12 Scenic Trails To Explore In Hawaii, One For Each Month Of The Year
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Megan McDonald
Author
What better way to celebrate the upcoming year than with an epic list of 12 of the best scenic hikes in Hawaii? We’ve found some of the best, most scenic hikes on the islands and put them together for you to try throughout the year. Grab your gear and get out and enjoy all that Hawaii has to offer!
Ho'opi'i Falls Trail Head, 5936 Kapahi Rd, Kapa?a, HI 96746, USA
Kick off the new year with a waterfall hike on Kauai! This gorgeous, easy out-and-back trail brings you to a series of cascading waterfalls. The 2.4-mile trail takes you through a beautiful rainforest and offers stunning views along the way. It’s a good trail for the whole family, with more than 196 feet of elevation gain, but the trail can get muddy after a rainstorm, so plan footwear accordingly!
Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
This is a fun and very easy hike for the whole family. A .4-mile stroll around gardens, the river, and the chance to see The Needle up close and personal. It’s a beautiful hike in a calm and zen area, and you’ll feel it! There is a $5 per person fee, and a $10 parking fee, but it’s worth it. This is a wonderful little trail in Maui that shouldn’t be missed!
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Waimano Falls, O‘ahu Hawaii, USA, Pearl City, HI 96782, USA
This short and steep trail is incredibly rewarding and offers a series of cascading waterfalls that culminate in a deep swimming hole with plenty of places to jump from. The trail is rated difficult, as the elevation gain is more than 800 feet in a short period of time, but the hike itself is worth it. Grab a friend and spend the day out at Waimano Falls on this 2.9-mile hike!
Akaka Falls Road, Akaka Falls Rd, Honomu, HI 96728, USA
This very easy and visually stunning trail is a must-see the next time you’re on the Big Island. This .5-mile loop trail climbs 121 feet of elevation gain for incredible views of the Akaka Falls. The falls are 442 feet tall and plunge into a basin in the rainforest below. You do have to pay a $5 per person fee to get in, but the sights are well worth it, and it’s easy enough for the whole family to enjoy.
Moa'ula Falls, Moloka‘i, Kaunakakai, HI 96748, USA
This absolutely breathtaking waterfall should be at the top of your bucket list when you’re visiting Molokai. This tiered waterfall is incredibly impressive, and the hike there is equally enchanting. The 3.9-mile out and back hike climbs 485 ft, but it’s worth every step. Because the trail goes over private land, you must hire a guide (his name is Greg! And you can get ahold of him at https://halawavalleymolokai.com/) before you head out. Plan to enjoy the whole day out here!
Kapa?a, HI 96746, USA
Kick off the summer with this epic hike on Kauai! Sleeping Giant, or Nounou Mountain, is a beautiful spot to enjoy in the month of June. Local legend says a giant feasted so much at a party in his honor that he laid down for a nap and never woke up again. This trail takes you up the face of the giant, and it’s a 3.4-mile, out-and-back trail that only ascends 961 feet. But the views from the top? Absolutely priceless! Just try not to wake the sleeping giant...
Makamakaole Stream, Hawaii 96793, USA
Who wouldn’t want to spend one of the hottest months checking out some gorgeous waterfalls? Head to Maui and the Makamakaole Stream: 13 Crossings Trail for a wonderful adventure and the option to see not just one, but two waterfalls. You will be crossing plenty of streams however, so make sure to dress appropriately. The trail does divide at one point, so if you want to see both waterfalls you have to backtrack and hike back out to the second one. But this two-mile hike is worth it!
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Papak?lea Green Sand Beach, Naalehu, HI 96772, USA
Escape the Hawaii summer heat with this gorgeous hike along the coastline on the beautiful island of Hawaii. It’s an easy out-and-back hike that only climbs about 370 feet of elevation gain. The length is 5.6 miles, and at the end: the reward of one of the only true green sands beaches in the world! The sand is made from lava, and a common silicate deposit named called Olivine. Make sure to bring your camera, because this is one view you’ll want to remember forever.
