John and I recently flew to the Big Island, Hawaii for a work incentive trip. The last time we were on this island, we had the three boys with us and we did a lot of exploring around the Island. You can read about what we saw and did HERE.
Since we didn’t have the kids with us this time, we wanted to see some new spots and take on some more challenging hikes (but nothing too long or hard that would require a day of getting climatized). We ended up doing three different hikes, each one on different terrain (which is a common theme as you drive through the Big Island). We loved each and every single one, and it’s truly hard to compare which one was our favourite since they are so different and unique.
Pololu Valley Lookout Hike
To get here, you need to take the 270 north until the road ends. There are locals at the top of the hill who will provide you with information before you head down (please note, there are no washrooms here). You will need to bring water with you as the hike up is steep and it does get hot. If you plan on getting in the ocean at the bottom of the valley (black sand beach), wear a bathing suit and bring a towel. I also recommend wearing running shoes versus sandals as you can easily slip going downhill.
The hike itself isn’t long. You can probably go up and down in 30 minutes total if you don’t stop at the ocean. But I recommend that you do. The views from the bottom are just as nice as the views from the top.
We extended the hike and decided to hike up the next hill. To get here, walk along the trail behind the shoreline or along the shoreline to the next hill. The trail is not marked but is easy to locate/see. The second hill hike isn’t busy so you may be the only one on the trail. It’s also more narrow and wetter at parts, so be prepared for that. It does take a while to get to the top/end (there’s a bench at the end, that’s how you’ll know you reached it) but is well worth it for the views and solitude. The only other people who come here are those that take a helicopter ride across the valley.
In total, the hike is approximately 6km total.
Green Sand Beach
Papakōlea Beach is a green sand beach located near South Point, in the Kaʻū district of the Big Island. To get there, turn on South Point Road. You will come close to the water and see cars parked in a lot by the ocean. This is to get to the Southern most point on the Island. However, stay on the road (instead of heading down towards the water) to get to the Green Sand Beach starting point. You will see signs on the tree that direct you along the road.
When you get to the end of the road, there will be plenty of parking available as well as two portapotties (bring toilet paper with you). Locals will be there with their pick-up trucks offering to take you directly to the top of the Green Sand Beach. They charge $20 per person for a return trip. While the trail is flat, it is long (about 3 miles each way). We saw a lot of people do the trail in their sandals/flip-flops. And while it is doable, I wouldn’t recommend it. Also, bring your items in a backpack vs. a beach bag. The walk is long and hot as there is no shade. I would recommend wearing a hat and bringing lots of water with you (snacks are recommended as well).
The hike itself is pretty neat. You will walk across sand dunes, black volcano rock, and tall grass. Depending on how fast you walk (or how frequently you stop to take in the views), it will take you approximately 45minutes to 1 hour to get to the Green Sand Beach Bay. Trust me when I say that the journey is worth it.
There are only 4 Green Sand Beaches in the world, and the views do not disappoint. The surf can get rough, but swimming is possible. Just keep an eye out for big waves as there is a bit of an undertow. We stayed to the left of the bay and found it calmer there. Please note that it does get windy and the sand will blow against your body which does hurt.
While we walked along the shoreline on the way to the Beach, we took a trail closer inland on our return walk, which was slightly faster. Either one works though and both offer different views and trails.
Kilauea Volcano Crater
While we visited the volcano on our previous trip, we did the drive along Crater Rim Drive from the top of the crater to the ocean. Perfect for kids but we wanted to do a more challenging hike and see the volcano from a different point of view. We drove to the visitor center and spoke with the Park Ranger who suggested that we try the Halema’uma’u trail which takes you 400 feet into the crater floor and then across, walking on lava from 1974. It’s not a busy hike, but it’s the only one that allows you to walk on the crater floor, which is pretty neat. Not to mention, the walk through the lush forest to get to the crater floor is pretty stunning. The total hike is approximately 5km.
From here, we drove to the parking lot for the Keanakako’i overlook. This is the closest spot to watch the erupting lava. During the daytime, this just looks like smoke coming up from the crater. The trail is the paved OldCrater Rim Drive, making it very accessible. Note that the best time to watch the lava is after sunset when it’s dark. The parking lot fills up and the overlook gets crowded with people vying for spots to watch the red lava.
If you’ve ever visited the Big Island of Hawaii, did you go on these trails? Or did you go on any other trails that you would recommend?
Wow. A great destination