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Kapilau Ridge Trail

4.5 (11 reviews)

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Michelle H.

Pretty straight up hike, starting off was a little confusing. Just park on the side of the road. Hikes isn't too long at all, but it's pretty steep and hard if you never hike. (:

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Mel C.

Kapilau Ridge Trail is not an official State or National trail. This hike is conveniently located about 4 miles from OGG Airport. The hike from the trailhead to the end is a little over a mile. The hike to the Anthony Cross is about 1/2 mile. The hike is short, slippery, and very steep. The total distance round trip is 2.7 miles and took me about 2 hours to complete. I recommend this hike and rank it moderate. TIPS (PRE-HIKE) -I recommend hiking shoes or shoes with a lot of grip. The terrain is mostly hard packed dirt/mud and tree roots. I hiked up this a week after it rained in Maui. The trail had a lot of slippery moss. -Bring comfortable clothing and make sure that you're hydrated prior, during, and after the hike. -The entire hike is shaded. Sunscreen is not needed. -I completed this hike 100% fasted. I do not recommend this. Bring snacks and make sure that you take your litter with you. -Inform someone that you're doing this hike. There's no cell service on most parts of the hike and it's easy to get lost. I sent my daughter the address, pictures of the trailhead, and an ETA when I should be done. -Finding this hike is part of the challenge. The address on Yelp is almost right on. GPS it and park near the fenced off water tanks. The trailhead is located across the fencing and to the right of phone pole #5 (Thank You, Angela T for this tip). By the way, there's minimal parking too. I recommend you get here early. TIPS (HIKE UP): -The trail head starts off with a lot of trees and brush in your face. It's a good idea to wear sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes. -The first 1/4 mile of the hike is on the actual tree's roots and on top of fallen pine needles. -The hike is very steep with very little switchbacks. -Be very mindful of your surroundings. You will be close to the edge of the mountain on some parts of the hike. One false move can lead to a long drop down. -The Anthony Cross was built by students of Anthony High School. The cross is located about 1/2 mile from the trailhead. The cross is the halfway point. -The hike is very quiet and surreal. I did this hike by myself and could hear noises coming from the trees. The wind and wildlife can mess with your mind. -Wildlife seen included birds and very large spiders. -Took me about 45 minutes to get to the end. TIPS (HIKE DOWN): -The hike down was very slippery and challenging. It took me about an hour to get down. -Watch every step and make sure that the ground is stable. -Took me over an hour to hike down. TIPS (POST HIKE) -Look both ways when crossing the street. -Enjoy a great meal in Maui

You will want to park off to the side here like this

I'm surprised there isn't a review on here yet about this place. Thanks to making friends on Maui I was told about this little secret. Kapilau trail is also known as the white cross trail. Because on it there will be a huge white cross. It's not a maintained trail and there are no signs so it is easy to miss unless you know you are looking for it. Directions: -head toward the pin needle in Lao valley -when the sign points to the right for Lao valley stay to the left. You will want to park right away near those huge water tanks. -the entrance to the trail is to the right of a phone pole marked with the #5 You have to make your own way through some of the shrubbery but there is somewhat of a walkway that others have carved before you. You have been warned- this is not an easy stroll. It is uphill all inclines non stop for (according to my iPhone) the equivalent of 70 flights of stairs. But in nature. And it's beautiful. Its pretty shaded too since you are literally in the midst of it all. It's dry but lots of pine needles so it can be slippery. Of course always wear good shoes and bring water and use your best judgement. With all that said, this hike was exactly what I was looking for. You have branches and leaves whipping you in the face as you climb your way to the top. I heard the view gets even better past the cross but that's where I turned around. My legs were shaking by the time I made it back down so definitely a great relatively short hike if you're looking for a good workout!

Harpreet P.

Steepest hike of my life. Not a very long hike. Great spot at the top to take photos. Awesome workout!

View half way to the white cross.

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

Very steep path to the cross which is half way to top. Rewarded with a great central Maui views. Short hike but strenuous.

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7 years ago

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Review Highlights - Kapilau Ridge Trail

I heard the view gets even better past the cross but that's where I turned around.

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Hike Maui

Hike Maui

4.9
(791 reviews)
2.7 mi
41 years in business
Eco-friendly

We had to reschedule our hike day..due to the Kona low and the office staff were more than helpful…read more This is not our first hike with Hike Maui... we've come to Maui for the past 50 years..37 times to be exact... and Hike Maui is our go to during the past 20 years when we want to get out into the rainforest. We have taken three of their "Morning Walks" with our grandkids and it's a perfect introduction to hiking. Honestly we've had three different ...wonderful.. experiences. It's not strenuous and you're taken back to some private land that you'd not have access to if you just drove up and parked (if you found a parking spot) and hiked back in. We were lucky to have the lovely, fun, and knowledgeable guide named Randolyn ..aka Ran. She was the perfect blend of kind, patient and engaging with the grandkids, and very helpful with us old folks! On the drive on the way home she advised a few newbies to the island where some great places to eat were... they greatly appreciated her ideas! She had the most pleasant demeanor.... :) If you want a fun morning walk, call Hike Maui

