Hawaii MauiEast Lahaina Pali Trail Difficulty: 5 stars…read more This trail is 5 miles long and height of 1600 ft. We saw the sign on our way driving back to hotel around noon and thought we could continue hiking a bit, so we turned back to park. Some people parked directly by the roadside sign, but that area is not a parking lot (you might get towed). You can drive straight into the right parking lot (saves a lot of walking). There's a sign at the entrance warning that this is a difficult rocky road (THE ZIGZAGIEST ROAD) with a quote from a tourist in 1847: "All the way zigzag and winding, up steep, rocky and barren precipices. CHESTER LYMAN". It was indeed a bit challenging, especially since we weren't wearing proper hiking shoes. The path was steep with rocks of all sizes all the way (easily to get your ankle twisted), and the midday weather was really hot. This was a very exposed hiking route, literally with no shade and no wind! There were no markings along the way, but it was relatively easy to just follow the trail. We walked, rested, and drank water intermittently. There was no cell phone signal along the way. We thought we could continue but after 1 hour hike, my husband asked me to think about heading back since we didn't know how much we need to walk and at that point and we still were not too tired to head back. So we checked how long it would take to complete the trail. We had been walking for over an hour and it seemed like we had only hiked around 1/4 to 1/5 of the entire trail! There are two starting points, east and west. We started from the east, but Google Maps couldn't display the walking route and estimated time!! If coming on the other end from the west, Google estimated it to be 2.4 miles. (about an hour and half without resting) which means the entire east-west one-way trail is 5 miles. Round trip would be 10 miles !There's no way we could finish before sunset walking to the west and back to the east parking lot! Looking at the seemingly distant yet close windmills and not knowing how far we still had to hike, and also having not encountered anyone, so we decided it's okay to just head back. That's how hiking is, I think. Enjoy the hike but don't force ourselves to do what we couldn't do! Our plan for the whole day was quite spontaneous, and luckily we always brought at least 2 liters of frozen bottled water and 2 liters of a water bottle when going out. Otherwise, it would have been really difficult without enough water in such hot weather. The next day, both of us woke up with really sore legs, backs and waists. Ha Overall the view was beautiful and if we visit Maui next time, we will definitely hike here again but arriving earlier. East Lahaina Pali Trail Wailuku, HI 96793, United States

This is an excellent trail for almost 270 degree views of the island. It is also a thigh burner as…read moreyou climb up rocks the entire way to the windmills, and a knee burner on the way down. Be sure and go early in the morning before it gets hot and preferably on a partly cloudy and cool day as there is no shade. Lots of water and hiking boots with good tread are also needed. The first 5 minutes you are on an old asphalt road, which quickly gives way to a well maintained and signed rocky trail. Views of the bay, towards the west and Kaho'olawe island and south are excellent. After about 2 miles you come to the windmills and the trail flattens out. You can continue on to the east, but we turned around and went back the same way as clouds were threatening.

Nice ocean side trail with few people and great views if youre looking for a place to go for a jog…read more Full sun exposure so bring sunscreen and water.

We randomly happened upon this trail after going to the Nakalele Blowhole and it was a perfect hike…read moreto do with my 5-year-old son and parents who both have some knee issues. The hike is a 1.2 mile loop and not very difficult (there is a dirt path the whole way). We did this hike in early February and in addition to the great views, saw so many whales! It was an unexpected highlight of our trip.

Hiking here was one of the highlights of my trip to Maui this summer. It's not a hike with…read morespectacular views but it's a beautiful hike with forest cover and is not strenuous at all. I loved that it was dog friendly and provides plenty of shade on a hot summer day in Maui. It's cooler here as it's upcountry so good to get a jacket. I picked up some food from pukalani Superette, so it made for a perfect picnic! Read the signs carefully as there are some parts that are for bikers only and they come fast and can crash into you. Overall, I loved coming here and exploring upcountry in Maui. If you need sometime away from the sun, come here, you will be in awe of nature and it's a nice contrast to the beaches in wailea (at least to me!).

such a beautiful and peaceful hike, really lets you escape from the heat!…read more the main kahakapao loop trail is about 9 km (5.5 miles), you can find it on alltrails to help guide you. there's a few smaller trails for biking as well. the trail was very clean, some of the paths are confusing though. overall, highly recommend since afterward, you can visit makawao town!

Hoapili Trail was a surprise with its stunning coastline, featuring dark volcanic rock and white…read morecoral. We enjoyed hiking along the trail and exploring this unique area.

This is a walk from the only parking area…read more There is a map and you follow the coast. Today , just to the lighthouse and back. You need good shoes and water. No services.

