On our 4th day on the big isle of Hawaii we took a drive to the Pololu Valley to see the incredible views we had been told about. This is the area the helicopters fly around to show the sites as well as being the birth place of King Kamehameha.
The first thing you'll see when you get to the Pololu Valley area is the historic statue of King Kamehameha. The famous King of Hawaii was born in this area which later became known for sugarcane farms. He was the one who united all the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom in 1810. Legend had it that a great king would be born when a light in the sky was seen as if it had feathers like a bird. King Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Haley's comet passed over Hawaii. So it is said that his reign was destined.
Now the interesting part about the statue:
The statue was created in Florence, Italy in 1880. However, the ship carrying it sunk and the statue lost. A second statue was created and put up in Honolulu. Miraculously, this statue was found, raised from the sea and then put up in the Pololu Valley in 1912.
Getting my gif on
Given the birth name Paiea, the future king was hidden from warring clans in secluded Waipio Valley on the Hamakua Coast after birth. After the death threat passed, Paiea came out of hiding and was renamed Kamehameha (The Lonely One). Kamehameha was trained as a warrior and his legendary strength was proven when he overturned the Naha Stone, which reportedly weighs between 2.5 and 3.5 tons. Legend had it that whoever had the strength to move the Naha Stone would rule the Hawaiian Islands. Today, the Naha Stone can still be seen today, located in front of the Hilo Public Library.
Source
We were not let down by the locals when told about this place. The views really were more than your mind could take in. The scale was just so large there is no way a picture can do it justice. I can't wait to post about the helicopter ride we took!
This area used to be known for sugar cane plantations. Now the small towns that dot this area are known for great organic food, adventure tourism and art galleries. Just driving around in the rented jeep with it's top off and visiting these places makes a great day.
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There is a trail starting at where the picture above was taken from that leads you down to this secluded beach. It's a heck of a hike back up, but being alone on that beach is an incredible experience. It's a 500 ft drop in elevation as you go down. The water however is notoriously treacherous here and only recommended for expert swimmers.
Kalae (South Point) Cliffdiving
Green Sand Beach, One of Four in the world
Kaimū Black Sand Beach
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