The End of the Road (Literally)
Highway 270 runs north along the Kohala Coast, past the resort strip, past the turnoff for Hawi town, past the last gas station you will see for a while. Then it just stops. Dead end. Parking lot. One of the best views on the island.
That is Pololu Valley Lookout.
Most visitors drive up, take a photo, get back in the car. Totally valid. The view from the top is genuinely spectacular: sea cliffs dropping 300 feet into the ocean, a valley floor thick with ironwood trees, black sand beach curving along the shore. On a clear day you can see the entire Hamakua Coast stretching south.
But if you have an hour and decent shoes? Go down.
The Pololu Valley Trail: What to Expect
The trail from the lookout to the valley floor is short. About half a mile. That half mile is steep, rocky, and (after rain) slippery enough to make you rethink every life decision that led you here. It switchbacks through a canopy of hau and ironwood trees, roots braiding across the path like someone laid a trap specifically for slippahs.
Wear real shoes. Not slippahs, not Crocs, not those Tevas you bought at Costco and have been looking for an excuse to wear. Trail runners or hiking shoes. The rocks are volcanic and unforgiving.
The hike down takes about 15 minutes. The hike back up takes 25 to 30, depending on how many times you stop to "admire the view" (catch your breath). Kids can do it. Our five-year-old did it with a hiking stick and zero complaints. Okay, minimal complaints.
The Black Sand Beach
At the bottom, the trail opens onto a black sand and cobblestone beach. It is not a swimming beach. The surf is rough, the current is strong, and there are no lifeguards. But as a place to sit and stare at the ocean while sea cliffs tower on both sides of you? Hard to beat.
Driftwood piles up along the shore. The rocks are smooth, dark, and heavy. The whole scene looks prehistoric. Which makes sense, because this valley was carved by millennia of wave erosion and the same volcanic forces that built the island in the first place.
Fun fact for the movie buffs: parts of Pololu Valley and the surrounding Kohala coastline were used as filming locations for Jurassic Park. You will understand why when you are standing down there.
Pololu Valley vs Waipio Valley
People always ask: which valley should I do? Short answer: both, if you have time. But they are very different experiences.
Waipio Valley is bigger, deeper, more dramatic. The lookout is stunning. But the road down is so steep that you need a 4x4 and even then it is a white-knuckle descent. You cannot walk down the road (it is private and gated). Guided tours are available but they book up.
Pololu is more accessible. Anyone can hike the trail. The lookout parking is free. No permits, no tours required, no 4x4 needed. Just show up and go. For families especially, Pololu wins. It is the valley you can actually experience on your own terms.
Getting There from Kona
From Kailua-Kona, take Highway 19 north along the Kohala Coast. At the Kawaihae junction, turn onto Highway 270 (Akoni Pule Highway) toward Hawi. The lookout is at the very end of 270. Total drive: about an hour and twenty minutes.
The drive itself is half the experience. Past the resorts, the landscape shifts from black lava fields to rolling green ranch land. Hawi town is a great pit stop: grab coffee, poke, or shave ice before the last stretch to the lookout.
Any car handles this road. It is fully paved, well-maintained, and flat. No 4x4 required, no clearance concerns. A convertible makes the Kohala Coast drive particularly unforgettable, but even a Mini Cooper will get you there just fine.
Practical Tips
- Parking: Small lot at the lookout. Gets full by mid-morning on weekends. Arrive before 9 AM or after 3 PM.
- Time needed: 30 minutes for the lookout only. 90 minutes to two hours if you hike down and spend time on the beach.
- Weather: North Kohala gets more rain than the resort side. Bring a light rain jacket. Trail gets muddy fast.
- Facilities: No restrooms at the lookout or the beach. Last restrooms are in Hawi.
- Sunrise: The lookout faces northeast. Sunrise here is spectacular. You will have it almost entirely to yourself.
- No cell service once you descend into the valley. Download any maps or directions before you hike down.
- No swimming. Seriously. The current at Pololu Beach is dangerous even for strong swimmers.
Worth the Drive?
Pololu Valley is one of our favorite recommendations. It costs nothing. It takes half a day including the drive. The lookout is jaw-dropping even if you never set foot on the trail. And if you do hike down, you get a black sand beach with nobody on it and sea cliffs that look like they belong in a movie. Because they literally do.
Combine it with a stop in Laupahoehoe on the way back and you have a full day of the Big Island that most tourists never see. Grab a car from our fleet, point it north, and go find the end of the road.
