UPCOUNTRY - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 355

To reach the Skyline Drive trailhead, turn left at the fork that leads down to the camp-
ground from the main dirt road. From here the road keeps climbing and begins to double
back toward the north, along the way passing the trailhead for the 1.8-mile Mamane
Trail. Eventually you'll reach a locked gate at an area known as The Ballpark; from this
7,000-foot elevation it's a 3,000-foot vertical switchback to the summit. Pack plenty of
water and warm clothing and be aware of the challenges of hiking at altitude.
Makawao
While much of the land behind Makawao is either privately owned ranchland or part of the
state watershed system, two well-maintained trails provide Makawao hikers with a couple
of options for getting back into the forest.
In the heart of the Makawao Forest Reserve, the Kahakapao Loop Trail is popular
with hikers, bikers, and families taking their dogs for a walk. This 5.7-mile loop trail
climbs its way through the sweet smell of eucalyptus, Cook pines, tropical ash, and a hand-
ful of other native plant species in the cool air at 3,000 feet, and you would expect to find
a trail like this is New England or Oregon, but not in Maui. This trail is a favorite of Up-
country locals.
To reach the trailhead from Makawao, follow Makawao Avenue toward Ha'iku for 0.3
mile before making a right on Pi'iholo Road. After 1.5 miles (just past the Pi'iholo zipline
tours) take a left where the road forks and follow it for 0.5 miles. Here you'll make a right
onto Kahakapao Road and drive 1.5 miles on a narrow uphill until you reach a metal gate
which is open 7am-7pm. From the gate, a steep asphalt road continues for another 0.5 mile
until it reaches a gravel parking lot in front of the trailhead. As this is a multiuse trail net-
work, keep an eye out for bikers.
POLIPOLI: THE LAST FRONTIER
While no official visitor statistics are kept, there's a good chance that Polipoli
Spring State Recreation Area is the least visited corner of Maui. Even a place as
desolate as Kaupo sees more people on a daily basis than the forested trails and bar-
ren slopes of Haleakala's southwestern flank. High above the protea farms, the lav-
ender farm, the disc golf course, and even the paragliding school, the area known as
Polipoli exists almost as an afterthought; so far removed from the rest of the island
most visitors don't even know it's there.