Pololu Beach

Set on a remote stretch of coast near the northern tip of the Big Island is the pristine black sand Pololu beach. Only accessible by driving to the end of Highway 270 and then walking the remaining quarter mile, this spot has something of a primeval feel to it - definitely a bit Jurassic Park.

Pololu Beach lies at the foot of an ancient wooded valley which is also home to a small lagoon. To either side lush green cliffs rise up to some height, while the beach is backed by rows of ironwood trees.

The black sand here comes from the long extinct volcano of Kohala which formed the dramatic landscape along this coast.

The ocean at Pololu beach is rarely calm and often whipped up by the winds that blow along this northern coast. Most of the time a sane person wouldn’t consider taking a dip here, but even on calmer days it is a dangerous place to swim with strong currents.

As mentioned it is something of a hike down to the beach. From the parking lot to the beach the trail drops over 400 feet (120m) in a series of switchbacks. Whilst we think it’s worth it, if you don’t fancy it the views from Pololu Lookout are still one of the highlights of the north coast. If you happen to be here during the winter you may also be lucky enough to spot whales from here.

Please note: given its remote and wild location there are no facilities at Pololu beach.