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.

On Monday took my wife to Iao Valley state Monument park. Luckily I did on an over cast day because…read morewe seen beautiful water falls . The river down below was very strong and rough I've been here while it was a sunny day and you can actually go down to the river bed . What a sacred place you just feel the power of ancient Hawaiian soldiers fighting in this Valley . When I was a kid that mountain peak called a Iao needle used to have a little hole on top of that peak . Just like a needle point where you thread it through the needle hole. Very relaxing Valley away from all the stress in life which I really need . Support local

Iao Valley sits in Central-West Maui and covers a large area as a state park. We drove here from…read moreHonokōwai Beach Park on the west side. The GPS routed us down and then back north. Although it looks like a detour, it makes sense. The northern road is extremely narrow (at points only one car can pass), winding, and very slow. If you can avoid that route, definitely do. **Reservations Required You need to book online in advance. **Admission: $5 per person + $10 parking. For 2 people we paid $21.53 total. **Earliest entry is 7am. Parking is limited, so reserve an early slot if possible. They ask you to arrive about 30 minutes before your scheduled entry. **No cellphone reception once you head up the mountain. Cell service and even car radio cut out completely. Best to download maps or take screenshots beforehand. **Bring a power bank; we eventually just switched cellphones to airplane mode to save battery. In early December, mornings are a little cool, but once the sun comes up it gets really hot. Bring sunscreen, a light jacket, water, and hiking shoes. The trail is short (about 0.6 miles), but the ground is muddy and rocky, with some narrow paths brushing up against plants. If you don't like contact with tall grass, long sleeves help. It feels a bit like walking through a botanical garden. The highlight is Kuka'emoku (the "Iao Needle"), a 1,200-foot natural rock formation rising from the valley floor. We took our time, stopping often for photos and to enjoy the scenery, so the whole walk ended up taking us around 3 hours. Iao Valley State Monument 54 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793

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.

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

I wasn't sure what to expect. Michael was a priceless guide to the natural world and he is a great…read morehost and calming presence. I was worried it would be hot, but I was never hot or cold because there's shade and swimming. The hike was pretty challenging due to uneven terrain, mud, loose rocks, and creek crossing but easy in terms of distance and pace. This was the highlight of my trip.

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.

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

This was a pleasant park to walk around since we did not have reservations at another nearby state…read moremonument. Picnic facilities, well tended gardens, notable statues and structures honoring Asian groups that reside on Maui, and koi ponds. We also saw chickens, a turtle, and a pig. Beautiful views available free of charge.

Right along Wailuku Stream, this park was created to honor Maui's multicultural immigrant history…read more Inside you'll find architecture inspired by early Hawaiian homes, a New England saltbox, a Portuguese villa with gardens, plus courtyards reflecting Chinese, Japanese, and Korean traditions. The park's name dates back to the 1790 Battle of Kepaniwai, when Kamehameha I fought against Maui's King Kahekili. Though the site was once left in ruins, today it's a peaceful park. Locals come here to grill (you can bring your own meat and charcoal) and cool off in the stream. The park itself isn't very large. At the entrance you'll spot the "天下為公" arch, and inside the Chinese garden there's a bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Displays highlight his connections to Honolulu and Maui, as well as the early Chinese immigrants who came to Hawaii in the 18th century. (Some of the info boards even gave me a little more perspective on how Sun Yat-sen was able to fund and recover from his failed revolutions.) It's only a few minutes from Iao Valley State Monument, so it makes a nice quick stop for photos and a walk. But if you're coming just for this park, it might feel a bit underwhelming. Kepaniwai Park & Heritage Gardens 870 Iao Valley Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793 Open 7am-5:30pm

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.

Awesome playground. Proof we can still have nice things to include swings for kids. The playground…read moreis next to Kahului Beach Rd of the park. Great for any age. They had a fenced small toddler area and a large playground for the older kids that also had a ramp to the slide. Not a whole lot of cover from the sun so bring sun screen and water. Tons of kids. Very family friendly.

This is a convenient park right here in Central Maui. I've met so many nice families here. We like…read morethe keiki playground because they have a little kids ages 2-5 playground separated from the bigger kids playground. It's also fenced in but still be aware of your surroundings. It gets pretty hot and crowded too so if you have little, little ones, mornings are the best especially since you're probably up already lol. Check it out!

Ugly park. You wouldn't like it. It is way too crowded lol…read more My baby hates it too and it has the worst view lol I am kidding. Beautiful little park perfect for little picnics and to let the little ones run around for a bit.

Happy Earth Day!…read more This neighborhood park is located in Wailuku Heights (new side), hence the name. It's a small park with limited amenities like picnic tables and "exercise stations," but boasts beautiful ocean views and brisk mountain breezes. I used to live in the neighborhood and used to bring my pups here a lot. Years later, I am happy that they finally put in a new playground for the little ones to enjoy (I recommend for older kids, 4 and up). They've also installed new equipment for visitors to do their exercises. Scan the QR code on the equipment for a video demo of exercises you can do at each station. These exercise areas, including the playground, is surrounded by astroturf which is nice and makes it more manageable. The park is now also ADA accessible as they've built a path down to the playground and through the lower part of the park. I like to bring my little one here because it's quiet, less frequented by people, and honestly the views are just amazing. We've enjoyed a picnic or two here and I can just sit for hours on end enjoying the ocean view

I can't believe I haven't filled out a review for Sugar Beach!…read more This is a hidden gem. Though it's located in a main thoroughfare, not many people stop by here. We've gone to Maui at least a dozen times, and this place is always a go-to for us. There are never many people, and the wake is family-friendly. I would recommend bringing an umbrella because there's not much shade, and it can get pretty hot. There's some parking, but it is probably limited to 20-25 cars (some disabled parking available). Please keep in mind that there are no restrooms. If you're looking for a place to hang out that is not busy, this will most likely be a good experience for you.

We went to this beach on our first day in Maui. It was a very calm and quiet beach however a little…read morewindy. When looking for a location, you can search Sugar Beach events center or 12 South Kihei Rd. The parking lot is limited, you take the sidewalk to the beach access on the left. We chose the location directly behind the Sugar Beach events center in between Palm trees for the best shade. The sand was so soft. It was great to walk along the beach and very minimal people in the water. Our family loved it here that first day!