Photo courtesy of Jerry Kotz
The ocean here is exposed to the Northerly swell (winter) and to the almost ever present NE trade swell (wind driven). Hence, the surface conditions are mostly rough.
The break is made by a shifting sandbar of black sand. As with every shorebreak and dog, Pololu has its days. When the wind is down and the swell and bars are right, there can be quality surf here at Pololu.
Access is by foot trail- 10 minutes down, 20 minutes up.
During the summer, beware of the Portuguese man-o-war which float in on the trade winds and ferequently can be spotted lying at the top edge of the wash of the waves upon the beach. An inspection for these can save you a painful experience.
A strong current can be set-up by the movement of the wave driven current along the beach, and compounded by the current at the mouth of the stream. Pololu was the scene of a heroic rescue by local Kohala Pool lifeguard Ben Fisher, who just happened to be bodysurfing here, when three weak swimmers became trapped in the current. Ben saved them all from certain drowning, and received recognition from the County Government for his bravery.