.

Well worth the hike. Takes a little outta ya on the way back up bit you’ll regret it if you don’t do it!

Highly recommend stop on the Big Island and, if you’re able to, absolutely hike down to the bottom. We had spent a day driving up the Kohala coast, made a stop in Hawi for some galleries and then continued on Highway 270 to Pololu Valley. Easy to find, the road literally ends here and there are plenty of parking spots.
The overlook itself is amazing with sweeping views of the ocean, beach and valley. However, the hike down to beach is completely worth it and a must-​do if you have time and are reasonably fit.
There are walking sticks at the top, up for grabs. I didn’t notice them until we got back up, but we managed just fine anyway. The trail is moderately steep, but be careful and watch your footing-​you have some rocks to climb over and there are also a few drop offs to be mindful of. Once at the bottom, the beach is a rewarding sight up close. Black sand, dramatic waves and additional views in to the valley await you! Words can’t do it justice-​it was all simply amazing. We didn’t have time to explore any other trails-​it was nearing 6 p.m. but it was still entirely worth the drive here from Kona. If you are planning on coming here, make a day out of it and stop along the way at other various beaches along the Kohala coast and check out the galleries and cafes in Hawi.
The hike down was about 15 minutes (including a few photo stops) and back up was about 20 minutes. The challenge was more of just watching your footing and taking it slow so as not to trip. We saw plenty of kids doing it and folks of all variety. Sturdy shoes and awareness are key to staying safe on the trail. Have fun and be prepared to be in awe of the beauty of this area!

POLOLU VALLEY: Little valley at the north point. Beautiful scenic point. We were not prepared for the little hike but next time we go down there for sure.

What a beautiful hike! It is about 2 miles round trip and is very easy. My 2 year old hiked uphill without any help and I hiked it barefoot. There were some places that definitely can get muddy and slick after rain, so plan accordingly. The black sand Is so fine and soft, the waves are good for boogie boarding or body surfing, and the trees by the beach offer shade if you get too much sun. This is a great little hike and has potential to be a day trip if you want to hang out at the beach. Parking is limited so try to plan the trip on the least touristy days… aka not weekends.

Lovely quick hiking place and look out. The hike itself isn’t very difficult. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes! Once you’re all the way down to the beach, you’ll meet black sand, lovely fire places, tree swings and more! I recommend you going if you’re in the area: D

Well this is a 5 star hike! Grab a walking stick at the top if you can find one, if not once you get down to the beautiful beach look around for one to help with the trek back up.
If we had had an earlier start, it would have been great to hike up and over to the next valley, but alas we were lollygagging in the a.m. so didn’t have time. The lush vegetation and black sand beach make it so worth the huffing and puffing on the return.

What a wonderful way to find Hawaii at its best. The walk down may seem easy but remember you have to be able to get back up so pace yourself. As loong as you are in reasonable shape and no Rain and not to Hot give it a try you will not be sorry take your time and enjoy the view!

This was one of the best hikes I have ever done. I recommend going on a nice overcast day, its a little intense on a hot one. You can feel the heat coming off the rocks while hiking back up. The views are breath taking and when you get to the bottom its nice to have a picnic. I recommend to everyone! Have fun and be safe!

First off, the 55 – 514 Hawi Rd address is incorrect. Just keep following the main road until you get to the end, which is the lookout parking.
My wife and myself did this hike last week and it was a truly awesome hike. Not too strenuous, about 20 – 25 minutes each way, stopping to take photos here and there and resting now and then.
For a really nice photo up into the valley, go right when you get to the bottom of the trail and head towards the private property signs on the fence. Before you get close to the signs you’ll be rewarded with a view of the stream and valley.
A few suggestions, don’t go swimming in the stream or ocean. Most of the time the stream isn’t flowing so the water can be a bit stagnant. There’s could also be leptospirosis or other water-​borne diseases in the water. The ocean surf is usually pounding on the rocky shoreline and there are probably rip currents offshore.
Take at least one bottle of water with you on your hike. We passed so many people without anything to drink. We shared a bottle of Powerade and drank almost all of it.
If possible, wear at least some type of running/​cross-​training/​hiking shoes. I saw some people wearing sandals and also one woman in flats (and a dress!).
Stop at the Lighthouse Deli in Hawi for an after-​hike refueling meal!

I love to hike, and this one was well worth it! My kids, being the troopers that they are, bravely did this one with us, with minimal whining! The view of the valley from the lookout is gorgeous, and if you’re not up for a hike, the view from the top is worth it alone.
The hike down has several switchbacks, but is not so steep as to require holding onto trees or anything else. There are a few signs along the trail that instruct you not to stand near the edge, as the soil or rock could give way and you could easily fall to your death. So, just stay on the trail! There is also a sign near the valley floor that tells you to proceed at your own risk, due to the chance that rocks could fall on you and kill you. I would not laugh that off, as that very thing happened in Sacred Valley on Oahu several years ago. I figured that we had a greater chance of being killed in an automobile, so we carefully hiked down the remaining distance.
The valley is pretty and the black sand beach is really nice, too. I would not recommend swimming there however, unless the sea was absolutely calm, because the surf was really pounding! Surprisingly, the hike back up to the top was easier and faster (maybe because we knew we would go out to lunch as a reward after the hike!)

Beautiful View !!! Just crazy Awesome !!!
I wish i had more time to stay there it seems i was a little worn out after driving… if i have more time i would like to hike down after reading other people review it seems pretty easy ~~~~
Anyway the best thing about this place is that when we got there we met our friend from Oahu ! Without knowing we both were really surprised i guess its a small world hahahahah !
If you are looking for some intensity hike down !! :)

This is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see. No camera can capture the vast scale and awesome beauty of this landscape.

Simply amazing!
This was one of my favorite things we did on the Big Island. It is just breath taking. Do the hike down, it is worth it. It took us probably 20 minutes to hike down and about the same to hike up.
If you hike down it takes you down to beautiful black sand beach, rope swings and an absolutely stunning view looking both into the valley and out into the ocean. If I lived on the big island I’d be here all the time. I am that much in love with this place.
At the top it feels and seems crowded and touristy. However, I’d argue that once you did the hike down it didn’t have that same touristy feel.

We drove to end of the northern tip of Kohala. The view above was beautiful. Since it didn’t rain that day, the hike was easier to do. The hike is supposedly 1 mile R/​T to the black sand beach. An avid hiker can go down in 15 minutes/​come up in 25 minutes. If you can’t hike it, it’s ok! We thought the scenery was about the same above and below. We did enjoy the log swing at the bottom.
Just FYI, the drive to Hawi was not very scenic. The terrain was a bit dry. However, there are supposedly several snorkel spots along the way. There was a great snorkel/​dive spots of Big Island book that was being sold at Pu’ukohola Heiau. I much preferred the drive north in Maui with the scenic stops along the way.

Just north of Hawi, this place is a little gem. Parking at the end of the road, we hiked the steep grade down to the valley floor, our fat arses huffing and puffing all the way, while trying not to be embarrased by the locals flying up and down laden with surfboards.
On the valley floor, you can see it’s a popular spot for locals, with homemade swings and firecircles dotted around. Lava rocks predominantly make up the beach, so it’s not exactly a place for relaxation, but it really does feel like the tropics. The trail continues up to the other side of the valley (and apparantly continues throughout all of them) but it was too damn hot to go on a full-​on adventure.
Worth a visit for sure, and hiking down to the floor is rewarding — as long as you have something more than flip-​flops (Amy K is on crack) since the possibility of slipping and breaking an ankle is high, and that’s not how you want to roll while on vacation.