MauiMaui:2010-01-29T15:41:05ZCopyright (c) 2010, J.C.DerrickExpressionEnginetag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:01:29Kamaole Beach Park I, II, and IIItag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/1.5442010-01-29T15:26:04Z2010-01-29T15:41:05ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgKihei and is divided into three distinct beach areas. Kama'ole I has the largest and nicest beach of the three with fine white sand and great swimming conditions. There's also a grassy area at the south end for picnics and playing.
Kama'ole II is located a little further south along South Kihei Road and though the beach is a bit little smaller, it still has good swimming.
Kama'ole III is very popular with the locals since the waves here are more consistent making it a great place for boogie boarding. The sandy beach is small but it has a large grassy area, perfect for kite flying, picnics, and relaxing. The sunset photos below were taken at this beach - overlooking the islands of Kaho`olawe and Lana`i.
]]>Kihei Towntag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/1.5432010-01-29T15:26:03Z2010-01-29T15:47:04ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.org
In the early 1900's there were failed attempts to establish sugar plantations on this part of the island. During the 1930's, only about 375 people live in Kihei. The road was not paved and there was little visitor interest in the area. Attempts to sale portions of the area between the 1930's and 1950's were marginally successful. Land was cheap - but no one really wanted to invest in any property here. But as usual, time changes things... by the 1960's when water was finally piped into the area, developers finally realized the potential to attract visitors to this side of the island.
Kihei development began with no real plan - condominiums went up by the dozens - right on top of one another. Shopping centers and strip malls suddenly dotted the once barren coastline. It wasn't long before budget conscious visitors began to realize the great deals available in Kihei, and the expansion continued
]]>Road to Hana Highway road closurestag:hawaii-guide.com,2009:index.php/maui/1.1542009-05-08T17:08:13Z2009-05-28T13:27:14ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.org Current Closures and Updates
June 2009
Kaumahina Wayside Park will be closed for maintenance during June 2009. You can read more information about the closure here.
May 4, 2009 - June 1, 2009
Currently the temporary bridge at Paihi Stream (at mile marker 45.5 on Highway 31) is being removed; as can be seen via the updates below, this bridge has existed here for some time. Construction on the new permanent bridge is also being finalized. The bridge is expected to open around June 1, 2009 (extended from the original date of May 25th). This bridge is located between Hana and the `Ohe`o Gulch (see the map), so to access the Kipahulu portion of Haleakala National Park visitors will have to use the Pi`ilani Highway - Highway 31 (aka the 'back route').
October 2006 - October 4, 2008
For well over a year now we've been asked by visitors where the road closures exist along the Hana Highway on Maui. Many read articles about the Pa'ihi bridge being damaged in the October 2006 earthquake (off the Big Island's coast) and assume that's the closure. But it's not. Here's the real scoop on the closures.
Paihi Bridge (between Hana and Kipahulu at mile marker 45.5) is NOT closed, but it does have a temporary bridge that was installed Dec. 3, 2006. The bridge was damaged during the earthquake and torrential rain in mid-October 2006. and is being replaced. It was already slated for replacement before the earthquake.
I think many folks confuse this bridge (which was closed for a few days) and the barricaded bridge, Kukui'ula, which is a half-mile past the 40 mile marker (between Kipahulu and Kaupo). Kukui'ula bridge at Lelekea remains barricaded due to the danger of rockslides beyond this point and Manawainui bridge (the large gulch bridge).
The county plans to stabilize the cliffs between Kipahulu and Kaupo and then work on the rock cliffs above Manawainui. This entire project may take up to two years (or longer) to complete.
You CAN reach the 'Ohe'o Gulch. You CANNOT go beyond the Gulch and complete the "loop" tour that concludes in Upcountry.
]]>Makamaka’ole Fallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2009:index.php/maui/1.5392009-05-04T17:03:47Z2009-05-04T17:16:48ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgWaihee Ridge trail. The best view is approximately at the one mile marker along the trail. The waterfall drops in several tiers, totaling about 270 ft. in height.
You can also catch a glimpse of the falls on the Kahekili Highway (county route 340) along Maui's northwest coast. Just past mile marker 8 you should be able to see the waterfall down below in a small valley to your left.
If it's been especially dry lately, the falls may not be currently flowing. As can be see via the photographs, it is a two-tier waterfall. Often the lower part of the waterfall is visible even when the upper level is not.
]]>Map of Maui Hawaiitag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.4812008-08-15T19:25:11Z2008-11-11T21:56:12ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgPocket Map of Maui as well. Our Road to Hana book, Hana Highway - Mile by Mile, also features several detailed maps of nearly all of east Maui.
]]>Maui Waterfallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.4712008-08-08T19:55:53Z2009-05-04T17:14:54ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgWaterfalls on the island of Maui are some of the world's best. Below we've included links to several of the best waterfalls on Maui, most of which you can actually see without a tour or helicopter (all falls visible from the air only are noted).
