Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aside from the scenery, what makes the Kapalua Coastal Trail legendary are the vari-
ous environments it passes through. Should you begin at Kapalua Bay, the trail starts as a
paved walkway paralleling the beach and weaves its way through ultra-luxurious residen-
ces. At the top of a short hill the paved walkway reaches a junction by the Kapalua Bay
Villas, where the path suddenly switches to dirt. While signs point to the continuation of
the trail, a spur trail leads straight out toward Hawea Point, a protected reserve home to
the island's largest colony of
u'au kani,
or wedge-tailed shearwaters. The success of the
colony can largely be attributed to the work of local volunteer and fisher, Isao Nakagawa,
who took it upon himself to place traps for the feral rodents and cats that were preying
upon the nests of burrowing shearwaters. Over the course of a decade between 2001 and
2011, Nakagawa was able to increase the number of burrows from a mere handful to over
500, and hikers are asked to stay on the trail during the March-December nesting season.
If you follow the grass trail to the left of the three-way junction, it will connect with the
trail to Namalu Bay—the rocky, Mediterranean cove hidden in the craggy recesses.
Continuing along the main Kapalua Coastal Trail will take you over a short rocky sec-
tion before emerging at a smooth boardwalk along Oneloa Bay. The boardwalk here was
constructed as a means of protecting the sensitive dunes native to Kapalua, and Oneloa
in the mornings is one of the most gloriously empty beaches you'll find on Maui. At the
end of the boardwalk the trail will change into stairs and eventually connect with Lower
Honoapi'ilani Road. From here you will take a left and follow the sidewalk as it connects
with the trail running in front of the Ritz-Carlton before finishing at the water's edge at
D.T. Fleming Beach Park. For a side trip, hike out parallel to the golf course to the point on
the left side of the beach known as Dragon's Teeth, and there is a massive labyrinth where
you can walk in circles and try to make sense of the beauty around you.
VILLAGE WALKING TRAILS
The
village walking trails
are the next most popular hikes in the Kapalua resort area.
Weaving their way up the mountainside through the cool and forested uplands, hikers can
choose from either the 1.25-mile Cardio Loop or the 3.6-mile Lake Loop, an uphill, butt-
burning workout popular with local joggers. More than just a great morning workout, there
are also sections of the trail that offer sweeping views looking out toward Moloka'i and
the area around Honolua Bay. To find the access point for the trails, park in the lot for the
Kapalua Village Center (between Sansei Restaurant and the Kapalua Golf Academy), and
follow a paved cart path winding its way down toward an underpass where you will find
the trailhead for both loops. When walking up here, pay attention to the signs and stick