With the hustle & bustle of our daily lives, there comes a time where we begin seeking refuge in…read moreother pursuits -- the quiet country life, travel to foreign countries, social interaction, etc. Ah yes, I'm talking that sweet work/life balance. Thompson Road offered the perfect little escape to help maintain that mental equilibrium that we so often forget in pursuit of our daily bread. With its volcanic rock walls guiding the walker's way and views from coast to coast to inspire a multitude of praises, I imagine this is the quintessential Maui view that dreams are made of. Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. I thought to myself, "Damn, how lucky am I to have grown up on such a beautiful island? And why is it my first time here?" A sense of guilt suddenly struck for not appreciating my island home enough. Making our way down the paved path, the calling of the birds echoed through the trees, the cows mooed in the distance, cherry blossoms made surprise appearances, & clouds loomed in the distance. It was peaceful, it was relaxing, it was everything. We came across a few other souls with the same idea. I secretly hoped we'd cross paths with Oprah who lives nearby. We captured the attention of the ranch cows, finding them all lined up at the fence with eyes fixated on us. "A traffic jam!" my toddler so poetically exclaimed. & lastly we found ourselves caught in a rainstorm and retreated under our umbrella. Best to be prepared! In sum, we all need our time of repose. I found it here on Thompson Road.

Want a great walk and cool upcountry air? Must enjoy a jaunt on Thompson Road. Not many folks if…read moreyou go early and you can take a pup or 2 on a leash with you! Then grab coffee afterwards at Grandma's! Love this place for bacon and eggs or a pastry!

This is a quick hike. It is relatively easy aside from all the rock hopping across the stream…read moremultiple times. It is also hot and humid at times and the trail can get a little overgrown so if you are sensitive to plants, wear long pants and sleeves because you rub against them. There were two 20' waterfalls with small pools below for a quick dip to cool off. We only saw crawfish in a few spots. We also saw plenty of guava trees and ginger plants. We saw broken glass in the parking area and just took all our belongings out of the car and left it unlocked. It looked like no one was having issues with car vandalism when we were there.

Whenever I go to Hawaii, I have to hike. Hubby knows I love waterfalls and found the "13 Crossings"…read morehike on All Trails. When we arrived at the trailhead, I was a little wary to hike given all the broken car window glass on the ground in the roadside parking, so we were sure to move everything out of sight and in the trunk. I really enjoyed the hike and the challenge of figuring out the best way to cross the stream. I often looked for the wet footprints from others to see where the trail would go. I tried to count the 13 crossings but quickly figured out it's hard to remember to count. The trail wasn't crowded at all, and when we got to the waterfall, we had it to ourselves. It started to rain on the way out, which made it hard to follow the footprints, and everything was much more slippery. If you're staying on the dry Lahaina side, it's nice to take a hike through the lush forest. And thankfully, no break in for us. Pro tip: Don't even bother trying to keep your shoes dry because you'll end up getting them wet swimming or wading at the falls.

Located at the end of the Pipiwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, this…read more400-foot waterfall is absolutely picturesque and breathtaking. Pictures will never do this waterfall justice, and it should be included in anyone's Road to Hana journey. To get here, you'll have to do the Road to Hana, and Haleakalā National Park is about 12 miles past the town of Hana. Once there, Waimoku Falls is at the end of the Pipiwai Trail - a 4 mile round-trip moderate hike. That being said, the trail is well-maintained and was not a difficult hike at all. Once you get to Waimoku Falls, it's totally worth it to take some time to just sit and enjoy it. It's such a peaceful and beautiful area to relax and take in all that nature is offering. We visited both the Kīpahulu and Summit districts of Haleakalā, and the Pipiwai Trail w/ Waimoku Falls was one of my top two experiences in the park. This is a must-stop for your Haleakalā National Park and Road to Hana adventures.

