Maui has a hike for everyone: pick your difficulty level and preferred backdrop. Hike a rocky, isolated stream with giant sunning rocks and thick, mountainside vegetation alongside a needle of a mountain, piercing the sky (Iao Valley). Walk dense groves of sky-scraping Pine Trees rising through a cooling mountain mist, shedding a thick carpet of pine needles (PoliPoli). Or a lava-lined ocean trail with visible remnants of ancient lava walls built by 17th century Hawaiian fishing villagers (La Perouse Bay, Makena). Persevere a rugged mountain trail with a huge payoff at its peak, an overview of a thousand miles of impossibly blue ocean (Waihee Ridge Trail). Slip over the lip of Maui’s highest peak and trek deep to the surface floor of an inactive volcano (Haleakala, Sliding Sands Trail.) Experience a towering bamboo forest that leads to a 400-foot Hawaiian waterfall, quite possibly the best hike on Maui. Then, cool off downstream at Ohe’O Gulch, also known as the “Seven Sacred Pools”. Just 10 miles past Hana, Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls offer breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience.
Options also include outings involving conservation and volunteer maintenance, some sponsored by Maui’s Sierra Club.