ALOHA!
So Pololu Valley is one of the great coastal valleys on the north side of the Big Island.
You can get some great scenic views from the Pololu Valley lookout right near the parking area.
There’s also a trail that starts from the Pololu Valley lookout that goes down to sea level and makes for a great coastal hike.
By hiking, you’ll get better views of the beach down below, which is notable for being a black sand beach!
Pololu Valley is home to one of the many black sand beaches on the Big Island. In terms of color, it’s not the blackest black sand beach on the Big Island, but the wet sand can make it appear especially black.
Even so, reasons to come here are for the lookout, the hike, and/or the black(ish) sand beach!
Bathrooms near Pololu Valley trailhead
What locals living near Pololu Valley would like you to know!
In Hawaii, respecting the land is a big thing in Hawaiian culture.
There are no bathrooms near the Pololu Valley trailhead.
It can be distressing for locals to see people coming out of the bushes near the Pololu Valley trailhead, presuming why people are coming out of the bushes.
Seeing so many people doing this, it can be seen as a form of disrespecting the land.
And if it becomes a big problem, that’s when there may even start to be more serious talks about limiting visitors to visit such places like Pololu Valley.
So please, for everyone’s sake, locals and future Hawaii visitors alike, avoid those bushes!
Instead, locals would like you to know about Keokea Beach Park where there are bathrooms.
This is about a 5 minute drive from the Pololu Valley trailhead.
Consider making a stop there before you go to Pololu Valley, just in case! MAHALO!
A local reached out to me asking me to tell you where you can use the bathrooms near Pololu Valley!
More below on what a trip to Pololu Valley can be like!
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So…
Here’s what your time at Pololu Valley might look like!
So going to Pololu Valley requires a time commitment. Maybe it’s best to think of this as a half day activity.
That’s because it’s kind of in the far north of the Big Island, and a spot where not many other things are located. (Although you will pass through the cute Hawi town.)
Pololu Valley is a solid 1.5 hours from Kona, maybe more depending on where on the Kona coast you’re staying. If you’re staying a bit further north in one of the Waikoloa resorts on the Kohala coast, it’s a bit closer and might take around an hour.
If you’re looking for something to do somewhat in the area, you might have a look at Lapakahi State Historical Park for a top Big Island snorkeling spot and to walk through an ancient Hawaiian village, or Hapuna Beach state park which has been called one of the best beaches on the Big Island. See more state parks on the Big Island.
You can also make it a valley beach hike kind of day and make this day on the Big Island a “Pololu Valley + Waipio Valley” kind of day. The drive between these two valley lookouts is around 1.5 hours. See more ideas for planning out your days on the Big Island.
Map of Pololu Valley
But being in a more remote part of the island, you can see this as a good thing! It means it’s yet another quieter part of the Big Island, and it means it’s yet another nice scenic drive getting there!
Once you get closer, you’ll start to see signs for Pololu Valley.
And then basically you will be driving to a dead end.
There’s a small parking lot at the end of the road. Otherwise, you can park along the side of the road before that dead end parking lot too.
And you are at the Pololu Valley lookout!
To hike or not to hike?!
You will get the coastal views at the Pololu Valley lookout without even stepping foot on the Pololu Valley trail.
By doing the hike, you’ll get better views of the black sand beach as you’re going down, and it’s a nice scenic coastal hike!
It might take around 30 minutes to hike down to the beach from the lookout.
Here’s what you’ll see on the hike to the Pololu Valley black sand beach!
And then…
You’ll arrive down to the black sand beach!
Your hike down to the beach was mostly facing the ocean, and your hike back to the parking lot will be more of facing the valley!
And that’s a bit about the Pololu Valley lookout and hike to the black sand beach!
If you’re interested in Pololu Valley, you may also be interested in these great Big Island activities:
- Waipio Valley hike
- One day of hiking to the Big Island valley beaches
- Akaka Falls loop trail
- Kua Bay
- Kealakekua Bay hike
- More beach hikes on the Big Island
HAPPY HIKING TO THE POLOLU VALLEY BLACK SAND BEACH!
Here are some ideas for your time on the Big Island!
Among the most popular things to do on the Big Island are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls State Park, and Waipio Valley!
For Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the main road to drive is Chain of Craters Road and it will take you to see the best lava fields in Hawaii! Before that though (or after!) you will want to make a stop for the Thurston lava tube. You can also hike into a former lava lake by doing the Kilauea Iki Trail!
Other Big Island activities you may want to make time for are the best black sand beaches in Hawaii (including Punaluu black sand beach to see turtles maybe!) and the Papakolea green sand beach of Hawaii.
See the lists:
- Things to do on the Big Island (for VIEWS!)
- Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Things to do in Kona
Here are some popular activities you need to know about to get some very-Hawaii experiences! Read the reviews on the partner websites listed below!
You can swim with manta rays on the Big Island!
Read the reviews for the manta ray tour on viator and the manta ray tour on getyourguide.
🌺 Eat Hawaiian food at a luau with a fire show! Have a look at the Hale Hoaloha Luau
🐠 The most popular Big Island snorkeling tours are the ones that go to Kealakekua Bay! aka the Captain Cook snorkeling spot!
Read the reviews for the Captain Cook snorkeling tours on viator and the Captain Cook tours on getyourguide.
🐠 Here are things you must consider packing for Hawaii!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
- walking sandals perfect for Hawaii
- teva is a popular outdoor shoe brand
- teva sandals for women
- teva sandals for men
I also don't go snorkeling in Hawaii without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.