Beautiful trail. Easy and enjoyable. Parking is NOT FREE for tourists unless you make it to the DT…read moreFleming beach front parking lot early in the morning. I mean early...we were the first car there around 6:15 am. Lot still wasn't full around 8 when we left. If you're early risers, get up and go early! Everywhere else suggested for parking requires payment. We loved watching the waves crash on the lava rock near the Ritz Carlton. Also loved the bird sanctuary and seeing all their little nests in the ground!

The coastal trail was a fairly easy hike. Most of the trail was either a boardwalk or paved. Don't…read moreforget water and snacks. By the end of the trail we were both tired and hungry. As luck would have it we found a great little stand selling fresh açaí bowls and smoothies. It was perfect! Then the payoff of DT Fleming beach was worth the trek! Highly recommended!

Hands-down, the best hike I have ever went on in my life and I have been on plenty of hikes…read more There's a waterfall somewhere along the way and there are beautiful views of the ocean and beaches all around. Gorgeous is an understatement, but please make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. You will need it. Enjoy!

Beautiful views!! It is a hard climb, but doable if you're in good shape…read more Driving there - Highly recommend driving from the west side. Driving from the east side, there were one-way narrow roads over cliffs. Leaving from the west side was easy-peasy. Parking - Keep an eye out for a red sign that says 'Camp Maluhia'. First lot is overflow, keep driving past gates to main lot where trailhead is located. Hike from overflow parking lot to trailhead is about 1.2 miles each way. Hike incline - First 1/4 mile of asphalt was the steepest. Next mile was incline but not too bad. Last mile was steeper incline. Hike views - If you go on a cloudier sunny day like we did, there were AMAZING views up until the last 0.5 miles. The overlook at the very end was above clouds so we couldn't see anything. Shoes - I don't recommend wearing sandals or flip flops, because it is pretty rocky and steep. No large rock climbing. I got by wearing casual tennis shoes, but running/hiking shoes are best. There were no stream crossings, so no need to worry about feet getting wet.

Be smart and safe, bring a telephoto lens and view this from a safe distance. If there is a swell…read more(waves breaking against the cliff) don't go down there, a large wave could break over the cliff and pull you out to sea. The blowhole can trick you into thinking it's not doing much and then a huge explosion out of it will soak you and knock you down. Watch for a while from a distance to get a good idea of what is going on and if after 30 minutes you have an idea of the level it's going to go at and you can determine how close you can get safely. Still recommend keeping a good 50 yard distance at a minimum.

Beautiful but a very difficult to climb. Crazy that they now…read morecharge $17 to park! What a ripoff!

We came here to potentially get in the pools, but after reading some of the warnings online and…read moreseeing the pools, which were magnificent, we opted out. We also had our kids with us so that was a game changer. Parking was easy at the trailhead and there weren't a lot of people here. There is a sign at the beginning honoring a man who died here and asking people not to go in the pools. It is about a 5 minute walk to the cliff where you can first see the pools. If you choose to walk down, it is probably another 10 minutes and the terrain isn't too terrible. The pools are indeed right on the ocean, with water from the ocean splashing into them and then pulling back out. It did not too violent when we were there and there were about 10 people swimming and diving into them, so they must be pretty deep. We stood and watched and took in the view for about 15 minutes and then went on our way.

This is a really cool stop off the side of the road in West Maui…read more It's a short walk off of the side of the road. It's a little steep and definitely rocky. There are signs warning you not to go any further way earlier than it actually gets unsafe. People swim in the pools which is said to be dangerous due to changing tides and waves. The pools are very pretty even if you don't swim (which we didn't). It's fun to watch the waves splash in as well. It can be a quick stop and is worth doing if you're in the area.

On Monday took my wife to Iao Valley state Monument park. Luckily I did on an over cast day because…read morewe seen beautiful water falls . The river down below was very strong and rough I've been here while it was a sunny day and you can actually go down to the river bed . What a sacred place you just feel the power of ancient Hawaiian soldiers fighting in this Valley . When I was a kid that mountain peak called a Iao needle used to have a little hole on top of that peak . Just like a needle point where you thread it through the needle hole. Very relaxing Valley away from all the stress in life which I really need . Support local

Iao Valley sits in Central-West Maui and covers a large area as a state park. We drove here from…read moreHonokōwai Beach Park on the west side. The GPS routed us down and then back north. Although it looks like a detour, it makes sense. The northern road is extremely narrow (at points only one car can pass), winding, and very slow. If you can avoid that route, definitely do. **Reservations Required You need to book online in advance. **Admission: $5 per person + $10 parking. For 2 people we paid $21.53 total. **Earliest entry is 7am. Parking is limited, so reserve an early slot if possible. They ask you to arrive about 30 minutes before your scheduled entry. **No cellphone reception once you head up the mountain. Cell service and even car radio cut out completely. Best to download maps or take screenshots beforehand. **Bring a power bank; we eventually just switched cellphones to airplane mode to save battery. In early December, mornings are a little cool, but once the sun comes up it gets really hot. Bring sunscreen, a light jacket, water, and hiking shoes. The trail is short (about 0.6 miles), but the ground is muddy and rocky, with some narrow paths brushing up against plants. If you don't like contact with tall grass, long sleeves help. It feels a bit like walking through a botanical garden. The highlight is Kuka'emoku (the "Iao Needle"), a 1,200-foot natural rock formation rising from the valley floor. We took our time, stopping often for photos and to enjoy the scenery, so the whole walk ended up taking us around 3 hours. Iao Valley State Monument 54 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793