Meh. something to kill a few hours. Less of a "hike" and more of a nature walk in a little roadside…read morepark. The guide will point out various flowers and seeds, such. No wildlife to be seen. Pretty flowers here and there. Our guide (Grayson) was excellen, as he was knowledgeable and fun. Another guide (tall guy) from another group-same company jump my ass for looking at his group's "supplies." $140 per person to get snapped at? Yeah...sure. I'd pass on this in the futur. D. Tauber,

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Expert guides share edible treasures from the trail.
Expert guides share edible treasures from the trail.
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Waihee Ridge Trail

Waihee Ridge Trail

4.6
(216 reviews)
5.0 mi

Hands-down, the best hike I have ever went on in my life and I have been on plenty of hikes…read more There's a waterfall somewhere along the way and there are beautiful views of the ocean and beaches all around. Gorgeous is an understatement, but please make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. You will need it. Enjoy!

Beautiful views!! It is a hard climb, but doable if you're in good shape…read more Driving there - Highly recommend driving from the west side. Driving from the east side, there were one-way narrow roads over cliffs. Leaving from the west side was easy-peasy. Parking - Keep an eye out for a red sign that says 'Camp Maluhia'. First lot is overflow, keep driving past gates to main lot where trailhead is located. Hike from overflow parking lot to trailhead is about 1.2 miles each way. Hike incline - First 1/4 mile of asphalt was the steepest. Next mile was incline but not too bad. Last mile was steeper incline. Hike views - If you go on a cloudier sunny day like we did, there were AMAZING views up until the last 0.5 miles. The overlook at the very end was above clouds so we couldn't see anything. Shoes - I don't recommend wearing sandals or flip flops, because it is pretty rocky and steep. No large rock climbing. I got by wearing casual tennis shoes, but running/hiking shoes are best. There were no stream crossings, so no need to worry about feet getting wet.

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Waihee Ridge Trail
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The VIEW after the clouds moved @tiffhuangry

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The VIEW after the clouds moved @tiffhuangry
Aloha Rock Gym

Aloha Rock Gym

4.8
(13 reviews)
4.2 mi

My husband and I brought our climbing shoes with us on our week long vacation to Maui specifically…read morebecause we wanted to try out Aloha Rock. And it did not disappoint. Bruce and Jill were running the show on the first day we visited and made us feel super welcomed to the gym. They helped get us setup with week long visitor passes and Bruce even bandaged me up when an overhang route gave me a gnarly flapper. What a gem! We only bouldered here but thought the routes were interesting and very fun to try and figure out. They have three separate bouldering sections so there is something for everyone. We came back later in the trip and had another great visit. Hard to imagine coming back to the island and not spending time at Aloha Rock. (Also, there is a coffee truck in the back that has the best coffee on the island. Seriously, don't miss it!)

Aloha Rock Gym is such a welcome addition to Maui, and our first visit during their grand opening…read moreevent was so much fun. From the moment we got there, the energy was upbeat and inviting. One of the owners personally greeted us--a kind and friendly gentleman who took the time to introduce the space and give us a helpful rundown of how everything works. It set the tone for what turned out to be a really fun, memorable experience and honestly every staff member we encountered was warm, helpful, and friendly too. A quick tip: *everyone* needs to sign a waiver before entering the gym (even if you're just a bystander), so I'd recommend completing it online ahead of time to save yourself a bit of time when you arrive. Even during the busy grand opening, the gym felt surprisingly spacious. The building is large, open, and thoughtfully designed to accommodate a lot of people without feeling claustrophobic. There are climbing "problems" (routes) for all skill levels and a good variety for a wide range of ages. We had such a great time moving between the different walls and testing new problems. Staff and volunteers were readily available to belay, which allowed us to try the rock climbing routes safely. We used to rock climb at the surf shop in Kahului many, MANY years ago and I'm so glad there's a place to climb again. My son had a blast too. Watching him try something new and gain confidence with each attempt was so fun! We returned a few weeks later and ended up spending hours just bouldering. If you want to belay independently, you'll need to get certified. They offer short classes throughout the day for a small fee, or you can test out if you're already familiar with proper technique and safety protocols. That's definitely on my list for next time. Unfortunately they did away with their fist time kamaaina deal, so it's quite a bit pricey ($39 for a kamaaina day pass)--especially for larger families--and can be cost-prohibitive. However, you can spend hours climbing, even a full day, so it feels "worth it" as I easily spend that amount of money at the arcade in less than an hour. I do hope to see more kamaaina/family friendly deals in the future like they did for Valentine's Day. If you're looking to maximize value without committing to a full membership, the 1 week unlimited pass ($60) is the way to go as you can use it multiple times. All in all, I highly recommend Aloha Rock Gym. It's such a fun, active option to have here on Maui. We'll definitely be back again and again.

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Gym gear
Gym gear
My brother and i with some of the great people that built this rock
My brother and i with some of the great people that built this rock
Not sure how high up this goes but looked pretty high

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Not sure how high up this goes but looked pretty high

Kapilau Ridge Trail - hiking - Updated June 2026

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