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Hiking Into Nature

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Wandering through bird filled pine forests to a tropical rainforest with waterfalls or a barren moon like crater there are so many landscapes to enjoy.

On Maui is one of the first frisbee golf courses in the state and possibly the country.  For those who are not quite sure about what that exactly is here is a bit of a brief.   This sport is where you go from tee to tee using a frisbee instead of a golfball.  The terrain is not well groomed like a golf course but it’s completely unspoiled nature.  You need to spin that frisbee around tree trunks over high grasses and across gullies.  If you get off the course the hike to get your disc back may take you a good bit of time but it’s always fun.  This course is set high up on the slopes of Haleakala just below the tree line.  You will wander through meadows and bush collecting your discs as you miss throw them or if they bounce off trees.  Bring a picnic and bring the family as kids will love wandering through this forest on a treasure hunt for the discs you are bound to loose or mis-throw.

Check out our little pice on hiking up Iao Valley.  It’s a great place to spend a morning and if you are quite adventurous you can continue up over the pass.  This route brings you out in south Maui above Lahaina.  Expect to spend a good 8 to 10 hours doing this hike.  Although it is not that long, it’s quite trek as the paths are overgrown and the terrain is very steep.  You will be doing some mountain climbing so be prepared for that.

One of the favorites for any serious hiker is the trails coming down the slopes of Haleakala.  There are many different routes depending on your skill level and time.  Starting at the top of the mountain the most spectacular hike is down through the crater and out the Kaupo Gap.  This takes only a couple days if you are quick.  The weather really changes often in Hawaii so be prepared for anything.  Being exposed in the crater on a wet windy days is never that much fun.   The other option through the crater is heading north and venturing down into Keanae but that is not as popular.   Many day hikers skip choose to follow the trails down the “front sides” towards Wailea or Haiku.   In all cases for a good portion of the hikes you will still be above the tree line.

Still in the National park but on the Hana side of the island is a wonderful short hike up the Oheo Gulch.  Following the creek that feeds the Seven Pools (Seven Sacred Pools) will take you past 200′ plus waterfalls, banyan trees and through the dark bamboo forest.  It takes only a few hours to go right to the top but it is well worth it.  Many people believe that if you hike down from the crater you can come out here but scaling down the 400′ waterfall at the end of this trail is not advised.

There are many Maui activities and tours related to hiking.  Many of the hiking turs from Kaanapali take you around the west Maui mountains.  There are very few tourists who venture out that way so it’s perfect for tour companies to provide services out to them.  You rarely meet anyone and the land is unspoiled, as far as Maui goes.

Check out some of the other sites to get more in-depth hiking spots as there are hundreds.  Wander along the Kings trail in Makena, adventure into Polipoli springs in Kula or find some of the ancient rock art above Lahaina.  The big thing now is to hike up through the forest and Zipline down.  It’s fun for most of the family and there are a few locations to do that particular activity on Maui but they are booked weeks ahead so plan early.  There are many hiking books in the local stores that can give you pinpoint directions of where to go, where to park and the difficulty rating of each of the hikes.  There is something for everyone.

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Road to Hana

If you love to do day hikes then Maui is the place for you.  One of the most popular and mostly free Maui activities is hiking.  You wouldn’t believe the spectacular and This is by far the best thing to do in Maui.  It’s an exciting day filled with all sorts of classic Maui activities and sights.  Checking out the huge waterfalls, the rugged coast, the rainforest, the colorful flowers, the small villages as well as taking a dip at a classic swimming spot enjoyed for many thousands of years by the Hawaiians.  This is a day you will not forget and will want to do more then once.

The route takes you from Kahului through little towns of Maui’s Northern coast.   Many tours stop in towns like Paia but the folks at Valley Isle Excursions believe that you should spend a bit more time there.  They wet your appetite to come back and see that one.   It’s a great spot to catch a pizza at Flatbread.  They use local and organic ingredients in their creations.  The specials are always very tasty.

The Road to Hana tour from there becomes a tropical wilderness as the road winds through hundreds of gullies over tens of bridges and past waterfalls of various sizes.   Since there is so much to see and experience they stop at only the best or most convenient places along the trip.  There are times when you would want to stop to check out a specific place but trust the guides they will take you to the best spots.

Some of the main stops on a Road to Hana Tour by Valley Isle Excursions are:

  • Maui Waterfalls

    • There are hundreds of waterfalls along this part of Maui.  Depending on the amount of rain over the past couple days they will be either gushing, torrent of water or barely a trickle.  There are trade-offs in dealing with the rain on this side of the island.  So if you get a nice clear sunny day, you can see a long way up the coasts but the waterfalls will be smaller.

  • Keanae Peninsula

    • This area is beautiful with it’s rugged coastline.  This is the most exposed point on the north coast of Maui.  It has been subject to a tsunami almost 50 years ago as it’s only a few feet above the ocean.   There are no sandy beaches here as this is a result of a lava flow many, many years ago.  It has been made habitable by Hawaiian’s years ago through the hard work of transporting good soils down here to create taro fields.

  • Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach

    • The black sand beach and blowhole at Waianapanapa state park are just two of the features to see.  There are caves, graves and a wide variety of plants to see.  Take your time and enjoy this beautiful spot where the blackness of the rocks, the green of the plants and the blue of the ocean contrast with such stark colors that you wonder if your are really seeing it.

  • Wailua Falls

    • This beautiful waterfall just past Hana is just off the road.  You can enjoy the view and the mist by standing on the bridge.  You won’t find this scene anywhere else in Hawaii or the world.

  • Hana Town Sightseeing

    • The town of Hana is quite small and there are a few places of note, like the bay and the hotel.  This sleepy little village is home to many celebrities and hawaiians for many years as this is one of the best examples of a relatively untouched Hawaiian lifestyle.

  • Hana Ranchlands

    • The Hana ranch is huge and is spread over many thousands of acres.  The road cuts through this ranch at many stages and is quite a change from the dense rainforest earlier on in the journey.

  • Charles Lindbergh’s Memorial at Pala Pala Hoo mau Church

    • This classic american hero, the man who flew across the atlantic non-stop and alone first is buried here.  Hana was his home and he loved this place more then anywhere else in the world.  By the time you reach here you will understand why he never wanted to leave.

  • Swimming at the Pools of Oheo at Haleakala National Park

    • Few tour companies are allowed to stop in the park.  This is by far one of the best stops in Hana.  The Seven Sacred Pools are here, examples of Hawaiian architecture.  Huge waterfalls, bamboo forests and amazing plant life are found in the park.  Stopping here can rejuvenate you for the rest of the journey back around Haleakala as you make your way from Hana.

  • Surfing Overlook at Hookipa Park

    • This park is a stop just after Paia.  It’s a place where the worlds best windsurfers come to compete and practice.  Their colorful sails dot the ocean doing jumps and flips over the waves.  If you look carefully right below the cliffs you might see many of the turtles bobbing in the water feeding off of the seaweed that dot the coral reef just a few feet below the surface.

  • Tedeschi Winery

    • The winery is the last major stop on the Road to Hana Tour.  After a day of exploring and sightseeing, enjoying a sweet glass of pineapple wine will make you feel very good.  Grab a bottle to enjoy later with your meal.  You might want to get a few.  The grounds are beautiful and have lots of history so be sure to check out their little museum attached to the wine tasting room.

 

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Zip Lining’s Growing Popularity

Zip lining is the next big thing to do all over the world.  Zip lines are going up quickly throughout Hawaii.  Here on Maui we have at least three operational zip lines.  One up Crater road going up to the summit of Haleakala, one down near Makawao and another in West Maui.  It’s an amazing experience whipping over the tops of the trees like a low flying bird.  Going from platform to platform on your way back down the mountain.

The journey is something like this.  You hike up a mountain and then attach yourself to a wire take you back down.  With safety in mind and a comfortable, fast ride.  There is specialized seat harnesses that you sit in and a helmet too incase you bump your head on something.

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Hiking To A Waterfall

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 Hiking is another one of the best things to do in Maui.  It is always part of a top ten wherever we go in the world.  There is so much to see and do that you need to hike to that you should always enjoy the journey to it.  

Some of our favorite hikes on Maui can be quite long but we will go through some of the shorter ones as that is what appeals to most people.  Those looking to go on longer hikes they already know quite a bit about the area and have been planning it for a long time.  A long hike on Maui is one that takes you down from the summit of Haleakala and can take up to 2 days at least.

The short hikes we like to feature include a tramp up Oheo Gulch to the 400 foot waterfalls at the end of the trail.   The rock hopping good time up Iao Valley stream, lots of nude sunbathing happening here on nice days so be mindful of that.   The walks up to see the Hawaiian petroglyphs are always a nice challenge.   A walk through the bamboo forest is kind of boring after a while.   Going up to Polipoli hot springs takes a long time to get to and is often very foggy as it sits in the clouds most afternoons.  Going above Kula to the frisbee golf course is always a nice afternoon.  A trip along the coast following the kings trail through the lava fields is also nice when you have already hit the other places.

 

Hiking up a gulch to a waterfall is one of the most spiritual things you can do.  The sound of falling water gives the listener a bit of the energy that is generated by that falling water.  Some of the water is falling from heights over 400′ so it’s generating a bit of speed and force.  Even a little bit of water can sting from that height.  Be careful when standing under a waterfall because it’s not just water but stones and wood as well, especially if it’s raining further up the gulch.

Some of our most favorite hikes to waterfalls are around Maui’s backside.  This is the Kipahulu area and Oheo Gulch.  Way out there where there is a lot fewer people, you can enjoy a moment at a waterfall in peace and tranquility.   There are many waterfalls along Oheo Gulch to hike to depending on your time.  If you have plenty of time then I suggest going all the way up to the end but before you reach the end, there is a side stream.  Follow the path less travelled to the Queen’s bath which is a bit nicer I think.

Also along the backside of Maui a few miles down the road from Oheo Gulch are a number of unmarked gulches with steady streams.  Go up any of these and you will find some great spots to kick back and relax by a pool in a beautiful setting.

 

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