On the list of Maui waterfalls below, we've included the height of the falls when possible, a rank (out of 5 stars), noted if it's a seasonal falls (dry in summer or too heavy of a flow in winter), and included any additional access information as necessary. If you think you've located a Maui waterfall we've mistakenly left off this list, by all means please contact us and we'll make sure it's added. Be sure to also check out all the waterfalls in Hawaii on our Hawaii Waterfalls page.
]]>Puaa Luu Fallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3722008-03-01T02:57:00Z2008-03-01T03:03:10ZN.A.WhitlingNADerrick@HawaiianStyle.orgKeanae Lookouttag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3712008-03-01T02:50:00Z2008-03-01T02:55:45ZN.A.WhitlingNADerrick@HawaiianStyle.orgAlaalaula Fallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3702008-03-01T02:25:00Z2008-03-01T02:32:56ZN.A.WhitlingNADerrick@HawaiianStyle.orgMaui Driving Times - Estimates - and Directionstag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3692008-03-01T00:51:00Z2008-08-12T01:32:59ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.org
]]>Paihi Fallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3672008-02-28T02:19:00Z2008-03-01T02:33:58ZN.A.WhitlingNADerrick@HawaiianStyle.orgHaleakala Pu`u `Ula`ula Summit Hilltag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3662008-02-27T18:59:03Z2008-11-19T15:25:04ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgHaleakala National Park Visitor Center at mile marker 20.5 on Hwy 378, you’ll definitely want to head up to the summit. Turn left out of the visitor center parking lot and at mile marker 21 you’ll come to another intersection. You’ll want to take a right to reach the parking lot for the summit (the left road takes you to visit Science City and the observatories, but they are off limits to the public).
The summit parking lot is built in the shallow crater of Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula (Red Hill). This should not be confused with Pa Ka’oao or "white hill" which is located below near the Visitor Center. Before you walk up the ramp to the summit look around you and observe some of Pele’s fiery missiles. These chunks of lava were catapulted through the air during eruptions and hardened on their trip to the ground. The largest chunk is roughly four to five feet across.
]]>Hosmer Grove Loop Trailtag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3652008-02-27T17:44:34Z2008-11-24T18:48:35ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgHaleakala National Park. At approximately mile marker 10.5 on Highway 378, just after entering the park, you’ll want to turn left to the start of the Hosmer Grove trail.
At about 0.3 miles down the road (on the right) you may notice one of Hawai‘i’s famous sandalwood trees. The sandalwood has a long history in Hawai‘i and was once very precious in China for incense and aromatic woodcarvings. In the 1800s the Pacific sailing-ship trade practically obliterated the Hawaiian sandalwood forests. Today you can still find sandalwood pits in Hawai‘i where the trunks of the trees were stored. The pits were made to resemble the cargo areas of the ships the trees were transported in.
At this same location you’ll also find our feature attraction for this stop, a half-mile-long nature trail that winds through a very intriguing forest of introduced trees not native to Hawai‘i. It was back in 1910 that Ralph Hosmer planted this and other groves of trees like eucalyptus from Australia, sugi pine from Japan, deodar from India, Douglas fir and several species of pine from mainland United States, along with other species in hopes of introducing a timber industry as well as reestablishing the watershed. Today the grove presents the existing and continual dilemma of the struggle between native plants
and introduced species in the Hawaiian Islands. The Haleakala Park Service labors intensively to make sure none of the non-native plants escape the grove, and the native vegetation in the surrounding continues to grow and thrive.
A lot of the trees are labeled on the short walk through the grove. Pick up a brochure at the beginning of the trail that will guide you along. Or print a copy of the brochure and map now by downloading a copy of the NPS Hosmer Grove Brochure.
The Supply Trail also begins on the road that leads to Hosmer Grove. You can read more about that hike on our Supply Trail page.
]]>Supply Trailtag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3642008-02-27T17:34:00Z2008-02-27T17:49:56ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgHaleakala National Park. The Supply Trail starts on the road that leads to Hosmer Grove Trail and winds up through the native sub-alpine shrub land that dominates this elevation of Haleakala.
Despite it’s difficulty, this could be a good chance to closely observe the local plant and wildlife away from the road. The Supply Trail is fairly steeply graded from the start, but becomes even steeper as it approaches the connection with the Halemau‘u Trail at 3.5 miles in. You’ll have park your car in the Hosmer Grove campground walk back along the road to the trailhead sign.
]]>Halemauu Trailtag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/1.3632008-02-27T17:02:48Z2008-11-24T18:47:49ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgHaleakala National Park. At approximately 14.2 miles up Highway 378, you’ll see the parking lot for Halemau‘u Trail. This rather long trail starts at 7,990 feet in the native shrub land ecosystem and leads down into the crater before traversing back up all the way to the summit of Haleakala.
A hiker might choose to do a three mile round trip hike out to the edge of Haleakala's rim and return, or might use this as a starting point for an all day hike to the summit. If you do choose the all day hike, we highly suggest you start at the summit (see below). If you do stop at this location, keep your eyes open for Nene. They are frequently spotted here. For their wellbeing, please do not feed them, even if they beg.
