Pololū Valley

Pololū is the Northernmost series of erosional valleys forming the east coast of Kohala Mountain on the big island. The valley forms a deep cut in the side of Kohala Mountain where Pololū stream makes it’s way to the ocean. It also happens to be the a-typical scenery of Hawaii shown to us mainlanders to attract us to the island as tourists. If only they would also mention that we could avoid thousands of dollars spent and thousands of people by showing us all where this one spot is, inducing the free parking at the trailhead.

The trail itself switchbacks down the 400 foot cliff – with each switch offering a new glimpse of the beach below – to where the black sand beach is straddled by both the ocean waves and the slow flowing Pololū stream. It is quiet (barring the ocean waves) with a picturesque beach and tree line worthy of exploring. Even though it would be rare to be alone on this beach, it is secluded enough from the main tourist population to feel the necessary solitude to keep one’s sanity.