Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
south end of Kamaole III by going along the shoreline and around the rocky points. Al-
though it's always nice to feel the sand between your toes, the rocks around the headlands
can be sharp, so if you have sensitive feet, it might be best to bring footwear.
If you want to extend the coastal walk just a little bit farther, there is a short, 0.5-mile
walking path
that parallels the coastline from the southern end of Kamaole III Beach and
finishes at the Kihei Boat Ramp. Along the way you will pass signs educating you about
the coastal dune system and the
u'au kani
seabirds that come to shore to nest in the dunes.
There are a few benches sprinkled along the walking path that make either a good resting
point or, in winter, a place to sit down and watch for whales.
Wailea
WAILEA COASTAL WALK
If your idea of a hike means throwing on some Lululemon, talking on your iPhone, and
stopping to pick up some Starbucks, then the
Wailea Coastal Walk
is going to be your fa-
vorite hike on the island. Although you have a better chance of seeing a celebrity along the
trail than any form of wildlife (although an axis deer was recently rescued from the water
by an outrigger canoe tour), this paved pathway that runs from Ulua Beach to Polo Beach
is undeniably gorgeous. The round-trip walk covers a distance of 3.5 miles, and along the
way you'll pass a host of native coastal plants which have been put in in an effort to re-
vitalize the area's natural foliage. You'll also pass the Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, Kea
Lani, Marriott, and Wailea Beach Villas. To reach the “trailhead” for the walkway, you can
either park in the public lot at Ulua Beach (at the bottom of Ulua Beach Road) or in the
public lot on the southern end of the trail at Polo Beach (at the bottom of Kaukahi Street).
Makena and Beyond
MM
HOAPILI TRAIL
Anyone who heads out on the
Hoapili Trail
will realize right away that this isn't your
average hike. Hot and barren and set in the middle of nowhere, the Hoapili Trail isn't as
much about hiking as it is about taking a literal step back in time. Although walking the full
length of the 5.5-mile trail (round-trip) takes most visitors about four hours, even spending
an hour on the coastal section introduces you to a side of the island most visitors never see.
During the reign of respected King Pi'ilani in the 1600s, a walking path was construc-
ted to encircle the entire island. It was reserved for the use of royalty. In the two centuries
following his death, however, much of the trail fell into disrepair. In 1824, Governor Hoap-
ili, trusted advisor of King Kamehameha, ordered sections of the trail reconstructed. Using
laborers who had been found guilty of adultery under newly adopted Christian laws, rocks
