Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
man family has managed to combine art and commerce for 30 years. They have two gal-
leries within sight of each other, the Gift Gallery being the main one, with an excellent
array of wooden bowls, glasswork, jewelry and other items, some of it produced by fam-
ily members.
Across the street, Gary Ackerman's personal gallery offers impressionistic paintings of
Hawaii and France. It is open from October to March and by request.
Rankin Gallery & Studio
GALLERY
(
889-6849;
www.patricklouisrankin.net
; 53-4380 Akoni Pule Hwy; 11am-5pm Tue-Sat &
12-4pm Sun-Mon)
Located on a deep bend in the road midway to Pololu from Kapa'au,
this gallery is noted for its landscapes of Hawaii and the American West, as well as the
conviviality of Patrick Rankin, a local character happy to show you around his studio.
Don't miss the adjacent Kohala Tong Wo Society building, a nicely restored temple
that once served as an opium den.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Pololu Valley
Unlike its sister valley, Waipi'o, Pololu Valley has not been inhabited since the 1940s.
So, instead of territorial residents, you are met by a forest reserve.
Activities
Pololu Valley Lookout & Trail
HIKING
This steep, rocky trail from the lookout to the valley floor is doable for most, thanks to
switchbacks and its 0.75-mile distance. Not counting scenic stops, walking time averages
20 minutes going down and perhaps 30 coming back up. Be careful trekking after rain-
fall, as the mud-slicked rocks will be precarious. Walking sticks are often left at the trail-
head. There are no facilities.
At the mouth of the valley lies a gorgeous black-sand beach. The surf is rough, partic-
ularly in winter, with rip currents year-round. Swimming is generally out of the question,
even if you see local surfers and bodyboarders testing the waves. Monk seals come
ashore here, too.
