At the edge of the Big Island, North Kohala coast, where jagged cliffs meet the Pacific and a popular black sand beach harkens back to ancient stories, Pololu Valley stands as one of Hawaii’s most breathtaking treasures. But this cherished trail, drawing hundreds or more daily, is at a crossroads.
A newly released plan by the state DLNR is set to transform access to the Pololu Valley Trail, with a reservation system, trail steward management, and a cultural learning center. These are being proposed to improve site management. The changes are part of a state effort to protect iconic locations like this one and ensure it remains safe, sacred, and sustainable.
The plan is outlined in a draft environmental assessment now open for public comment. While nothing is finalized, the direction is clear: this will not remain a free-for-all hike much longer.
Why Changes Are Coming Now.
Erosion scars the steep trail, where thousands of visitors tread every week. Along the narrow Akoni Pule Highway, cars spill into illegal and dangerous spots, often blocking emergency access. At the valley floor, discarded trash, trampled vegetation, and unattended injuries point to deeper problems if left unaddressed.
The data backs it up. In 2023, an average of 600 people descended the 0.6-mile trail daily, with a recorded high of nearly 1,500 on a single day.
But the damage isn’t just environmental. Cultural practitioners and descendants of North Kohala have raised concerns for years. Protect Pololū, a grassroots group formed by residents and lineal descendants, has worked to bring attention to the cultural and spiritual disruption caused by overuse.
“This is a sacred place that needs protection, not promotion,” said Loa Patao in community meeting summaries shared on the Protect Pololū site. “We’re trying to restore balance—not restrict access, but guide it.”
The reservation system and trail plan explained.
The proposed plan introduces a reservation-only parking system, expanding capacity from 12 to 20 stalls, with two reserved for trail stewards. Hikers would need to book in advance, a shift intended to ease congestion and encourage preparedness.
A key part of the project involves acquiring the historic mule station next to the trailhead. That site would be restored and converted into a heritage center focused on cultural education.
The trail stewards, part of the Na Manu Elele program, would remain on-site daily, offering hikers a safety briefing and historical context. Their presence since 2022 has been credited with improving visitor behavior and supporting respectful access.
Why this could change Hawaii hiking access statewide.
Pololu is just the latest in a growing number of Hawaii trails adopting tighter visitor controls. Diamond Head, Haena State Park, and Waianapanapa, among others, have already moved to reservation systems. Others may not be far behind.
For travelers used to open trails and spontaneous adventures, this marks a shift. But it also signals a new chapter—one led more by community priorities than only by tourism demands.
The changes at Pololu are part of a broader rethink of how Hawaii can share its beauty while protecting the places that define it.
What it means for Hawaii visitors.
If Pololu is on your list, know this: it’s still open for now, but the experience is evolving and likely to change soon. Visitors are urged to check in with stewards at the trailhead, follow safety advice, and understand that this is not just a hike—it’s a place with a living history.
Don’t expect snack stands or shuttle buses here—this plan is all about keeping Pololu’s wild, untouched spirit intact.
Public comments on the plan are open through Tuesday and can be submitted via Hawaii’s official environmental review portal. If you care about the future of access in Hawaii, this is a rare opportunity to have a voice in shaping it.
What Residents and Descendants Are Saying.
For generations, Pololu Valley has been a place of spiritual reflection and ancestral connection for the people of North Kohala. The cliffs, forests, and black sand shore carry stories of ancient Hawaiian life and identity.
The new plan was shaped by community input from Protect Pololu and other residents who saw the valley being overwhelmed. Their goal isn’t exclusion. It’s balance.
“Even if it’s your tenth time hiking here, it’s important to check in, listen, and hike respectfully,” said Patao. “The goal is not to close Pololu, but to protect it.”
The Future of Visiting Pololu.
Pololu’s future isn’t about closing doors to visitors—it’s about opening minds. This trail will likely remain open, but how people access it is changing. The shift may frustrate some visitors. But for those willing to plan, as is the case with other popular destinations, it opens the door to a deeper, more intentional, and less overrun experience.
As Hawaii reimagines how to balance tourism with preservation, your voice matters. Whether you’ve hiked Pololu once or dream of visiting someday, now is the time to speak up.
The official public comment period for the draft environmental assessment closed on April 22, 2025. All feedback submitted by that date will be included in the final report. However, the conversation isn’t over.
You can learn more at the DLNR’s Pololū Planning Project page, and you can continue sharing your thoughts here on Beat of Hawaii, where your voice can still influence the future of access to sacred places like this. Decision-makers read these comments, and your perspective matters.
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I believe reservations for the hike at Pololu Trail is the best way to protect the sacred land and it’s environment.
I’ve hiked down 2xwith my family in the past and it’s a fantastic experience in every way.
Reservations saves this incomparable and holy landscape for all.
600 a day seems very inflated. We went in February and were there for 3 hours. We saw no more than 40 people in the parking lot, trail, and beach combined. That’s in the middle of peak season. I can’t imagine 560 people came before and after us. We didnt see a train of cars heading out there before or after us, and it’s super remote.
I’m okay with the reservation system, but 600 a day seems like an exaggeration. Especially when the you take in to account the off season. Or maybe the few times I”ve gone I got incredibly lucky.
I was just on the big island last week and hiked pololu (recommended by a friend who use to live there). It was a beautiful hike, and valley! I appreciated the volunteer who told us about the history of the valley and how to respect it! Made the hike and excursion more meaningful.
Despite lots of passion on all sides, it seems that the locals with their cultural protection, sacred land narrative are winning the day. They don’t seem to want to entertain any conversation about balance. So let them set up restricted access and reservations on every trailhead and ‘sacred’ location in the islands. Two or three years from now, when tourism is significantly less than what is required to sustain the livelihoods of the island’s locals and natives, they will find an unwilling audience when the state government starts running mutli-billion dollar deficits and they want federal assistance. I want to protect nature like anyone who enjoys the outdoors. But when you look at how the natives and locals treat their sacred lands, depositing garbage, rusted out appliances and the like in any open landscape they can find, lecturing us about respect and care feels a little hollow. I wish them luck because they will need it if they stay on this path.
I’m born and raised from the big island, i’ve spent many weekends hiking down Pololū, and it’s one of my favorite places to go. Even though I’ve moved off island a few years ago, and no longer have my Hawai’i State ID, I’d take the time to make a reservation and pay the cost to be able to get in. Pololū is sacred and special to me. I also support stewards being there. That’s a job opportunity, and some folks need reminders to pick up after themselves. Stop leaving trash everywhere, especially in the valley.
Another day, another lecture about “respect” and “listening.”
Why don’t these groups educate locals to stop throwing away trash, building materials, rusted out appliances, and to stop abandoning stripped cars on remote Hawaii roads?
And how about some “mind opening” local lectures concerning the illegality of smashing windows of parked cars so they can repeatedly steal from residents and tourists?
Papakōlea should be similarly protected and restricted
I haven’t traveled anywhere in the USA-world that treats visitors like Hawaii. “Free for us and no reservations needed”. “Charge the dirty tourist $50 a car and make them get up in the middle of the night to make reservations 90 days out”.
Pololu has significant ancestral and spiritual ties for the indigenous people.
Then don’t come here. We have rules here. That’s the way it is.
Don’t worry Don…we won’t. Good luck with your economy. When it gets bad enough for you all to build a real plan, try visiting other big destinations like ski resorts ans Las Vegas to learn how they manage all of those “messy tourists” so they return year after year. You islanders have forgotten your manners and will pay a steep price to relearn them.