Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Outdoor Recreation

Welcome to the Pololū Planning Project page. Here, you’ll find all the public documents relating to the ongoing planning project funded by the legislature through a CIP (Capital Improvement Project) allocation. The goal of the project is to engage with the communities and lineal descendants connected to Pololū and to develop a plan to best manage the lookout, parking area, and trail incorporating their valuable input.  The planning firm Townscape was selected to create this community-driven plan and comes with decades of experience working with rural Hawai‘i communities, including in Kohala.

Click the links below to review related websites and documents:

• Pololū Planning Project Fact Sheet
• Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program Pololū Trail webpage

Draft Environmental Assessment, March 2025

The purpose of this assessment is to identify any impacts the proposed management plan may have on the environment and to outline measures to mitigate those impacts. We welcome your feedback on the potential environmental impacts of the plan as well as the proposed mitigation measures outlined in the Draft EA.

How to Access the Draft EA:

1. 1. Online at:  PDF download
   2. Hard copy at the North Kohala Public Library

Comment Period:

The official comment period will end on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

How to Submit Comments:

To submit your comments, please use one of the following methods:

• • Email: Send your comments to gabrielle@townscapeinc.com
  • Mail: Send written comments to 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1160, Honolulu, HI 96813

Comments must be submitted by April 22, 2025 to ensure they are considered in the Final EA. All comments submitted will be made available in the Final EA.

FINAL Pololū Trailhead Management Plan, September 2024

• PDF download

DRAFT Pololū Trailhead Management Plan, January 2024

• PDF download
• Interactive Storymap
• (comments were accepted from January 25- March 1, 2024)

Community Meetings: