We are mid-50’s, mid-health (we walk daily, and also like good food, good wine, etc.), and wanted to do some mid-level to low-level hiking on the Big Island.
After some research, I knew I wanted to see the sunrise at Pololu Valley. And OhhhhEmmmmHGeeeee, was it worth it!
Since we had been to Hawaii before, coming from the mainland, we KNEW that on our first night, due to the time change that we would be WIDE AWAKE around 3-4AM Hawaii time.
With that in mind, we planned our sunrise visit for our first morning there.
Travel Tipsy: If you are staying in Hilo, Pololu Valley is about 1.5 – 2 hours away. Check the sunrise time to plan your trip.
When we arrived, it was still dark, and SURPRISINGLY, we were the second people there. We stayed at our car, as the sun came up and enjoyed the most fantastical (is that a real word?) sunrise imaginable. It was glorious and so sweet and romantic.
After the sun rose, it was time to head down the trail. The top of that trail though, yall! I was thinking that there is NO WAY that I would be able to do this the entire way down! The grade does level out though, to a more bearable incline.
Travel Tipsy: The top of the trail is the steepest! It will level out, to become more hikeable.
Once on the bottom it opens up to another glorious, can’t-be-missed, beautiful scene.
You have the beautiful ocean view to enjoy. Don’t swim here though – our research found that this is not a safely swimmable beach.
And then….there is a small sliver of water (A river? A creek?) Running through a beautiful valley. We walked the beach, and then sat at that beautiful valley just enjoying the hard-to-reach, special, untouched place. It was ABSOLUTELY heaven on earth, and I hope to see it again before I die.
Now for the trek back up. Oh my ….we took a lot (I mean a lot!) of breaks, where I pretended to still be enraptured by the scenery, but y’all – I needed to catch my breath for real! We were making jokes about fears of having to get air-lifted out of there! And, as the sun comes up, and beats down on you, it gets hot….like quick. Drinking water, was another comfortable “oh, let me stop real quick and grab a drink’ reason to break.
To make us feel worse, there were locals, in some type of club (they were in a group) passing us, going down, barefooted. BARE-FUCKING-FOOTED! The hell? Talk about feeling completely insignificant and useless. Ha ha! And, remember that super-steep incline at the very beginning? Well, you better grab a big stick – they are laying everywhere for people like us, to help you pull yourself out, with your last bits of energy.
And….AND….whatever you eat afterwards, (we went to Tex Drive In in Honokaa – check out that review here) is going to be the best, most amazing thing you have ever tasted!
Here is how we prepared:
A good backpack – We were looking for a good, light-weight back-pack and we found it with this one. Seriously though, it doesn’t have to be this exact one. Just find you one that will comfortably hold water….WATER fo sho, sunscreen, and maybe an extra shirt if you get swampy.
Water bottle – Okay, I said earlier get any old, backpack you want….and THEN go get THIS water bottle! I take this bad boy EVERY. WHERE! Fill it up with ice first and it stays SOO, SOO cold! It is like drinking from the fountain of the Gods on a hot summer day!
Drone – You should really invest in one for Hawaii! We got some of the most amazing views!
Sunscreen – I picked this one – even though you won’t be swimming at this beach, for the reef protection. If you wait and buy it on the island, it is EXPANSIVE ya’ll!
Cheap sunglasses – I order these in droves, because they are cheapies and I am hard on sunglasses! I leave them everwhere, but I also take them everywhere!
Moisture wicking T’s – These are GREAT, if you get sticky and don’t want to go back to your room….which in our case was 2 hours away! They are lightweight enough that we packed two!
Now, was it worth it? Did we feel ever-fulfilled, and validated after experiencing heaven and dragging ourselves back out (with a little Hell) again. YES! Are we going to do Captain Cooks because of this experience? NO! Ha ha! We do feel this hike is our limit, and we would still definitely do it again, and you should too!
