The Hulopo'e - Huawai Fisherman's Trail starts right at the west end of Hulopo'e Beach Park in…read morefront of the Four Seasons Lana'i. It's rocky at times but the trail is well marked and it's a very nice scenic hike overall. You will pass through Huawai Bay, some blowholes, and a historic site. At some points, you can even get a distant view of Pu'u Pehe (Sweetheart Rock). It's about 2 miles in each direction and the end takes you to one of the local golf courses and parking areas. I did not retrace my steps on the same trail, but ended up walking on Hulopo'e Road which runs parallel to the trail and coast. Best to wear closed-toe hiking shoes because of the aforementioned rough conditions of the trail.

Fisherman's Trail/Kapihaa Trail Hike (Hulopoe - Huawai Fisherman's Trail):…read more Trail begins west of the Four Seasons Manele Bay, passed oceanfront massage cabanas. You go through cool blowholes and historical sites. I like this trail but no shades. We did this twice while we stayed on the island. We did not go all the way due to overheat.

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.

We tackled the Mahana Ridge Trail on a warm, humid morning, starting just above D.T. Fleming Beach…read more At first, the trail seemed approachable--lush trees, a slight incline, sounds of birds--but that calm quickly gave way to a true backcountry challenge. As we climbed, the path became narrower, steeper, and in some sections, so overgrown we were basically bushwhacking. Mud clung to our sneakers, spiderwebs greeted our faces, and parts of the trail felt like they hadn't seen a hiker in weeks. It was tough, but also strangely meditative. There's a real sense of solitude out there--just you, the forest, and whatever's rustling in the leaves nearby. The terrain shifted constantly. We moved through wild guava trees, thick ferns, and eventually into a grove of towering Cook pines. Reaching the Maunalei Arboretum felt like arriving in a different world. Some of the trees had roots taller than we were, and there were entire stretches of ground that felt like walking on a trampoline--just a thin mesh of tight, spongy roots stretched across the forest floor. It was one of the most unique environments we've ever hiked through. Now, full honesty: after hours on the trail, we were wiped--and the thought of retracing our steps all the way back down didn't exactly spark joy. So, we took a little shortcut: a road that winds down through a private neighborhood. It saved time, saved our legs, and got us to the beach that much faster. No regrets. If you're planning to hike Mahana Ridge, start early--you'll want to beat the heat and make the most of daylight. Sneakers worked fine for us, even with the muddy sections, though expect them to get dirty. Long sleeves and pants are smart for protecting against the overgrowth, and downloading a trail map ahead of time is a must, since you'll lose signal and some junctions aren't clearly marked. Be ready for a workout--this isn't a casual stroll, but a full-on forest adventure. Mahana Ridge was challenging, sweaty, and at times borderline ridiculous--but also unforgettable. It's not the kind of hike where the payoff is one big view at the end. It's the kind where the journey is the reward: the silence, the wild terrain, the spongy roots, and the occasional thrill of wondering, "Are we still on the trail?" And finding out... no you are not.

Finally had the chance to do Mahana Ridge Trail over on West Maui earlier in July 2024 and it is…read moredefinitely a nice scenic hike, though not too difficult at the same time. Much of it is in the shade, which does help but still best to try to start early in the day, as it can get really hot later on. There were other hikers on the trail, so it did not feel too lonely. The trailhead is at D.T. Fleming Beach, and you will want to park in the designated parking lot but will have to pay for an all-day pass through scanning a QR code or going to the stated website on the signs. There are points where you can see Kapalua and the golf courses as well as other parts of the West Maui Mountains. The stretch with the guava trees can be a bit treacherous at times because of the muddy conditions and all the berries that have fallen on the ground. Some of the signage is hard to read or follow at times. I got up to the loop point where you can clearly see Napili, Kapalua as well as the West Maui Mountains, Lana'i, and Moloka'i in the distance. Then turned around at that point, and the hike took about 4-1/2 hours roundtrip.

This lovely trail to a cross and beyond is shaded most of the way and feels very wild with dense…read morevegetation including huge agave century plants. It does get slippery when wet and is very steep in many places, and quite close to shear cliff drop offs, so good boots are most helpful. Due to daily rains, it was a bit muddy but we were fine with boots on and did make it to the boundary fence which is about 10 minutes past the cross. There is limited parking and watch out for afternoon rains.

Also called St Anthony Cross Hike. Great shaded cardio hike to get your heart pumping…read more Easy assessability in Central Maui. Safe parking. Good trail conditions, unless wet. Beautiful ocean, valley, harbor, airport and mountain views. 2.5 miles RT to the very top at the West Maui Watershed fence. Bring at least 1 liter of drinking water.

