![]() Year-round, seabirds soar overhead and sailboats, kayakers and SUPers float by on sparkling waters. Dreamy vistas of neighboring islands, Lanai and Molokai, float on the horizon across wide channels of blue Pacific water. On Maui, it’s the makai or seaside that captivates most travelers, many of whom come to walk or run the island’s myriad coastal paths.įrom the wave-kissed sandy shores of south and west Maui to the windy, surf-slammed shorelines of the northwest and north shores, Maui is a paradise for strollers. In ancient times, they formed the natural boundaries of royal land divisions. In Hawaii, the mountains and sea are worshipped as sacred gifts of nature. Swimming is extremely risky due to very strong and dangerous currents.Īccess to this protected area is not free, but it’s eminently reasonable (and less than a mai tai): Parking reservations are $10, entrance to the park is $5 - find details at /dsp/parks/kauai/haena-state-park - and shuttle service ($25-$35) from Hanalei town to Haena State Park has resumed, if you’d like to let someone else do the driving. Start from Ke’e Beach in Haena State Park and follow the moderately challenging route along steep, densely vegetated cliffs to pristine Hanakapiai Beach. On Kauai’s North Shore, a very popular coastal hike is the first two miles of the famous Kalalau backpackers’ trail along the rugged Na Pali coast. In Kauai, the Maha’ulepu Coastal Heritage Trail meanders atop the Makawehi cliffs before descending toMahaulepu Beach, seen here. In Poipu, on Kauai’s south shore, my favorite coastal walk is the Maha’ulepu Coastal Heritage Trail, which starts at a trailhead at Shipwreck Beach fronting the Grand Hyatt Kauai on Keoneloa Bay. Some are paved, some are dirt, some are a bit of both - but all are guaranteed to dole out a memorable dose of scenery and a dash of adventure. So I’ve spent most of my recent visits to Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii Island scouting out some of the best paths to follow on foot or two wheels. There’s no denying that a trip to the tropics costs a pretty penny, but Hawaii is filled with amazing coastal paths and trails, special spots where you can revel in the beauty of the ocean and the coast, where the mauka (land) meets the makai (sea) - and it’s nearly all free. The Ke Ala Hele Makalae path on Kauai’s Coconut Coast stretches from Kapa’a town to secluded Paliku Beach (aka Donkey Beach), eight miles to the north. As the Hawaiians say, this ride was “no ka oi”, simply the best. Seabirds cruised the shore and steady trade winds provided us with welcome cooling.Īfter a couple of hours of leisurely riding, Insta-worthy photo stops and a picnic on the beach, a tropical sunset painted the sky of our return ride. Here and there, silky smooth patches of sand appeared, and wider beaches, like swimmable Kealia Beach, offered reason to pause, hydrate and take it all in. Soon we were on the outskirts of town, away from the busy main road on a wide ocean side path, enjoying the sheer beauty of the shimmering water, Pacific views and surf crashing against a rugged volcanic shoreline. Mounting our clunky three-speed beach cruisers, we started our ride by winding through the backstreets of Kapa’a, cruising past small shops, pocket parks, food trucks and a kaleidoscope of small town scenery. Our hotel, the splendid, centrally-located Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa’a, provided our bikes free of charge and even packed a backpack - a cooler bag - with a picnic and cold drinks to bring along on our shoreline ride. It was a warm, sunny afternoon on Kauai’s Coconut Coast when my daughter and I set out on a leisurely bike ride on the Ke Ala Hele Makalae path from Kapa’a town to secluded Paliku Beach (aka Donkey Beach), eight miles to the north. ![]()
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