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Northwest Maui Region
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Location: Northwest Maui
Have you ever wanted to stand at the top of a mountain in utter silence and commune with the clouds? That is exactly what you’ll be able to do on the Waihee Ridge Trail. The 5-mile round trip trail ascends 1,500 feet through a lush forest of kukui, guava, ohi’a, and ferns. The earlier you start the trail the better chance you have of viewing the Waihee Valley without clouds. When you arrive at the trailhead it may not seem like much of a trail. You have to pass through a cattle-proof gate and up a 200-ft cement road that is far steeper than it looks. None the less the initial incline will have you almost hating this trail before it even begins - but KEEP going, it's about to get really good. At the top of the incline, catch your breath and take a first peak over at Makamaka’ole Falls on your right. At the trail sign you'll veer to your left into a pasture and soon enter the forest.
Have you ever wanted to stand at the top of a mountain in utter silence and commune with the clouds? That is exactly what you’ll be able to do on the Waihee Ridge Trail. The 5-mile round trip trail ascends 1,500 feet through a lush forest of kukui, guava, ohi’a, and ferns. The earlier you start the trail the better chance you have of viewing the Waihee Valley without clouds. When you arrive at the trailhead it may not seem like much of a trail. You have to pass through a cattle-proof gate and up a 200-ft cement road that is far steeper than it looks. None the less the initial incline will have you almost hating this trail before it even begins - but KEEP going, it's about to get really good. At the top of the incline, catch your breath and take a first peak over at Makamaka’ole Falls on your right. At the trail sign you'll veer to your left into a pasture and soon enter the forest.
Location: Northwest Maui
Dragon’s Teeth is a good example of what can happen when forces of nature collide. As the lava from the West Mau‘i Volcano poured into the ocean, fierce wind and waves forced it back and it cooled into a formation that resembles great black teeth. Makalua-puna Point was created from one of the last lava flows on Maui. However, the lava is a little different from the rest of the lava on Maui - it is much lighter, denser, and fine-grained. The wind sweeping over the point caused the lava to harden in an upward fashion.
The jagged points of this formation look like dragon's teeth, thus the name. Honu (sea turtles) often swim close to shore, so peer over the edge and look for them. To get to Dragon’s Teeth take Honoapi’ilani Hwy northeast and turn left onto Office Road just past mile marker 30. At the end of Office Road take a right and park in the little parking lot. You’ll have to walk across the edge of a golf course to reach the teeth. As you walk, look to your right for a small plaque. This site is an ancient Hawaiian burial ground that was the subject of a huge controversy. The Ritz Carlton Hotel wanted the land for a beach front resort. They even began construction of the land before the Hawaiian community stepped in and put an end to it.
2009 Update This article in the Maui News may be of interest to some folks planning to visit this spot.
Dragon’s Teeth is a good example of what can happen when forces of nature collide. As the lava from the West Mau‘i Volcano poured into the ocean, fierce wind and waves forced it back and it cooled into a formation that resembles great black teeth. Makalua-puna Point was created from one of the last lava flows on Maui. However, the lava is a little different from the rest of the lava on Maui - it is much lighter, denser, and fine-grained. The wind sweeping over the point caused the lava to harden in an upward fashion.
The jagged points of this formation look like dragon's teeth, thus the name. Honu (sea turtles) often swim close to shore, so peer over the edge and look for them. To get to Dragon’s Teeth take Honoapi’ilani Hwy northeast and turn left onto Office Road just past mile marker 30. At the end of Office Road take a right and park in the little parking lot. You’ll have to walk across the edge of a golf course to reach the teeth. As you walk, look to your right for a small plaque. This site is an ancient Hawaiian burial ground that was the subject of a huge controversy. The Ritz Carlton Hotel wanted the land for a beach front resort. They even began construction of the land before the Hawaiian community stepped in and put an end to it.
2009 Update This article in the Maui News may be of interest to some folks planning to visit this spot.
Location: Northwest Maui
Oneloa or Ironwoods beach is a quiet stretch of shoreline located in the northern portion of West Maui between Kapalua and Napili.
Public parking and beach access is present but hard to find, most folks don't realize there is a beach. That makes this beach nice, quiet and uncrowded.
