Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

    4.7 (10 reviews)

    Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

    Recommended Reviews - Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Manning L.

    Nice easy to moderate trail to walk/hike. As it's on the coastline, youll get some great views of the ocean and rocks. Super relaxing when you find a nice shady spot to have your water. Be careful if you like shade, as there is limited shade on this trail but the views are worth it!

    our family reunion hikers posing inside cave! spectacular restoration of area in recent times.
    mari m.

    stunning views ok for all level of hikers children okay just dress appropriately, wear sun screen, carry water

    Helen H.

    While I wouldn't consider this a hike, it has some really nice views for very little work. Almost all flat, it's more of a stroll than a hike. You park at shipwreck beach and simply walk north east along the water, finding your own way onto the poipu golf course. You can see the waves crash against the cliffs with make a for a beautiful, dramatic scene. Distance: 4 miles Duration: 2 hours Difficulty: 1 out of 5 Top tip: This trail follows the coastline to the Makauwahi Cave. It is not marked very well and has many parallel social trails. Make sure you check the routes beforehand. The cave reserve is only open on certain days. Check the website if you are interested in going inside the cave.

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 16
    Love this 27
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Seth A.
    46
    1077
    9626

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of mari m.
    21
    24
    17

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tigah M.
    2
    68
    375

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cam C.
    2
    120
    42

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Beautiful trail with an amazing scenic view. It is a great, family friendly hike. Would definitely recommend!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

    Review Highlights - Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

    Overall, Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail is a worthwhile way to uncover the southern portion of Kauai.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 536 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Makawehi Lithified Cliffs

    Makawehi Lithified Cliffs

    4.4(7 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Beautiful view from Shipwreck beach. Small parking lot and a trail at the back that we did not walk…read moreon. No idea if you can climb on top but no cliff jumping allowed.

    Everyone has heard of the cliffs of Dover. How about the cliffs of Poipu?…read more Drove past the Grand Hyatt hotel parking lot, and turned onto Ainako street just before the Poipu Bay Golf Course. Pass the golf course and head to the Shipwreck beach parking lot. Blustery day with high winds and blowing sprinkles of rain. Walked along the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail for a quarter mile before we could see the cliffs in a distance. Two sets of cliffs, one primarily off white, and another orange red. You can not only see the cliffs, but by going another half mile, walk on the cliffs themselves. Limestone with the fossilized remains of ancient sea creatures. The Poipu Bay Golf Course sits right on the orange red cliffs. The immediate cliff area is fenced off, due to the danger of pieces falling off into the sea. But you can walk on the trail on the edge of the golf course, right next to the fenced off narrow cliff side. Today nobody in their right mind is playing golf this morning, not with the 20 mph winds. Signs say hikers cannot walk on the golf course. Of course if you are willing to pay the $130 green fee, they might make an exception. Another sign says no one may climb over the short fence, even to retrieve a golf ball. Two stroke penalty I believe!

    Photos
    Makawehi Lithified Cliffs
    Makawehi Lithified Cliffs
    Makawehi Lithified Cliffs

    See all

    Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike

    Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike

    4.8(130 reviews)
    23.0 mi

    This was an absolutely beautiful and incredible hike, one of the most amazing trails! Let's be…read morehonest though, this was a hard hike. The sun will beat down on you and you're gonna climb some inclines. To get to the trail and hike you need a permit, we went through a tourist service that provided a Shuttle at Hāʻena State Park. The shuttle is frequent so you're able to plan your day and get a ride back to the lot. When they say bring 2 liters of water per person, they mean it. We also brought 2 snack bars per person too. Listen to the guides at the beginning!! This hike took us about ~6.5-7 hours with some breaks and we swam in the waterfall. I highly recommend picking up dinner and storing it in your fridge because restaurants might be closed by the time you finish the hike. Ke'e beach is right on the trailhead, this is a safe beach to enjoy! The beach at 4 miles (halfway towards the waterfall) is not safe and it is mentioned over and over- the rip tides will sweep you away. On the trail, there were lots of guava which smelled amazing! You cross the flowing stream from the waterfall multiple times. The trail can get muddy too. It rained briefly on the way back and it was really nice break from the sun. The falls were worth the hike for sure. So beautiful and cool to swim. I would hike this again, so incredible! I will say, I was extremely exhausted and sore after, but loved the experience!