Somewhat off the radar refuge owned and managed by the Hawai'i Land Trust, with a 3-mile loop trail…read morethat's mostly wide and flat, good for those looking for a relaxing , non-strenuous hike. There's a beautiful shoreline with some sand and abundant rocks and driftwood, and a few picnic tables in an adjacent grassy area. Not really a place for swimming. It's free, including parking, and easy to get to but the (short) access road off the street is gravel and the parking area is unpaved. Be sure not to leave valuables in your vehicle--always good practice on Maui. The trail is mostly open, so a hat and sunscreen are strongly advised. Bugs (sand flies and gnats mostly) can be an issue on parts of the trail and bug spray or a headnet would be helpful. There are a few cultural sites along the trail, with informative signs. In addition, there are several abandoned old houses and a former dairy....a few cows are still around. The Land Trust runs a volunteer program for cleanup and native plant restoration, and has a few videos on their site that are worth checking out: https://www.hilt.org/waihee

What a treasure this coastal reserve on Maui is. For my first time here I was part of a volunteer…read moregroup where we got to learn some of the history and some of the current activities. My group got to learn the cultural practice of cordage making with the native sedge species. Other groups participated in moving rocks for the fish pond, or hiking along the coastal trail. I definitely need another trip back here to do some more exploring. It's open to the public for no charge, and they encourage volunteers on Fridays and Saturdays I believe. Check their website for more information. This is a historically significant part of Maui and Hawaii, and therefore it's being preserved and somewhat restored. They can use more help because funding is getting harder due to... you know what.

A stroll on the boardwalk. And access to the water at 3…read morepoints. Some bird life. Overcast and windy day.

We stopped by the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on a rainy day. The visitor's center was…read morevery interesting, and had nice clean bathrooms. The Friends of the pond organization had reasonably priced gifts, such as magnets and t-shirts. We drove from the visitor's center over to the ponds, but we could have walked. There were a lot of Black-necked stilts (AKA Hawaiian Stilt) and a few other birds, but not many due to the weather. We returned the next day under better weather, first stopping at the Kealia Bird Sanctuary board walk. Again, not many birds, but it was a nice visit. The boardwalk has a couple of spots where you are invited to take a picture from a phone holder and then submit it via email. You will then get a link to a page of time-lapsed photos taken by visitors over the years. It was interesting to see the ebb and flow of the ponds. All in all, a very nice stop with friendly staff at the center.

There's a very safe walking trail from the Four Seasons Lana'i resort, and you'll find lovely…read moremanicured landscaping and happy grounds maintenance personnel. On an early morning walk from our ocean view room, it was a quick and easy path to watch the sun rise. Did I already say safe? Truly, there was nothing to worry about on this beautiful and peaceful walk. The sand is clean and soft. This is great for walking barefoot and feeling the sea shore. There's zero sign of litter, thankfully beach goers here are responsible for what they bring. The ocean itself is rough at this beach. The waves were crashing on near-shore reefs. Perhaps the early morning, but no one was in the ocean nor on the beach. In a convenient location nearby, an outdoor shower is available to rinse off. To the Beach Park personnel, big Mahalo for all you do to keep this clean and safe. It made a memorable morning even more serene :)

When we arrived at Lanai today, we went straight to this beach for some lounging and snorkeling…read more Lots of fish if you swim out beyond the waves. Similar fish to the ones we saw at Molokini but the water here is not as clear as that of Molokini. Picnic tables around, a public bathroom and bbq pits available too. Overall clean and enough shade under some large trees. You can also see the Four Seasons off in the near distance.

Wow, such an amazing, wonderful, peaceful and beautiful place to visit in Lana'i, and you will feel…read morelike you are on some kind of martian land. Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods) is literally a big rock garden with red dirt and boulders of various sizes. Plus, you can see Moloka'i and Maui in the distance. There is no particular walking path but don't be disrespectful and move rocks around or pile them on top of each other because it is a sacred place. Don't know what happened to the original "Garden of the Gods" stone at the entrance that I have seen on videos and other users' images in the past, but it seems to me that it has since been replaced with a smaller metal sign. Garden of the Gods and all the other attractions along this rocky dirt road are only accessible with a 4-wheel drive (Jeep). I would love to come back to see this incredible location in the near future.

Keahiakawelo, on the island of Lanai, is also known as the Garden of the Gods…read more The beautiful area reminds me of what it must be like to be on Mars. You drive on some serious 4x4 rugged dirt roads to reach it and when you do it's like being transported to another planet. There is red dirt and random boulders everywhere! The area is easily accessible, and there is no climbing or difficult paths. Anyone can go experience the beauty! You get amazing views of several other Hawaiian islands such as Maui and Molokai. You can see the beauty of the Pacific Ocean all around you. The boulders gleam in the morning and evening sunlight and you get some beautiful different iridescent colors. We used a private guide to get there and we were glad we did. Our hotel arranged it for us and we spent a short but perfect amount of time at the Garden of the Gods. I appreciated how the area was so clean and pristine. You can keep traveling farther on the same road and I'm not sure where that leads. When we were there, there was a lot of Vog (volcanic smog) coming from the big island. Because of the vog, we weren't able to see as far as others may be able to on a clear day. We could still see two of the islands. Our guide said on a really clear day you can see Oahu. One Island legend tells us that the rocks and boulders were dropped from the sky by the gods tending their gardens. Another ancient tale explains that the rocks house the spirits of ancient Hawaiian warriors. And still another legend says that the gods enjoyed creating art, and this spot on the island is where they made their favorite sculptures. They created powerful winds to literally sculpt each rock formation (perhaps explaining why there is no vegetation in the Garden of the Gods). This site is located about 7 miles outside of Lanai City. The dirt road is well marked but only a 4-wheel drive vehicle can manage the rutted and rugged trail. If there has been any recent rains, the road if may be closed and unsafe for driving. This road leads all the way to Ka'ena Point and Polihua Beach.