Maui No Ka Oi Series - Hiking
Maui No Ka Oi Series – Hiking
By: @alohaimzane
Hiking in Maui is as beautiful as you would imagine. Some hikes showing the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, some leading to breathtaking waterfalls, and some just showing the majesty of Haleakala. In this blog I will be sharing some safety tips, hiking trail tips, and sharing some businesses that can take you on guided hikes while you’re visiting Maui. Just remember, before you leave on your flight, get all the tests you need to avoid quarantining here on maui. Also, make sure you upload everything to the safe travels hawaii website at least the day before your flight.
Here are some suggested hiking essentials that we recommend you have with you on your hikes:
- Good hiking shoes with tread
- Light pants to keep cool or shorts (but beware that you may get scratches from branches)
- Light shirt to keep cool
- Light rain jacket and mosquito repellent (especially if you are going into rainforests or valleys)
- Backpack with enough water, lunch and sunscreen (depending on length and intensity of hike)
- Cell phone
For longer, tougher hikes you may want to also include:
- Work gloves
- Sweater
- First Aid Kit
- Additional water and food
- Flashlight
- Compass
- Map
The first hike we suggest is the Iao Valley Hike (1 mile-ish)
Itʻs a easy hike that is known for its “needle” sharped-ridge, 1,200-foot rock formation (ʻIao Needle), ʻIao Valley’s walking path winds its way up the volcanic hillsides, across a river, and through the jungle, with great valley views and tall, jagged peaks above. The park also has plaques that tell the story of a bloody battle between King Kamehameha and Kalanikupule (maui chief at the time).
Directions: Park in the main lot for ʻIao Valley State Park. Head to the start of the walking path near the main entrance. Go early for the best chance at clear skies, less crowds, and parking.
Our next suggested hike is an intermediate level hike called Waiheʻe Ridge (5 miles-ish).
The Waiheʻe Ridge Trail is only 5 miles in and out and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the ocean and the northwest coast of Maui. The trail seems short, but it can be steep at times, about 1,500 vertical feet. Personally, that first paved hill from the parking lot was the hardest to get though. After that the trail is well traveled and so youʻll be able to make the path out no problem. You’ll go though pastures and forests, see the Makamakaole Falls, and as you reach the top, a picture perfect view of the north shore of maui.
Directions: From Wailuku go onto Kahekili Highway (340), turn up Maluhia Road and go 0.9 miles. A sign on a fence marks the trail head. Follow right-of-way markers through pasture before entering forest.
The last trail is for you expert hikers, itʻs the Sliding Sands Trail (10/11 miles-ish).
This hike is a part of a network of other trails that explore the crater. This 10/11-mile trail is similar to a hike in the Grand Canyon as you will start from the top and hike down, then back up. Most hikers only do the first 3-5 miles, but the trail can go a lot further than that. Youʻll also be hiking down an extinct volcano. So many colors and rock formations can have you forgetting youʻre in Maui.
Directions: The Sliding Sands Trail leaves from the main parking lot at the top of Haleakalā in the summit area of Haleakalā National Park. Park your car, make sure you have everything you need for the hike, lock the doors (donʻt leave valuables in the car), and walk towards the signs saying where the trail starts.
If youʻre wanting a guided hiking tour we do have the perfect activity for you. We can provide you a great deal with @hikemaui. Their East Maui Waterfall and Rainforest hike is an incredible hike that will take you to an amazing valley that boasts some of them most majestic waterfalls ranging from 10 to 40 feet! You’ll get the opportunity to swim, explore the lush green territory and learn about Maui’s vegetation, history and much more, from your naturalist guide!
Maui No Ka Oi - Whale Watching
The Holiday season is in full swing, and what came with it is the majestic Humpback Whales (KOHOLĀ- Hawaiian word for Whale). Now, First off, Whale watching is not a unique thing to maui. You’re able to see them around Greenland, Tonga, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and more. What makes the experience memorable is the aloha spirit you get when you’re on our tours.
Secondly, The Humpback Whales that travel here usually come from the Alaskan coast. They make the 3,500+ mile journey annually to give birth in Hawaii’s deep and warm ocean waters where the underwater visibility is great and the lack of natural predators. We here at MauiActivities.com have your hookup with special priced tours available if you’re in the Lahaina or Kihei area. We have a tour close for you and your family.
The best months to see the majestic Koholā are December through March. During the beginning of December the sightings of the Koholā are few and far between. It’s only because they are still making the 3,500+ mile journey. Usually the first ones to arrive are the younger whales. It’s like going to your first party as a teenager. You tend to show up early because you’re curious, and just excited to be there!
Come Late December, early January, an estimated 12,000 (+/- a few hundred) arrive and you would even be able to see them breaching from shore. Through February you’ll be able to see them as frequently as you see someone with a Starbucks cup (a lot, just in case I am off with that). The season comes to an end around the ending of May. By this time most of the Koholā are on their way back to Alaska to eat up all the shrimp, krill, and more!
Here are a few of the tours we have huge savings for our awesome guest like yourselves:
Our adventure rafts only take 16 passengers maximum, giving everyone a front row view of humpback whales! Avoid crowds and enjoy an eye-level encounter with whales during our tours, perfect for photo ops and underwater go-pro footage! We guarantee whale sightings or you go again for free!
Because we are a small raft, whales are more likely to swim up to us which makes for a once in a life- time close whale encounter! Although they can approach us, whales are protected in Maui so we do not approach them closer than federal regulations allow. Listen to whale songs on our hydrophones and learn whale facts from our Our marine naturalist guides will also share whale facts and other ocean information, making this tour a fun and educational experience with a Marine Naturalist on board during your Maui Whale Watching Tour!
Leave the crowds behind and join a small personal group aboard the quickest vessels in Lahaina Harbor. Our quick and safe vessels allow us to reach remote areas with more wildlife and more time to enjoy what Hawaii has to offer. So climb aboard and enjoy nature’s splendor up close and personal. Our vessels are available for private charters of small groups of family and friends!
You’ve already spent A LOT of money to get to Maui, housing, car rental, and food. Yet you still want to get on a boat and see some whales? We got your hookup with Kaulana Whale watching cruise. If you have kids under the age of 12, you’ll have access to some great savings only found on our website.
A comfortable 70’ double deck boat that will take you on a great trip on the beautiful maui ocean to encounter these gentle giants. The Kaulana is a comfortable boat which will get you quickly to each whale sighting, with an enclosed main cabin and 360 degree views for excellent visibility.
Here are some of the cool things you’ll see the koholā doing either on the boat or on shore:
Tail Throws:
When the whales lift their fluke (tail) out of the water and slap it back into the surface. This is usually a mating ritual the female does to attract the males.
Pectoral Slap:
Another move usually done by the female to attract the males. The pectoral fin will be raised and slapped down like the tail throw.
Breaching:
This move is a spectacular display of the Koholā athletic prowess. They will swim down for a few seconds, only to surface vertically with great speed. Often the Koholā will twist in mid-air and then come crashing down with a huge splash.
Whichever tour you choose, we know you’ll have fun! Feel free to share your photos/videos by tagging us in your posts. You can do so by using @mauiactivities and/or #MauiActivities and we’ll share all your posts on our social media platforms.