Koele, Lanai City, HI 96763, USA
Lanai, Hawaii 96763, USA
Get high above the treetops on the gorgeous Koele Keomuku Trail. This is a slightly more challenging hike, with 1,046 feet of elevation gain. It’s an out-and-back trail that comes in at 5.2 miles, and you’ll be greeted with scenic views along the way. The trail starts on the back lawn of the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, and you’ll hike up red dirt trails lined with trees covered in gorgeous foliage. The trail ends at the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Mo‘omomi, Mo‘Omomi, HI 96757, USA
Mix it up on Molokai with this gorgeous hike through the Mo’omomi Sand Dunes! This is an easy, visually beautiful out-and-back trail 3.3-mile hike along the coastline and through the sand dunes. Total elevation gain is only 183 feet throughout the trail, but there’s no shade, so make sure to bring a hat. To get to the trail, you’ll have to drive down a road that you’ll need four-wheel drive for. But it’s worth it!
Waimea Valley Trail, North Shore, HI 96712, USA
This beautiful trail in Oahu leads to a 45-foot waterfall! It’s an easy, very accessible hike that’s paved all the way to the falls. The entire trip is only 1.9 miles out and back and you’ll pass through a stunning and well-labeled botanical garden. The entrance fee is $12 per child and $20 per adult. But it’s well worth it, especially if you want to swim in the falls.
Koloiki Lane, Koloiki Ln, Texas 78602, USA
One of the best trails for a sunrise view, the Koloiki Ridge climbs 728 feet along 4.2 miles. Enjoy the hike up a red dirt road, and enjoy a panoramic view of the islands of Molokai and Maui in the distance, and the waves breaking on Lanai. It’s a stunning way to end this hike - and the year!
Have you hiked these scenic trails in Hawaii? What did you think? Are we missing any? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’ve worked up an appetite on one of these great hikes, make sure to refuel at These 13 Beachfront Restaurants In Hawaii Are Out Of This World.
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More to Explore
Best Scenic Hikes in Hawaii
Where are the most scenic places in Hawaii?
There's no shortage of amazing scenery in Hawaii, a place where it's impossible to not be in a constant state of awe and wonder. In addition to the scenic hikes listed above, here are some other spectacularly scenic places in Hawaii:
- Hāpuna Beach. This Hawaii beach is the very definition of paradise. It's a 61.8-acre oasis with a gorgeous stretch of white shoreline and crystal-clear waters ideal for swimming, bodysurfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
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Akaka Falls State Park. The Big Island of Hawaii is home to some of the most incredible tropical forests in the world, and Akaka Falls State Park is truly a nature lover's dream come true. The headlining act of the park -- Akaka Falls -- is 442 feet tall and well-worth seeking out. But the magic of this waterfall is as much in the journey as it is the destination; the park is teeming with lush greenery, vibrant native flowers, vivacious birds, and an abundance of tropical wildlife. This is a place where photographs simply can't do justice, and the very definition of a bucket-list experience.
- Haleakala National Park. Pretty much *any* Hawaii hike is going to offer sublime, otherworldly splendor; but in terms of an experience that will turn your perspective upside down, nothing compares to the Waimoku Falls via Pipiwai Trail at Haleakala National Park. The 3.8-mile hike itself is relatively flat and easy to hike. You’ll only ascend 932 feet across the entirety of the trail. There are extraordinary and unique features all the trail, including a section through a dense, beautiful bamboo forest that will have you feeling like Alice in Wonderland.
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Nāpali Coast. The Aloha State is the ultimate bucket list trip, offering some of the most spectacular natural wonders and sublime scenery. It’s as much a place for avid outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers, as it is for nature enthusiasts and aesthetes. And the Nāpali Coast epitomizes the very best Hawaii has to offer. Spanning 17 miles along Kauai’s North Shore, the Nāpali Coast is emerald-hued cliffs and lush forest jungles, gorgeous waterfalls, and endless turquoise waters. There are many ways to explore the Nāpali Coast, but the safest access and best views are found by sea or by air. Helicopter tours offer the ultimate birds-eye view of this real-life paradise, while boat tours allow for an immersive experience -- complete with breaching whales and awe-inspiring cliffs -- that's unrivaled.
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Whether you have lived on Hawaii’s Big Island for your entire life, or this is your first time visiting, you absolutely must explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This 523-square-mile park contains some of the world’s most awe-inspiring wonders, not to mention the two active volcanoes. This place is downright otherworldly. A trip to Hawaii Volcanoes isn’t complete without a visit to the Kilauea Caldera, a trip down the Thurston Lava Tube, a walk through the lava fields, a drive down the Chain of Craters Road, and, of course, as much hiking as you can handle.
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