ALOHA!
If you’re looking for something low-key to do during your time in West Maui, you just may want to consider heading to Kapalua to walk the Kapalua Coastal Trail!
Consider this a casual walk along the coast with great scenic views!
Side note!
Things to buy on Amazon for your adventures!
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- Lightweight quick-dry hiking shorts (comfortable shorts that are good for movement!)
- for women: hiking shorts | for men: hiking shorts
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking pants
- for women: hiking pants | for men: hiking pants
- capris for women
- Some of the best outdoor travel brands:
- When you fly: If you have an iphone, you can put an airtag tracker in your luggage so you can better keep track of it! Buy just one, or buy a pack of 4. (Read the reviews!) This also makes a good travel gift!
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Here’s the quick list of what to do to see the best of the Kapalua Coastal Trail!
- Park at Dragon’s Teeth trailhead
- Hike to Dragon’s Teeth and Makaluapuna Point
- Walk or drive to Kapalua Ironwoods parking lot
- Continue on the Kapalua Coastal Trail
- See Oneloa Beach
- Continue walking along the Kapalua Coastal Trail
- See Hawea Point (turn back around here if you want to make it a shorter walk, or…)
- Continue walking along the Kapalua Coastal Trail
- See Kapalua Bay
- Head back to where you came from!
1. Park at Dragon’s Teeth trailhead
2. Hike to Dragon’s Teeth and Makaluapuna Point
3. Walk or drive to Kapalua Ironwoods parking lot
4. Continue on the Kapalua Coastal Trail
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Top Maui tours
Read the reviews at partner website Viator!*
- Turtle town snorkeling tour (with photo and video)
- Lahaina ATV adventure tour
- Horseback riding tour with Hawaiian cowboys
Things you might want to pack for your Maui vacation
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
- For women: Search for a rash guard for swimming and you won't have to worry as much about putting on sunscreen!
- Search for a rash guard for men
- Water shoes for snorkeling if you won't be wearing fins, or just generally for the beach!
- Cheapo waterproof phone case so you can capture pictures of colorful fishies swimming underwater!
- I always have a camera float attached to my phone case that I put around my wrist
- Snorkeling set: mask and fins
- Fins allow you to propel further faster (aka see more in less time and energy!)
- Go cheap if you accept that you need to come up for air frequently: regular swimming googles. They are not as fashionable but if you get swimming goggles, make them the clear kind so you won't be seeing dimmed colors of the colorful fishies!
- If you are able, I recommend trying out the mask at your local lake (in summer) or pool so you will be good to go in Hawaii when there's actually stuff to see!
- Travel-friendly turkish towel for the beach (lightweight compared to regular beach towels)
- For women: Teva walking sandals (one of the best sandal brands for the outdoors, perfect for lots of walking around outside - that's not a lava field!)
- For men: Teva sandals
- For women: Merrell hiking shoes (one of the best outdoor shoe brands, perfect for walking over rugged terrain like lava fields!)
- For men: Merrell hiking shoes
- Moisture-wicking tech t-shirt for women perfect for hiking and hot days when you'll be outside a lot sweating
- tech-t-shirt for men
- For more ideas, do a search for hiking clothes or swimming clothes!
*As a Viator partner and Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission.
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5. See Oneloa Beach (aka Ironwoods Beach)
6. Continue walking on the Kapalua Coastal Trail
7. See Hawea Point
After you go to Hawea Point, you can turn around to make it a shorter walk, or…
8. Continue walking along the Kapalua Coastal Trail
9. See Kapalua Bay
10. Head back to where you came from!
Where to see Molokai on Maui?!
That is the island of Molokai you see off in the distance when you are hiking the Kapalua Coastal Trail!
Where to see whales in Maui
And in the winter, the Kapalua Coastal Trail is one spot in West Maui where you have a chance of seeing whales from shore off in the distance! Bring your binoculars! (The western shores of Maui in general are good for whale watching whether that’s West Maui or South Maui!)
MAP: Kapalua Coastal Trail
The “you are here” marker is at the start of the Dragon’s Teeth Trail, which goes towards the ocean (no trail marked on the map).
For another visual, here is the suggested route as listed above to enjoy the Kapalua Coastal Trail!
How long is the Kapalua Coastal Trail?