One of the highlights of my trip to Maui was coming to Black Rock Beach in Lahaina. Originally we…read morewere supposed to stay in Lahaina, but because of the rebuilding of the area, we stayed a little further south. I wish I did stay in the area because the whole area is a vibe. It's a little more touristy with resorts and shopping areas, but once you get on the beach you forget all that. Some of our group was already here and gave us specific instructions on where to park. We parked in a paid parking garage and had to walk between hotels to find the entrance to the beach. This particular stretch is in front of the Sheraton Maui Resort. This beach was awesome! Don't get confused like I did and think this was a black sand beach. Black Rock refers to the giant black lava rock going from the beach into the ocean. It's a very popular cliff diving area. In my opinion, you got to have some athletic ability to do the cliff diving. There's two ways to get to the peak of the rock to jump. There's a path from the shore, but you have to do a little climbing with a very sketch path to the top. The other option is to swim in the ocean towards the end of the rock where you have a little ladder to get you up, but you still have to get to the top of the rock. My friends and I decided to do the swim out which in itself was a challenge. One I got close, I decided to be the photographer in the water for when my friends jumped. We hung out in the water for awhile before swimming back to shore. The beach is perfect for lounging around, with soft white sand and crystal clear water. I brought my snorkel and goggles to really appreciate what's under the sea. We stayed out here way longer than we planned because time flies when you are having fun. On my next trip to Maui, I would totally consider staying right on this beach. I will most definitely be back!

Favorite beach in Maui. You can guarantee you will see 3+ turtles by the rocks on the right side…read moreevery time. And occasionally, a Hawaiian monk seal that comes up to bask in the sun during the day. Tourists here are the worst though! I have seen them crowding the turtles (10 ft distance is the law), standing on the swimming turtles to treat them like surf boards, and even approaching the monk seals or blocking their path back to the water (50+ ft is the law). Enjoy this beach responsibly and respect the beautiful wild life that frequent this beach.

This is one of the best all around beaches on the island and I'll let you know why…read more *Parking right off the road, but get there EARLY, it fills up fast! *Close and easy beach access via stairs. If stairs are hard for you then this might be a drawback. *Beautiful sandy beach with clear water and the break isn't too big. great for the kiddos. *Big enough so that even when the masses show up it doesn't get too crowded. *You can snorkel here too. The North end is usually the best, but we've had luck towards the south end too. Its slow in the middle. It's not as good as Honolua Bay for snorkeling, but this is a much easier beach to relax at and easier for the kiddos. *Tree line is fairly close to the shore and provides shade if you want to be out of the sun. This is our family beach of choice when we are on the island in Lahaina or the nearby area. The kids love it, there's plenty to do for everyone and the best part is it doesn't get too crowded like the resort beaches. The wind can pick up in the afternoons.

This beach is wonderful but they now charge a whopping $47 to park! It almost costs as much as…read moretheir quick ticket price of $49 ish. Saw a turtle :)

Bring bug spray! The trail is nicely shaded with lush green tree, ground coverage, and softened…read moredirt path. Although, that meant lots of mosquitos for the 5 min walk from the trail head to the stream. The stream during this season is dry and zero water. There were plenty of chicken and roosters running around. The sunlight peaking through the trees and branches created nice backdrop for pictures. Definitely would explore more if we ever come back.

The best place to snorkel at…read more There were so many fishes and different kinds also! It was my first official time snorkeling so it was a little spooky but man oh man, I had a blast. Didn't see ant sea turtles but did see a variety of fishes.

A beautiful no resort-y style beach. FYI: No lifeguards. We witnessed a medical emergency and no…read morelifeguard was hard. Limited parking - but it's still busy as there are a ton of condo's/motels on the beach. There are a few restaurants overlooking it, so easy to escape for a meal or a drink. When we were there for spring break, we were coming off a storm and it was quite rough. Some surfers catching some great barrels which was fun to watch. Other days it was calmer. A ton of snorkelers - I guess there is a few reefs full of fish. It's also adjacent to a sea turtle cove, so you can catch some sea turtles on their way. Overall, a great beach. I'd come again to the area.

Napili Bay a relaxing beach in Maui. The water is usually calm and crystal clear, making it perfect…read morefor families and kids to swim and snorkel safely. We saw plenty of fish close to shore, and if you go early in the morning, there's a good chance you'll spot sea turtles cruising through the bay. The beach itself is clean with soft sand, and the cove shape keeps things feeling peaceful compared to some of the busier spots on the island. It's the kind of place where you can easily spend the entire day just unwinding. Parking can be a little tricky, so getting there early is worth it. A great tip is to pair your visit with breakfast or brunch at The Gazebo Restaurant right next door. It's super convenient and makes your morning really efficient--grab a meal, then walk straight onto the beach and enjoy the rest of your day. Whether you're swimming, snorkeling, or just laying out and taking in the view, Napili Bay has that classic Maui magic.

Nice ocean side trail with few people and great views if youre looking for a place to go for a jog…read more Full sun exposure so bring sunscreen and water.

Beautiful, relaxing, wonderful way to start our Maui trip. We were up early (thanks, jet lag) and…read moredecided to come here to watch the sunrise. Views were stunning the entire time! Some parts were pretty muddy due to the recent rainstorms but still 100% worth it. We were the only people there from start to finish. No trouble with parking if you want to be an early riser :)