UPCOUNTRY - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 389

For those who plan on backpacking with a tent, two wilderness campsites are located
at Holua (elevation: 6,940 ft.) and Paliku (6,380 ft) campgrounds. Anyone planning on
spending a night in the backcountry needs to secure a permit from the park headquarters,
which is free, but requires that you watch an 8-minute orientation video and pick up the
permit before 3pm. Pit toilets and non-potable water are available at both campsites, and
although the sites are officially first-come, first-served, they can accommodate 25 people
and are rarely full. Maximum length of stay is three nights total in a 30-day period, and no
more than two nights in a row at the same site. Holua is accessible by a 3.7-mile hike down
Halemau'u Trail and is set amid subalpine scrub brush looking over the Ko'olau Gap. Pa-
liku, on the other hand, requires a 9.2-mile hike on Sliding Sands Trail (or a 10.3-mile hike
on Halemau'u Trail), and is wet, lush, and surrounded by foliage. In addition to being a
great place to spot nene, Paliku is also the preferred camping area for hikers opting to walk
out the Kaupo Gap.
There are three backcountry cabins available at Holua, Kapalaoa (elevation: 7,250 ft.),
and Paliku, although due to their popularity securing a reservation can be a little difficult.
Cabin reservations can only be made up to 90 days in advance either by calling the park
headquarters at 808/572-4400, or online at https://fhnp.org/wcr . Local people are usually
waiting on the 91st day to secure the reservation first thing in the morning, so if this is
something you want to include on your Maui trip, plan ahead and be flexible. If you man-
age to reserve a cabin, however, the cost is $75/night and includes 12 padded berths, a
wood-burning stove, and basic kitchen utilities. Pit toilets and non-potable water are avail-
able, and all trash must be packed out.
TOURS
If you still think that pineapples grow underground or on a tree, then you will learn
a lot by going out on the Maui Pineapple Tour (875 Hali'imaile Rd., 808/665-5491,
www.mauipineappletours.com , tours 9:30am and 11:45am Mon.-Fri.). Not only do you get
a free pineapple with every tour, but you also learn all about the current state of an agri-
cultural industry fighting to stay alive. Find out about all the other uses of pineapple you
never knew about such as pineapple jam, pineapple lemonade, and even pineapple wine.
Tours run $65/person or $75/person if you include lunch. Seeing as the food is from the
acclaimed Hali'imaile General Store, the extra $10 charge is a good deal.
For a private tour guide who delivers a cultural connection to the island, check with
Pono of Open Eye Private Tours (808/572-3483, www.openeyetours.com ) . He has been
a private tour guide on Maui since 1983, and communicates with the clients before the tour