ALOHA!
La Perouse Bay is one of the spots on Maui that you can go to see lava fields aka old lava flows.
You can just drive to La Perouse Bay for the views without hiking.
And you can also drive to La Perouse Bay to start a hike across lava fields along the ocean!
The hiking trail that starts from La Perouse Bay is called the Hoapili Trail.
This is also referred to as the Kings Highway.
It’s one of the best hikes in Maui.
This is a grand coastal hike across South Maui lava fields.
If you want to hike the whole trail, you’ll want to give yourself several hours.
👆👆 Hiking from La Perouse Bay as a 2 hour round trip hike will give you amazing views!
But what about if you don’t want to spend that much time hiking from La Perouse Bay?
Is it worth it to go just a little bit on the trail?
Because the hiking trail is nearly entirely along the coast line, this means grand ocean views from the moment you start hiking!
Well, from even before you begin, really!
👆 You will start the La Perouse Bay hike with scenic views.
Below will be focused on just the very first part of hiking from the La Perouse trailhead.
The Hoapili Trail extends further than this, and you can keep hiking for more amazing views. (Recommended! If you already know you want to hike more of the coastal lava fields, then see: hiking the Hoapili Trail.)
Below will give you an idea of what you can see from hiking 5 to 10 minutes one way from the La Perouse Bay parking lot.
You can decide if it’s worth it to hike from La Perouse Bay even for just 10 to 20 minutes as a round trip hike.
The times listed are based on how long I personally took to get along the trail.
This of course means it might be different for you!
You might be quicker, or it might take you longer!
You may spend more time taking in the views in a certain spot, etc etc!
I was generally going at a leisurely pace.
I also stopped often to take pictures.
What to pack for the La Perouse Bay hike
Hawaii is HOT, and you will be walking across black rocks (aka hot surface). So, be sure you are prepared with WATER and SNACKS at the least.
SHOES: It is a bad idea to do the La Perouse Bay hike in flip flops or sandals, even if they are hiking sandals.
You are walking across lava rocks, and even small specks of lava rock can be SHARP!
So it will be best to wear closed-toe shoes. It will also be best to wear sturdy shoes. Trail running shoes or hiking shoes would be most ideal. The thicker your soles the better since walking across lava rocks can be rough.
Even if you are only planning on hiking just a little bit from La Perouse Bay, it’s best to not wear sandals.
See more about what to bring when hiking in Hawaii.
Pictures below of hiking along La Perouse Bay!
🌋🌴
Read more for your Hawaii trip prep:
- Hawaii packing list: THE top things to pack for Hawaii
- Part of the back road to Hana is closed
Save the Maui video playlist to watch on youtube later!
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Hiking along La Perouse Bay
There is only one road that leads to La Perouse Bay, so you will just keep driving on that road until you can drive no more! This will take you directly to the La Perouse Bay parking lot.
Once you’re at the La Perouse Bay parking lot, you’ll look for the trailhead sign that will indicate the start of the trail. As you are facing the ocean, this will be off to the left.
The times noted below are how long it takes to hike there ONE WAY from the La Perouse Bay trailhead. (Or, around how long it took me to get there anyway.)
So you’ll want to double the time to account for the time it’ll take to get back.
Maybe you’ll be quicker on the way back since you won’t stop as much to take in the views.
Or maybe you’ll take longer on the way back because you’re more tired.
Hiking time: 0-5 minutes one way
Hiking time: 5-10 minutes one way
If you want to keep your La Perouse Bay hike to under 30 minutes, when you see the trail going into the woods, it could be a good spot to turn around.
I reached the forested area a little over 10 minutes after starting the walk from the La Perouse Bay trailhead.
Just beyond this, a couple of minutes, there is a small somewhat sandy beach.
So if you want to hike to this little beach, then maybe it will take around 15 minutes one way from the La Perouse Bay trailhead.
And that’s a bit of what you can see with 10 to 20 minutes of hiking from La Perouse Bay!
But the best of the Hoapili Trail is yet to come!
So if you’re prepared for a hot weather hike across lava fields, then you may way to keep going!
Have a look at more of what you can see on the Hoapili Trail!
And then be sure to see things to do in South Maui. Some of these things can be perfect to do either on your way to La Perouse Bay or on your way back.
Like, how about some post-hike food in South Maui?!
- Jawz food truck (fish tacos are a thing on Maui!)
Plus, if you are interested in the La Perouse Bay hike, you may also be interested in these activities on Maui:
- Hoapili Trail
- Waihee Ridge Trail
- Haleakala National Park hikes
- Pipiwai Trail
- Kapalua Coastal Trail
- Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve snorkeling spots
- More lava fields in Maui: Waianapanapa Coastal Trail
- More hikes in Maui: Maui hikes with amazing views
HAPPY HIKING FROM LA PEROUSE BAY!
IMPORTANT!!! If you wanted to see the famous Iao Valley in the West Maui Mountains, it is closed through the end of April. It is scheduled to open back up on May 1, 2023, and you need a reservation. Check the Hawaii State Parks website to confirm.
👇 Explore the Road to Hana map on google maps!
See the list:
- Things to do on Maui (for VIEWS!)
- Things to do in Haleakala National Park
- Road to Hana stops (for views!)
- Things to do on Lanai
- Maui to Lanai ferry
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Top things to pack for your Hawaii vacation!
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Turkish towels are considered to be more absorbent and lightweight than your average beach towel. Be sure to check out turkish towels like these!The cheapo way to waterproof your phone
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- How a cheapo waterproof phone case works
- Why wear water shoes for the beach
- Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean
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Watch the videos to see Maui in action!
Find more amazing things to do on Maui: Watch my Maui videos on youtube
If you see an activity you like, look in the description below the youtube video for the individual blog post about that specific activity!ALOHA!
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