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    Pololu Valley Lookout

    4.6 (96 reviews)

    Pololu Valley Lookout Photos

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    Channing M.

    What a stunning hike. But check the weather before you go. We came here a few years ago and were able to do the full hike down and explore the beautiful valley. It's absolutely breathtaking. This trip weather was too windy and rainy so we weren't able to hike for safety reasons. Will try to go back before we head home. It's a MUST if you're visiting the Big Island

    Ryan B.

    This was a pretty fun hike. It isn't hard but we come from hiking mountains in Utah. At sea level, this is much better :) You can't beat the lookout views. Here are some from our little family and friends hike. Half mile up and half mile down. I carried our 3 year old on my shoulders for both legs of it. Was about a 20 mile walk down and 15 up. Walk down is more about going slow so you don't fall. Going up is a thigh burner for sure, skip the stair master that day you go.

    The view during late late afternoon.
    Seth A.

    Pololu Valley Lookout is a worthwhile spot to admire coastal views along The Big Island of Hawaii. Although you may not find it in a brochure or guide when exploring The Big Island, I'd sort of classify it as an under the radar attraction. And for me, I didn't even know it existed until one of the security guards at the Waipio Valley Lookout mentioned how scenic the views were. In fact, I'd categorize both Waipio Valley Lookout and this Pololu Valley Lookout as very similar...in terms of the types of settings you can expect to discover when looking down upon the lush green tropical surroundings of The Big Island. So...for some mileage details about coming here.... I was staying in the town of Hilo, HI on the eastern section of The Big Island. And for those who may want to know where Hilo fits in the bigger picture...it's situated on the opposite side from Kona (on the western section). From Hilo, Pololu Valley Lookout resides 83 miles north towards the very tippy top of The Big Island. And from Hilo...it takes almost 2 hours to drive the 83 miles. But along the way to this vista point, you can stop at other cool attractions like Akaka Falls and previously mentioned Waipio Valley Lookout so as to not be sitting in your car for the entire 2 hour ride. And finally, when arriving here at the lookout...make sure to drive slowly as the winding road was full of twists/turns and ups/downs among the elevated hills within the town of Kapaau. I showed up at this Pololu Valley Lookout very late in the day in March as the sun was getting ready to set. This was my last activity of the day, and I didn't notice this aspect until I arrived and parked...from the lookout point you can hike down to the beach shores. It looked like a popular activity to really appreciate this secluded part of The Big Island. Had I afforded myself more time to explore, I happily would have trekked down to the beach. And just to mention this...hiking down to the shore appeared simple but getting back up to the vista point requires making yourself climb right back up the cliffside which seemed strenuous. And so for my experience, I only had the opportunity to park, exit my car, and admire the sceneries from high above. I could see the beach waves crashing along the shores within the forestry landscape of the island. Ultimately...I was satisfied with the perspectives from this Pololu Valley Lookout, though, it never gave me that chill factor for having me in total amazement, such as Akaka Falls did (which I visited earlier in the day). In the end, this Pololu Valley Lookout was a unique opportunity to get away from the touristy crowds of The Big Island and sort of appreciate what makes the area so picturesque. Lastly, the parking lot was very small. I actually parked on the side of the road before the hiking trailhead. It is free to visit the overlook and or make your way down to the beach shores. Also, interestingly, along my drive to and from the lookout, I noticed a bunch of hitchhikers with their hands out waiting and hoping for a pickup. That scared me as I wasn't expecting such a remote part of The Big Island to have people walking beside the road asking for a ride. I mean, this section around Kapaau is necessary for having an automobile with you to get around. I just can't understand what these hitchhikers were doing/thinking? Anyhow, for those interested in one of the many sights and attractions to check out while venturing about The Big Island, this Pololu Valley Lookout is a pleasant stop with a refreshing ambiance.

    Vivian W.

    We came to the look out just to check it out, and saw quite few people are hiking down, and learned from one of the hiker, say it's quite challenge. We don't have time, so we didn't do the hike. There is black beach down the hill and looks like a good beach area.

    Caroline D.

    The hike can be slippery but the views are extraordinary Be mindful that this is a sacred place for Hawaiians, so don't litter, and don't use it as a place to build obnoxious rock stacks. Take nothing Leave nothing

    Hammocking at the bottom of the hike
    Elle I.

    Great hike! I come to the Big Island every year & always do this hike. PARKING: difficult to find spots during peak season & peak hours. There are 5 or less parking spaces up by the trailhead & most people park along the side of the road TERRAIN: Easy/ moderate. The way down is completely downhill & pretty steep. The way back up is (again) steep & if you don't have good endurance you'll probably need breaks. You should have good knees to do this hike. DURATION: The hike is relatively short. 15mins down 20-30 mins up (depending on breaks) SHADE: There's shade from trees for most of the hike DESTINATION/ ENDPOINT: secluded beach/ trees. Water is usually rough so I don't think the beach is swimmable. Great picnic spot though. Lots of trees so bring a hammock if you have one! KIDS: I've seen many people bring their kids for this hikes so it's likely doable for kids

    Black sand beach
    Angelica C.

