On our second day in Hawaii, we headed north to the Pololu Valley Lookout which is part of the Kohala Forest Reserve. From our condo, it was about a hour and a half drive north along the scenic Highway 19 . The scenery is beautiful and unlike anything I have ever seen or even imagined. My rule for all road trips is that you have to stop at every scenic overlook =) Our first scenic overlook was a pull off on Highway 19.

The Pololu Valley overlook was one of my favorite things we did while visiting the Big Island. It was a dream come true to have the opportunity to hike in Hawaii and this hike did not disappoint. There is a small parking lot at the end of Highway 270. I recommend getting to the overlook early since it is a very popular place. The overlook is stunning. Rugged cliffs stretch off into the distance and waves crash below.

To the other side, mountains rise and fall creating a valley.

If you are up for it, I highly recommend doing the 1.25 mile hike to the bottom of the valley. Several switchbacks lead down the side of the cliff. The trail is slick, rocky, steep and strenuous in places.

It feels like after every turn, you get an even more spectacular view of the coast.

Once you get to the bottom, a wooded area hugs the shoreline.

While everyone else was checking out the beach, I headed away from the beach and followed the fresh water stream for a bit to get a better view of the valley stretching off into the distance. I felt like at any minute, I would see a dinosaur come walking out of the valley 😉

The beach is a beautiful, black sand beach. While swimming is not recommended due to the rough surf and strong currents, it is still very enjoyable to sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in.

The Pololu Valley is absolutely stunning. It is a bit out of the way, but the drive is worth the views.

I love this picture of my brother. On the rocks next to him, it says “Enjoy the view, life, each other”. Great words to live by.

On the way back, we stopped at a couple beaches. One of our favorites was the Spencer Beach Park. The beach was quiet and not crowded at all. You can even camp here! Talk about a dream come true!

Overall, it was a great day exploring the island. Stay tuned for the next post!