    This hike absolutely kicked my butt, but the views made it all worth it. It is 8 miles round trip…read moreto the falls, and they are a LONG 8 miles. Terrain is extreme, and you have to cross through water on multiple occasions. Swimming under the waterfall was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. The views of the Na Pali coast were amazing. I would recommend this hike but be sure to be conditioned for it and prepared with the right gear and enough water.

    Photos
    Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike - Pic by the Napali Coast - almost halfway there

    Pic by the Napali Coast - almost halfway there

    Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    See all

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Nounou Trail

    Nounou Trail

    4.8(40 reviews)
    13.6 mi

    We only had time to do the East Nounou Trail and the Nounou Shelter Trail so this review is based…read moreoff of those. The East Nounou Trail was our second hike of the day and did not disappointed. It is 2 miles with no steep ascent and a bit of coverage with breezes coming near the 1.75 to 2 mile markers. The views are spectacular as you overlook the east side of the island and south of the island as you get further up. There is one hurdle which you have to climb a rock, but it wasnt bad. You can hurl yourself up or take a bit of a path on the left to slowly get yourself up it. It is a ascending, descending, and straight way hike path. Eventually you will hit a T-intersection and decide whether to continue the Nounou trail to the right or go to the Shelter trail on the left. The Shelter trail feels like only mere steps away from the T-intersection and the view is covered a bit by bushes. The best view is near the 1.75 mile mark as there is a hill you can get on for a better elevated view of the ocean. I think if you want a better valley view, you would have to continue the Nounou trail. There werent many people on this hike when we went (around 1:30 pm) but when we left (around 3:30 pm), more people were arriving. Overall, an somewhat of an easy for intermediate hikers.

    We took the approximately 3.4 mile Nounou trail east and then went all the way to the summit (maybe…read moreonly a half mile or so but taxing) and then back down to the street where we walked to our car. The Nounou trail is pretty level although it does get a little muddy in spots and has a few minor obstacles such as felled trees along the way. Beginner to low intermediate. Very green very Kauai trail.

    Photos
    Nounou Trail
    Nounou Trail
    Nounou Trail

    See all

    Kalalau Trail - Doesn't do it justice.. north shore Kauai

    Kalalau Trail

    4.7(312 reviews)
    25.0 mi

    We did this Kalalau trail in 2022 when visiting Hawaii and it was absolutely amazing! Please know…read morethis trail is HARD, and tough if you are not a major hiker, just know your limits! I think we ended up hiking around 8+ miles or so as we hiked down to the beach and checked and climbed a lot of boulders and did some rock climbing as well that was pretty tough but worth the adventure. Bring a lot of water and you have to make reservations in advance to take a shuttle to the base as you can't take your car there. We brought sandwiches and had a picnic at the beach, seriously bring a lot of water and snacks and food and be careful of the beach waves as they have signs all over that there are riptides and not to get in the water, basically follow all safety rules!! It was a difficult but an incredible hike; we got so much bursts of rain which felt magical and I am excited we crossed it off the bucket list

    This is definitely for the adventurous and there's no part of this hike that's easy. There's a…read morebeach at the start, that's the only part that doesn't require some effort. It's worth it for the experience. If you want picturesque Nā Pali Coast views take a boat or air tour. During the hike at about 2/3 into the first 2 mile stretch there's a breathtaking stop of the coastline in one direction and beach in the opposite direction. We just did the 4 mile round trip (beach and back). It's a beautifully rustic secluded beach. Like the hike itself that final stretch to the beach is an effort (a path of many rocks and fast moving stream to cross). You'll get muddy. You'll sweat. At the end you'll be happy you did it. Pack a large (definitely large) bottle of water. A PB&J sandwich and banana holds up well. Start early too. For the 4-mile round trip we took the 9 AM shuttle and were back by 2 PM. For longer hikes, start earlier. You have to book the shuttle in advance. It's surprisingly well organized and so easy. Once we checked in (at Princeville) it was an express 30-minute trip to the park. The return takes you to Hanalei where you'll change shuttles to Princeville--but they knew where we were staying and took us directly there. Everyone is helpful, friendly, and they keep track of you (they don't want to lose anyone). All the effort goes into the hike not the logistics of getting to and from the park, they make it that easy.