    I am in love with the big island and its people! This was my favorite beach due to its beauty and turtle life.

    Sunrise
    connor O.

    Went to watch sunrise. It was gorgeous! Hike was also pretty easy. Only possible complaint is the small parking lot but other than that it's a phenomenal place for a nice easy hike and great view.

    Jacqueline T.

    I visited this valley on both of my trips to Hawaii. It's one of my favorite spots on the big island. The views aren't the best from what's considered the lookout. You should really hike down to the valley. It's a very short hike, maybe half a mile. While it's short, it's very steep. There are great views of the cliffs for most of the hike down. Once you get down there, the valley is beautiful. There's also a black sand beach. Unfortunately, most of it seems to have washed away. It was a pretty big beach the first time I was here, but there was very little beach left this time. There are rope swings and lots of shade to relax and enjoy the peaceful valley. Parking is very limited. Cars park down the side of the road as the lot becomes full. This is a must see while on the big island.

    Erwin R.

    It was a nice view but the rain started coming down. It was too wet and running water did t make for a safe hike down and up.

    View of the mountain & valley
    Nolen V.

    Gorgeous spot, with an absolutey amazing view. Black sand beach with blue water and beautiful palm trees. Luscious green mountains with a great view of the valley that has a small river that runs through it and wild horses.

    David M.

    As with all ka 'āina a me ke kai on the Island of Hawai'i, Pololū Valley Lookout is an amazing view of ka hana a ke Akua. It is important to be considerate and respectful of the people living around the area and to drive carefully coming in and out of the lookout area. I had the opportunity to talk story with a local volunteer helping with the parking, he told me about how many visitors they have to rescue from the hike down to the ocean. Some visitors do not realize that the public trail is steep and get badly hurt. We also talked about the Protect Pololū movement and the Pono Pledge. Some gated communities are trying to build on the 'āina that will interfere with local people living there and nearby. He told me about the petition we can willingly sign online to protect the Pololū 'āina. The Pono Pledge encourages visitors and residents to be mindful, responsible, and to respect the land and sea of Hawai'i. www.protectpololu.org www.ponopledge.com I highly recommend visiting Pololū Valley Lookout!

    The view at the bottom.
    Jeanne P.

    I had been reading about this for a while and was debating the trip to that part of the Big Island. I ended up going to Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, and the park ranger recommended the trip to me. Also, as you learn there, the rocks that built that site came from Pololu Valley. Hawaiians formed a 20 mile human chain, passing these heavy rocks across the island to the site. Once you get close, the road gets very narrow and windy, so be careful. Also, the road dead ends into the valley, so when you start seeing cars parked along the road, just find a spot there. I parked about 0.2 miles away from the look out, but that's no big deal. Be sure to bring water with you. I brought a sports water bottle down and it was very vital. There is a sweet local who puts water out and asks for a donation, so if you partake, please put a little cash in the jar. This is a beautiful experience with breathtaking views. You can get a wonderful view from the lookout, but if you are able bodied, i do believe it's worth the trip down to explore.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Pololu Valley Lookout

    Review Highlights - Pololu Valley Lookout

    Beautiful views of the valley, black sand beach below and where the cliff drops off into the ocean.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    4.8(229 reviews)
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    This is a pretty easy hike with great payoff! It only takes about 2 hours, and you get to hike over…read morea couple of bridges, through a bamboo forest, and end up at a gorgeous waterfall! I'm an athletic kinda girl, and I would say this trail is maybe a 2/5 in terms of difficulty. (I'd give it a 1, but it has some incline, so I gave it a 2.) My boyfriend is a homebody and rarely hikes, and he gave it a 3/5 in terms of difficulty. One thing to note: The drive to get here is a DOOZY. I did thee Road to Hana the last time I was in Maui, and it freaked me out so much that we tried going around the south side of the island this time. That was also very scary. Unless you are prepared for very narrow roads (I'm talking one lane with traffic going both ways) on a cliff, sometimes with drops straight into the ocean, don't do it. If you are okay with that, do the Road to Hana for the more scenic drive. The southern drive was less scenic, and probably just as scary.

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    4.8(373 reviews)
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    We had a great time on the Hawaii Forest & Trail Secret Waterfalls of Kona Excursion! Our guide,…read moreMark, was incredible--he kept everyone talking and he was genuinely interested in hearing everyone's travel stories. He was very knowledgeable and provided us with a wealth of fascinating information about the island. After a comfortable van ride, we hiked a beautiful trail that led us to a series of truly stunning, pristine waterfalls. We were treated to a delicious lunch from a local deli, and we loved that it was served in eco-friendly, completely reusable containers. On the way back, we made a perfect final stop at a local macadamia nut store. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and we recommend it!

    We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

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    Pololu Valley Lookout - hiking - Updated July 2026

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