Treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime Hawaiian experience in the heart of Pololu Valley. Imagine walking along a historic, cliffside trail 1000 feet high above the valley floor. Along the way you’ll encounter beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking views while your naturalisy guide shares the area’s intriguing natural and cultural history. Your destination is Kapoloa Falls, which plunges from the crest 300 feet above you, and cascades across the trail falling another 200 feet into a deep chasm.
	VALLEY WATERFALL ADVENTURE

	TIMES/LENGTH:		Departures leave daily at 7:25 AM and 12:45 PM. Adventures run 5 hours from pickup to drop-off.
	MEETINGPOINT		Generally the adventure pickup and drop-off is at the King’s Shops in Waikoloa (30 minutes drive from Kona).
	COMPANY NAME:		Hawaii Forrest & Trail
	INCLUDING:		Walking sticks, warm shirts, ponchos, water bottles, snack and beverages.
	RESTRICTIONS:		Physical: Guests on this tour should be physically capable and able to hike over uneven terrain. Walk 3 miles with negligible elevation change. Guests who are extremely fearful of heights should not participate. Age: children under 8 not allowed.
	CANCELLATION: POLLICY		24 Hours

	THE DRIVE: This is a classic Big Island drive. We pick you up in the dry barren desert climate lava fields of Waikoloa and you end up at a marvelous green expanse of foliage that is everyone’s vision of Hawaii. Along the way you’ll cross substrate of three of the island’s five volcanoes. You’ll pass by luxury resorts and cultural sites; you’ll travel through picturesque plantation towns. And you will actually drive right around the northern tip of the island. During the winter and spring, humpback whales often breach in plain view. By the time you get to the Mule Station, your Naturalist Guide will have given you an understanding of the island’s volcanic origins, some Hawaiian history, a short discourse on sugar plantations and a great appreciation of the Big Island’s diversity. Drive time from Waikoloa to the Mule Station is about 50 minutes. You’ll love it.
	THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE: After we leave the Mule Station, we four-wheel drive up the old sugarcane land to the trailhead. For many guests the off road adventure is one of the most exciting parts of the adventure. The road is bumpy, sometimes muddy and offers great views of the countryside and cattle grazing. Drive time to the trailhead is about 15 minutes.
	THE TRAIL: After your Naturalist Guide unlocks the gate, you’ll step into one of the most dramatic trail views on the island. Welcome to Pololu Valley and the Kohala Ditch Trail. The trail and ditch were built in 1905. This engineering marvel is carved into the cliffside of the valley wall one thousand feet off the floor. With spectacular views of the valley, the trail takes us by four waterfalls before we arrive at Kapoloa Falls. Kapoloa cascades 500 feet down and you can walk right behind the waterfall for an awesome photo experience. Along the way you’ll learn more about the ditch, the history and the native and introduced plants of the valley. Roundtrip on the trail is 3 miles with very little elevation change—think of it as a pleasant nature walk. While the trail is a thousand feet off the valley floor, there are only a few areas where you’ll have a straight drop down off the trail. If you are terribly afraid of heights, this trail is not suitable for you.
	DRESS CODE: Hiking boots or sturdy closed toe shoes, shorts, short sleeved shirt.
	CONDITIONS: Trail is well maintained though can have muddy spots. Trail width averages 5-6 feet across. Some areas are narrower for very short distances. Some areas have sheer drops of several hundred feet. Rock fall can occur on the trail. Elevation is 1000 feet temperature warm to cool.
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