    Photos
    Kalalau Trail
    Kalalau Trail
    Kalalau Trail - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    See all

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Kuilau Ridge Trail

    Kuilau Ridge Trail

    4.5(27 reviews)
    13.3 mi

    We did this activity on our second day in Kauai and t'was a pretty day when we went there,…read moregoodness! It is located in Wailua - East side and has a distance of 2.25 miles each way. Depending in your pace it was just a short easy to moderate hike. But once it rained, it's a different story. It can be really muddy and according to locals it can suck you down so prepare a really muddy shoes & dirt everywhere. Kuilau Trail connects to an east route that meets up with the Moalepe Trail. Further down the trail will come to a wooden footbridge which crosses the Opaekaa Stream. The view is not too much but the green lush vegetation will still make you feel refreshed & relaxed at some point. It is a friendly-hike to do so kids or old folks can definitely enjoy this. Please don't forget to bring your water and do wear proper hiking clothes. I advise to wear good hiking shoes & bring quarter zip as temperature can drop any moment. Do not forget that Kauai got more rain in most places in the US so I suggest you bring your rain jacket in case you need it. And most of all practice LEAVE-NO-TRACE POLICY all the time. Mahalo for reading & happy juandering fellow Yeeps.

    Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Lihue…read moreLength: 4.4 total miles Elevation Gain: 700 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Duration: 2.5 hours Season: Year-round The Kuilau Ridge Trail begins at the Keahua Arboretum and climbs a forested ridge in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve. Along the way, panoramic views open up across the rolling hillsides and picturesque valley to Mount Waialeale to the west, the Makaleha Mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east. This trail can be combined with the Moalepe Trail for a one-way, 4.6-mile shuttle hike.

    Photos
    Kuilau Ridge Trail
    Kuilau Ridge Trail
    Kuilau Ridge Trail

    See all

    Hoopii Falls - 10/20/22 Someone said a can marks the trailhead

    Hoopii Falls

    4.5(82 reviews)
    16.6 mi

    Wow, this trail was something. I came to Kauai for a jungle…read moreadventure, and I definitely got one here! It is such a magical path First of all the trailhead is pretty hard to find and kind of hilarious. There is literally no official signage, except a sign that reminds people to stay quiet since they're in a neighborhood. There is a designated parking lot may be about a quarter mile away, so you're not supposed to park in front of peoples houses. As you're walking from the parking lot towards the trailhead, someone's house is labeled with a cute story between frog and toad that says that the trailhead is three houses down. There's the most narrow little entryway into the trailhead. We also thought it was funny after our hike that almost all the yelp reviews talk about how easy this hike is. We're a pretty fit family, and I'll just say that after a week of rain, this trail was quite treacherous, so part of our experience may be that we got unlucky with the weather. We had to try really hard not to slip at every step. There's areas down to the river in the waterfalls that are really really steep where we had to grab onto trees and branches to not cause a landslide. We were caked in mud from the knees down and on our hands for most of the hike . Definitely need shoes with good grip - our Keens worked well since we were able to rinse out some of the mud in the river. It rained on and off during our hike, but luckily there were so many trees that the rain itself was not too bothersome, but most of the trail was soaked in mud puddles . We only made it to the first waterfall because of the conditions but still had a blast ! We had a lot of fun but I wouldn't have brought my older parents for example so be wary depending on the rain !

    A relatively short and easy hike. The whole thing took just over an hour for us, which includes the…read moretime we took to stop for photos and admire the views. We did read that it can get very slippery and muddy at times, but luckily we didn't run into that issue. The ground was pretty dry when we went, and I had no issues with my super old shoes that had no traction left. There are also few areas when going down to the falls where you need to navigate down some steep/rocky areas, and then back up when coming back. Shouldn't be an issue for those who are able-bodied, but just something to keep in mind if you were hoping to come with those who aren't (maybe not the best idea). The falls were a bit small when we went, but overall the hike was pretty with lots of lush greenery. We saw some people jumping into the water, but we were way too lazy for that. We also read that septic tanks from the neighborhood may leak into the water. Since the trail starts in a residential neighborhood, please be respectful and mindful when walking past homes to the trailhead, and don't be too noisy or trespass. We also parked our cars nearby at Kapahi Park. The neighborhood roads are small and I can see why residents would get annoyed with people constantly cluttering up the street to go hiking. Overall, a great option if you're looking for an easy but beautiful hike. Maybe consider hiking shoes if it has recently rained heavily since apparently it can get muddy.

    Photos
    Hoopii Falls
    Hoopii Falls - 10/20/22 found myself a walking stick

    10/20/22 found myself a walking stick

    Hoopii Falls - Second falls

    See all

    Second falls

    Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...