The beach is surrounded by private property so it is near several private residences. Please don't block any access, and respect the privacy of the residents.
This is a quiet, romantic beach. Afternoon and evening walks are wonderful along this beach. There is plenty of room to play and a great view of Molokai.
The beach itself is wide and sandy. It is bordered on the north by 20 foot lava cliffs that are a portion of the natural water hazard for the golf course above the beach. If you decide to 'beach' at the north end, be careful of golf balls occasionally coming down around you.
Oneloa or Ironwoods beach is a quiet stretch of shoreline located in the northern portion of West Maui between Kapalua and Napili.
Public parking and beach access is present but hard to find, most folks don't realize there is a beach. That makes this beach nice, quiet and uncrowded.
The beach is surrounded by private property so it is near several private residences. Please don't block any access, and respect the privacy of the residents.
This is a quiet, romantic beach. Afternoon and evening walks are wonderful along this beach. There is plenty of room to play and a great view of Molokai.
The beach itself is wide and sandy. It is bordered on the north by 20 foot lava cliffs that are a portion of the natural water hazard for the golf course above the beach. If you decide to 'beach' at the north end, be careful of golf balls occasionally coming down around you.
Location: Northwest Maui
Not including this in the official "Maui Sights" area, because it's just a video we've found. But this should give you a pretty good idea of what the Kahekili Highway is like on Northwest Maui. The bad parts are in relatively shot segments, and the portion around 1:40 into this video are what we find to be the worst. One additional segment near the end is also a little intimidating. But driving clockwise is a MUST when taking this route. Below is the video. A few more we've taken (much shorter) are below.
Not including this in the official "Maui Sights" area, because it's just a video we've found. But this should give you a pretty good idea of what the Kahekili Highway is like on Northwest Maui. The bad parts are in relatively shot segments, and the portion around 1:40 into this video are what we find to be the worst. One additional segment near the end is also a little intimidating. But driving clockwise is a MUST when taking this route. Below is the video. A few more we've taken (much shorter) are below.
Location: Northwest Maui
The North West drive from Kapalu around Nakalele Point and on to Wailuku is amazingly beautiful - if the road doesn't scare you off. If you are coming from the North you will pass the pineapple fields of Kapalua, a famous surfing spot at, Honolua Bay and then Honokolau Valley. Nakalele Point and light beacon is immediately after the valley.
When high tide and high surf combine you are likely to witness an explosive show from the Nakalele Blowhole. This phenomenon is caused by the ocean undercutting the shore and forcing seawater up through a large hole in the lava shelf.
The blowhole is variable with the tide and surf, high tide is best. It is 1,200 feet from the road down an incline. Keep your eyes open for a turnout about .5 miles past mile marker 38. You can see the blowhole from this spot but you must follow a trail down approximately 200 feet to reach it.
Use extreme caution approaching the blowhole. Make sure you wear good sandals because there is some rock-skipping involved. Remember, it is possible to take a trip down the blowhole should you get too close. Use common sense and enjoy the show.
The North West drive from Kapalu around Nakalele Point and on to Wailuku is amazingly beautiful - if the road doesn't scare you off. If you are coming from the North you will pass the pineapple fields of Kapalua, a famous surfing spot at, Honolua Bay and then Honokolau Valley. Nakalele Point and light beacon is immediately after the valley.
When high tide and high surf combine you are likely to witness an explosive show from the Nakalele Blowhole. This phenomenon is caused by the ocean undercutting the shore and forcing seawater up through a large hole in the lava shelf.
The blowhole is variable with the tide and surf, high tide is best. It is 1,200 feet from the road down an incline. Keep your eyes open for a turnout about .5 miles past mile marker 38. You can see the blowhole from this spot but you must follow a trail down approximately 200 feet to reach it.
Use extreme caution approaching the blowhole. Make sure you wear good sandals because there is some rock-skipping involved. Remember, it is possible to take a trip down the blowhole should you get too close. Use common sense and enjoy the show.
Location: Northwest Maui
Makamaka`ole Falls is a large waterfall on Makamaka`ole Stream. It is visible along the Waihee 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.
Makamaka`ole Falls is a large waterfall on Makamaka`ole Stream. It is visible along the Waihee 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.
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