Visited: Sept 2023
Nearby town: Hana, HI
Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui contains two distinct areas: (1) the volcano crater at the summit, which was the subject of our last blog post; and (2) the Kipahulu District on the coast.
Here's a link to the post about our trip to the summit:
Today's post will focus on the Kipahulu Valley.
The Kipahulu area is on the southeastern coast of Maui. The highlight of this remote area is to take the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls.
The hike is approximately four miles (round-trip). It was rather rainy for the start of the hike, so make sure to bring appropriate clothes for either rain or shine. The trail is a moderately strenuous uphill climb, but not too bad, and the views are very rewarding.
About halfway to the falls, you'll wander through a serene and mystical bamboo forest
Another highlight along the trail is this huge banyan tree. With its imposing trunk and intricate roots, this tree is an awe of wonder.
ancient Hawaiian structures along the trail. Until about the 1880s, this area of Maui was much more heavily populated than it is today.
end of the Pipiwai Trail and the Waimoku Falls
The visitor center also serves as the trailhead for the short, pleasant Kuloa Point trail along the coast. You can also see the seven sacred pools of Ohe'o Gulch. The trail is only a half-mile long.
the sacred pools of Ohe'o Gulch
Kuloa Point - where the Ohe'o Gulch meets the ocean.
A big part of the adventure and fun of the Kipahulu District is simply getting there. The Kipahulu District is a very remote area and can only be reached via land along the fabulous Hana Highway.
The "road to Hana" is an absolute must-do for any visitor to Maui. Although it's only about 50-miles, its hundreds of hairpin curves and tight corners takes almost 3-hours to traverse (without making any stops along the road ... and you're going to want to stop at least a couple of times to take in the scenery).
Our first stop along the road to Hana was Twin Falls.
Tara took a swim in the pool of Twin Falls.
Our next stop was the Garden of Eden Arboretum.
Take a slight detour off the Hana Highway to go to Keanae Peninsula. Spectacular ocean views and make sure to stop at Aunt Sandy's store - best banana bread I have ever had (hands down).
with hundreds of hairpin curves, tight corners, and one-lane bridges, driving the Hana Highway is not for the faint of heart. Just take it slow, and you'll be fine.
"quit distracting me Tara, I'm trying to drive" 😉
We then went swimming at the black sand beach at Wai'anapanapa State Park. This beach has become very popular in recent years, and visitors are required to purchase a permit online before entering. We found the process to be relatively simple and worry-free. You can purchase an entrance permit on the Hawaii state parks website.
Finally, after 50 long miles, we reached the tranquil town of Hana. This small remote hamlet is true, authentic Hawaii. Hana has a population of about 1,500. It is doable to drive from the resorts of South Maui to Hana/Kipahulu District and back in one day, but we decided to break it up to take in more of the sights and not be so rushed. We stayed the night at the Hyatt Resort in Hana. We spurgled... worth every penny 😁
pool at the hotel
a hearty breakfast
our room for the night
the village of Hana
the view from our room
relaxing after a tough drive
hotel lobby
Another highlight of our trip to Maui was eating at the world famous restaurant Mama's Fish House in the town of Paia. Paia is only a few miles away from the main airport at Kahului. Mama's Fish House lies along Kuau cove, a great spot for surfing and seeing sea turtles.
they make look like rocks at first (but there's approximately a dozen sea turtles in this picture)
ready to eat!
Tara's entree: kanpachi stuffed with crab and lobster
Paul's entree: ahi, mahi-mahi, and uku curry
Mama's Fish House
the dessert was like a work of art 😀
a "Polynesian Black Pearl" (chocolate mousse with passion fruit)
for appetizers: crab cakes
the curry was simply divine
Kuau cove
another shot of the gorgeous dessert
also had to try the octopus
view from our table
octopus for appetizer, caught off the coast that very morning.
I'm not a big fan of octopus, but I wanted to try it. Wow! It was incredible!
Another spot I recommend visiting in Maui is the beautiful 'Iao Needle in the rainforest near the main town of Kahului. This is another spot that has gotten really popular in recent years, and you will need to purchase a parking permit online before visiting. This valley was the site of a great and terrible battle in 1790, as part of Kamehameha's campaign to unite the islands into one kingdom.
Tara in front of the 'Iao Needle
the 1790 battle here was said to be so bloody that the fallen bodies of the deceased became so numerous that they blocked the flow of the 'Iao stream. The battle was called Kepaniwai (meaning "damning of the waters")
'Iao stream
We had an incredible time on the island of Maui (aka "the Valley Isle") Even though our visit was not long after the devastating Lahaina fire in West Maui, the aloha spirit was alive and well. We felt very welcomed and the people we interacted with were very happy that we did not cancel our trip and came to the island. It was an experience that Tara and I will not soon forget. Maui is a very special place. We cannot wait to go back!
A few last pics from Kahului before flying home to Boise.
excellent malasadas (a fried pastry originally from Portugal) at a roadside stand near the airport
Jollibee! Love this place. This was my first time eating at a Jollibee since I lived in the Philippines over 20 years ago. Jollibee is a Filipino fast food staple (somewhat akin to McDonald's)
I got palabok (a rice and noodle dish) and fried chicken. Tara got the spaghetti (she wasn't a fan) 😂 Filipino spaghetti uses a much sweeter sauce than she is used to 😃
For more info on Kipahulu District: https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/kipahulu.htm
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