And how much time does it take?
The Kapalua Coastal Trail is officially listed at 1.76 miles, which would make it around 3.5 miles round trip.
If you were to casually walk the full length out and back without stopping, from Fleming Beach to Kapalua Bay Beach (or in the opposite direction), it might take around 1 to 1.5 hours.
This Kapalua Coastal Trail distance doesn’t include the side trail to Dragon’s Teeth and Makaluapuna Point, which might add on around 20-30 minutes total.
Is the Kapalua Coastal Trail paved?
There is a part of the Kapalua Coastal Trail that is paved. There are also parts of the Kapalua Coastal Trail that are not paved. The unpaved portion includes a dirt surface like a typical hiking trail, and it also includes a boardwalk trail.
Where to start the Kapalua Coastal Trail: Where is there parking?
Here are some of the main parking lots along the Kapalua Coastal Trail that you may consider:
Because the trail extends point-to-point, you can make the “start” of the trail at either end.
For the purposes of planning out this day, we will call the start of the Kapalua Coastal Trail at the northern end. I would say this is the quieter end.
On the northern end, you can park at DT Fleming Beach Park, Dragon’s Teeth Trail, or Kapalua Ironwoods. Dragon’s Teeth and Kapalua Ironwoods are relatively small parking lots. DT Fleming Park has a bit of a bigger parking lot, but it’s also tends to get more people. (aka it’s possible it’ll be nearly full.)
On the southern end, you can park at Kapalua Bay. This is also a parking lot which tends to get more people.
So basically, you can also plan out your day to start and end at a beach!
At the northern end of Kapalua Coastal Trail is DT Fleming Beach
DT Fleming Beach is at the northern end of the Kapalua Coastal Trail. This is more so known as a boogie boarding beach, which means that the ocean waves might be a little rougher.
There is also an oceanfront dining option here, where you can order a shake as your snack to keep you energized for your walk! (Maybe split it with someone so you don’t get too full to move. ;)) Or, make it a full meal after your walk. See the menu with prices.
Ritz Carlton Kapalua is also at the northern end
And then there is also the Ritz Carlton Kapalua that is at the northern end of the Kapalua Coastal Trail.
There’s a paved path that runs in front of the resort that is considered to be part of the Kapalua Coastal Trail, so if you do start at the northern end from Fleming Beach, then you will walk right past it.
At the southern end of Kapalua Coastal Trail is Kapalua Bay Beach
In general, Kapalua Bay can be seen as calmer and more of a beginner-friendly beach. Kapalua Bay Beach is considered one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui too.
Montage Kapalua Bay is also at the southern end
And then there is also the Montage Kapalua Bay that is at the southern end of the Kapalua Coastal Trail.
Similarly, there’s a paved path that runs in front of the resort, so if you walk this portion of the Kapalua Coastal Trail, you’ll walk right past the Montage Kapalua Bay.
Getting to the Kapalua Coastal Trail by bus
It’s possible to get to the Kapalua Coastal Trail by bus. There’s a bus that goes to Kapalua.
There are a couple of bus stops that are within walking distance of the Kapalua Coastal Trail. The Dragon’s Teeth Trail and Kapalua Ironwoods are both around a 5-10 minute walk from the nearest bus stop. Kapalua Bay is around a 5 minute walk (or less) from the nearest bus stop.
If you’re coming from Kaanapali or Lahaina, then it will be a direct bus to get to Kapalua. It’s around a 45 minute bus ride from Kaanapali, and around a 75 minute bus ride from Lahaina. If you’re coming from elsewhere, then you’ll transfer at Lahaina to get on the bus to Kapalua.
Google maps is a reliable way to get around Maui by bus. You’ll select the public transit option. If it’s not showing that the bus stop is as close as mentioned, then that likely means the bus is temporarily not going there. But in normal times, you can get there by bus!
This bus route is generally once an hour, so it’s best to plan ahead and pay attention to the bus timings!
And that’s a bit about hiking the Kapalua Coastal Trail!
See more pictures from the trail:
Be sure to also see more of the best hikes on Maui!
And if you’re looking for more to do when you make your trip to Kapalua, keep driving and explore the northernmost part of West Maui!
HAPPY HIKING IN KAPALUA!