Waimoku Falls is a statuesque waterfall featuring a 400-foot plunge off a cliff faced wall in the…read moreheart of the Kipahulu (Coastal) District of Haleakala National Park. It is without a doubt the #1 attraction in this section of Haleakala. I highly recommend everyone taking time to come visit this stunning landmark. Besides making the 55-mile drive (if you're staying in the town of Kahului) along adventurous Hana Highway to arrive here in the Kipahulu area...you also must hike 2 miles along Pipiwai Trail to be precisely standing in front of Waimoku Falls. The Pipiwai Trail wasn't too difficult to trek. In fact, I found the surroundings and overall setting to be very pleasant. It was as if I was situated within one giant rain forest, immersed by plenty of bamboo trees. Plus, for the 2 miles (each way) it was pretty humid outside and sort of refreshing (in my opinion) to work up a good sweat before finally getting to witness such an inspiring waterfall. The freefalling appearance initially took my breathe away when I first approached it. My only maybe slight, slight disappointment with the experience was eventually confronting a sign where it specifically stated you cannot pass or enter any further than an exact point. And...unfortunately, I wasn't able to fully capture (with my camera) Waimoku Falls touching the bottom base pool of water for where it splashed down into. The sign read..."DO NOT PASS THIS POINT. FATALITIES HAVE OCCURRED. VIOLATING A CLOSURE - $100 FINE". Oh well, still, it was plenty good enough to view Waimoku Falls from a short distance away. You're still able to see about 4/5's - 5/6's of the entire cascading waterfall drop. Some extra details.... - I visited in the morning time back in the middle of March, 2022 and it was a worthwhile time to come make the 2-mile trek to the falls. The sun was at my back when I finally reached Waimoku Falls, it allowed for terrific picture moments with the sun reflecting beautifully upon the lush green tropical forest. - Interestingly, this Kipahulu District of Haleakala NP actually closes their gates at 5pm daily, and so they leave a visible sign at the trailhead saying starting at 3pm, it's the last time of the day for you to begin the Pipiwai Hike (allowing for 2 hours to reach Waimoku Falls and also returning to the parking lot). So, overall, it's just best to arrive here and see Waimoku Falls in the early part of the day. - Although almost everyone explores around the Summit District of Haleakala, if this is your first time coming to Waimoku Falls or visiting this Kipahulu section...they will charge you $30 entrance fee at the gate. - While here in the area...make sure to stop at Wailua Falls located just 3 miles down the road. It's a quick roadside stop featuring another fantastic waterfall. And plus at Wailua Falls you can swim and cool off at the base of the waters, just not here at Waimoku Falls. - Finally, while in this Kipahulu part of the park when returning from Pipiwai Trail...I'd suggest easily and efficiently taking the 1/2-mile Kuloa Point/Trail for outstanding coastal views from the edge of the island of Maui. And along this Kuloa Trail you'll stand high above the Pools of Ohe'o...a prime opportunity for looking down on yet another stunning waterfall setting. Waimoku Falls was one of the best aspects from my Haleakala National Park experience. I couldn't have been happier for the chance to hike the pleasant/charming Pipiwai Trail while then taking time to admire such an impressive 400-foot plunge. It only confirmed how fond I am of waterfalls.

The reviews weren't kidding -- this is an unshaded hike with sparse views. We hiked it in mid…read moremorning and it was already 80F and super hot, with the sun beating down on us relentlessly. On your left, you have a beach view; on your right, you can gaze at apartment buildings and resorts. Our kids quickly started complaining about the sand in their sandals and asking to be held so the second half of the hike is a blur or me heaving slowly forward step by step with a cranky three year old in my arms and a backpack loaded with all my kids' water and snacks on my back. That being said, I had fun reading about Eddie Pu from the informational placards at the start of the hike. Apparently he was a local who used to trek the entire island of Maui by foot once a year. He sounds a bit eccentric too because he would do it wearing a large leaf wrapped around his forehead, Karate Kid style, which he said was to ward off headaches. Well Eddie, I'm not sure if it was intentional but I do feel that in walking this hike, I tasted a small taste of the suffering you endured in your annual trek around the island. Hats off to you, sir!

South of Kamaole beach 3 runs the Eddie Pau trail. This is a dirt trail which runs close to the…read morecoastline along the rocks. It starts at the grass areas at the southern end of Kamaole beach 3. This happens to be my favorite snorkeling spot in the area, with a crescent ring of rocks next to the beach line. The dirt trail goes through brush and trees amid the rocky areas next to the shoreline, with a narrow sea channel separating Maui from Lanai in the background. Come here in the winter and you may see whales spouting water in their migration from Alaska. Early in the mornings, turtles common in this area near shore. The trail bypasses a long man made breakwater made out of stones, running for a quarter mile parallel to shore. No snorkeling here, as this is the area where the boat tours go out of Kihei. Passed by a lot of runners taking a chance on tripping on the rocks half buried in the sandy trail. Not a place to walk in sandals, due to the sand. Go farther south along the trail, and you can see a hotel in the distance. This is the Kihei Surfside condominium, with the Mana Kei Maui condominium next door. The trail ends at the Kihei Surfside, but you can walk along the manicured grass areas to another trail by the Mana Kai Maui, and then onto Keawalapu beach, a popular beach for sun tanning. There is a dirt public parking area for the beach, alongside the Mana Kai Maui. Farther on is the Days Inn Maui Oceanfront hotel, which at $299 a night is the most expensive Days Inn in the world, next to Sorrentos and 5 Palms restaurants. The Eddie Pu hiking trail is named after an avid Maui hiker who hiked the coastlines of Maui for 25 years. For all that work he got an unpaved half mile coastline dirt trail named after him.