Here’s one way to enjoy North Kohala, if you only have a Half Day:

 

Begin your day early, driving to ATV Outfitters Hawaii for the morning Historical Ocean Cliff Trail Adventure. Check in by 8am for your 8:15 tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the spectacular experience of some of North Kohala’s pristine pastures, farmlands and striking ocean cliffs, you will have a new sense of why Kohala is treasured by Hawaiians.

 

 

After your ATV experience, you still have some more morning hours available to explore North Kohala and have lunch before leaving. 

We suggest a drive to the end of the road to Pololu Valley.

 

Leaving ATV Outfitters, drive (left) towards Pololu.

 

You will pass through the small community of Hala’ula where the middle school is the biggest building.

Keep driving, and soon you will be winding through rainforest and gulches.

 

 

Stop at Kamehameha’s Rock in the lush rainforest gulch right alongside the winding road.

 

 

 

 

Legend says that Kind Kamehameha threw this pohaku (rock) a great distance, proving he was the great ruler who had been foretold in legend.

 

Follow the road to the end to Pololu Valley

 

 

Once inhabited and home to several wet taro plantations and later rice, the valley was a thriving region. The overlook at the end of Highway 270 above the valley offers spectacular views of the rugged coastline and beautiful black sand beach below.

 

 

If you only can spare a half day, you will have to save the hike down to the black sand beach for another trip.

 

From Pololu, drive back the same route to the town of Kapa’au, where you can enjoy lunch indoors or outdoors at Kohala Rainbow Café, across the street from the centerpiece of North Kohala – the statue of King Kamehameha.

 

 

Your morning in North Kohala is over; if you want to steal a little extra time, check out the superb Ackerman Galleries next door to the Kohala Rainbow Café.

 

 

North Kohala is full of creative shops and clothing, jewelry, homegrown honey, local snacks, handmade essential oils, collectibles, furnishings, art and more are all to be had.

 

 

All “pau?” (finished?) Then consider driving back  by another route so you can experience more of Kohala’s natural beauty.

 

 

If you took the coast road to get to ATV Outfitters, then take the mountain road back – or vice versa.  They are about the same distance but each offers a very different experience.