North Kohala drive on departure day
We have a 9:30pm flight leaving Kona. We are staying at Outrigger, who will store our luggage on our departure day. With a 10am start, would we be able to comfortably drive to Pololu Valley, do the hike, stop in Waimea for lunch and a beer, get back to Outrigger to get bags and get to the airport.
I was thinking 2hr drive there, 1.5 hr for the hike, 1 hr to Waimea, 2 hr for lunch, 1hr back from Waimea. I'd want to be back to Outrigger by 6pm to get luggage and then get to the airport by 7:30pm. Is it too tight? Bad idea? We could skip Waimea but then I don't know if its worth it to drive the whole way just for the hike.
Thank you for any suggestions.
Your proposed plan for a North Kohala drive on departure day is ambitious but could work if you streamline your stops and are realistic about timing. Here’s a breakdown:
Driving to Pololu Valley from the Outrigger in Kona typically takes about 2–2.5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. The Pololu Valley hike to the lookout and back to the valley floor can be done in roughly 1–1.5 hours for a moderate pace, though adding more time is wise if you plan to explore or take photos.
From Pololu Valley to Waimea is about a 30–40 minute drive. Lunch in Waimea, including a quick beer or snack, can easily take 1–1.5 hours if you keep it casual, but many visitors end up taking longer.
The drive back from Waimea to Kona is roughly 1.5–2 hours. Adding in time to pick up luggage and check-in at Kona Airport, you’d ideally want to leave Waimea by around 5–5:15pm to comfortably make your 9:30pm flight. Your current plan to return to the Outrigger by 6pm to get bags may be cutting it close.
- If you want to ensure a stress-free experience, consider skipping the full lunch in Waimea and just stopping for a quick bite or snack.
- Alternatively, you could leave earlier than 10am, perhaps 9am, which would give you extra buffer time for the hike, photo stops, or any unforeseen delays.
- Another option is to shorten the Pololu hike to just the lookout rather than hiking to the valley floor if time is tight.
- If Waimea is a priority, consider having lunch in the area first and then hiking at Pololu, but this would require an even earlier start.
Overall, the plan is doable but tight. You’ll need to keep a brisk pace and monitor time carefully. Pololu Valley is a beautiful spot, but if Waimea lunch is important for your experience, it might make sense to either start earlier or shorten the hike to ensure a relaxed schedule without risking missing your flight.
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