Pololu Valley Lookout And Hike To Black Sand Beach – Big Island, Hawaii

UPDATED FEB 2020. The Pololu Valley lookout is a gorgeous spot on the Big Island of Hawaii. I have been lucky enough to visit it a couple of times now and the beauty of the area still amazes me. Here’s a practical guide full of tips to help you plan your own visit to the lookout as well as the hike to the black sand beach below. I hope it can help you plan your own adventure day.

A Guide To Exploring Pololu Valley On The Big Island Of Hawaii

Disclaimer

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FAQ for Visiting Pololu Valley

Where is it located?

Big Island, just under 90 minutes drive from Kona or 2 hours from Hilo.

Is there a cost to visit Pololu Valley lookout?

No, it’s free.

What skill level is required?

Beginner – there is a hike to the beach that is short but steep.

How long do you need?

For the lookout, 30 minutes is enough. To hike to the beach, you need about 2 hours depending on how long you want to spend there.

What should you bring with you?

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Good hiking shoes (I use the New Balance Minimus)
• Camera (I use a GoPro and this floaty selfie stick)
• A travel journal to document it all (this is one I created!)

Gorgeous views at the Pololu Valley lookout

Where to park

It is easy to find because the lookout is at the dead-end of the Akoni Pule Highway.

You can use ‘Pololu Valley Lookout’ in Google Maps and it will take you there.

Since it is a popular spot you will most likely have to park further back on the side of the street and walk down to the lookout.

Once you see the cars on the side of the road, it is worth parking because the end of the street is narrow and there are a lot of people around.

It can make it tricky to turn around there if you don’t get a park along the way there.

What to expect

After a short walk to the lookout, you can enjoy the epic sweeping views of the Pololu Valley.

It is a great spot for scenic pictures and to take a moment to soak in just how beautiful the view is.

The area is small but many people come to take their photos and go, so the crowd is always moving.

Hike to the black sand beach

If you want to add to the adventure, you can hike to the black sand beach below. This is not the famous black sand beach on the Big Island (I wrote about that one in this post) but this one is better in my opinion.

The hike is short and will probably only take you 30-40 minutes to get down to the bottom.

I saw people running and people much slower, so as always it just depends on your pace. It is not too hard in terms of hiking skills because it is clear, on steady ground, and has plenty of room to navigate around other people.

In saying that it a steep one so coming back up will work your legs and can be slippery if it has been raining.

Just take your time and take it as slow or fast as you need. You’re on island time – there’s no rush.

The black sand beach

The black sand beach is quite large which is why I prefer it to the Punaluu black sand beach.

There’s enough room to walk the beach, look at the sand and rocks, take some photos, and walk around in the trees behind the beach. It’s not the safest place for swimming or snorkeling because of rough surf conditions, rocks, and rip tides.

It was almost an eerie feeling seeing black sand as if I expected Ursula from The Little Mermaid to be living here.

Adding to that thought was the fact that the water was quite rough when I was there, giving it even more of a villainous vibe. Still, villainous lair aside, it was a sight to see and very beautiful.

I guess it goes to show that beauty can be found everywhere, even if it is different from the standard that we are used to seeing.

Other things to do in the area

I would combine the Pololu Valley Lookout with a visit to Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls. Some of the other places I would have recommended were destroyed by the volcanic eruption in 2018 unfortunately.

To end the day I recommend some beach hopping to places like Hapuna Beach for a swim and lounge, or snorkeling at Beach 69.

Here are some other guides to help you plan your visit to the Big Island

• Punaluu Beach – How To Get To This Black Sand Beach On The Big Island

• How To Get To The Green Sand Beach On The Big Island Of Hawaii

• Big Island Itinerary – Here’s The Things You Don’t Want To Miss

Where to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii

I stay with family when I visit the Big Island, but if I were to book a hotel I would stay in Waikoloa Village and stay at either the Hilton Waikoloa Village or Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

If you prefer guesthouses or want to stay in a different area of the island, I recommend searching on Booking.com. I use this to book accommodation when I am traveling and can usually find a great deal on their site.

I hope this post can help you plan your own adventure to the Pololu Lookout and the black sand beach.

As always, use your best judgment, stick to the trails, and take your trash with you. Make sure to check the weather forecast as well to avoid doing the hike in poor conditions when it would be more slippery.

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