ALOHA!
In the far northern area of West Maui is an area where you can find a rugged coastline.
And it’s here that you can also fine THE famous blowhole on Maui.
That would be the Nakalele blowhole.
More of the best of Maui beyond Nakalele Blowhole
Nakalele Blowhole is one of the best things to do in Maui!
So if you’re interested in the Nakalele Blowhole, you may also be interested in these top things around Maui:
- Waianapanapa State Park
- Hana Highway
- Lahaina Banyan Court
- Hookipa Beach
- Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium of Hawaii)
- Iao Valley State Monument
- Haleakala National Park
- Things to do in Maui (for VIEWS!)
Do you need to hike to see the Nakalele blowhole?
You can get a little bit of a distant look of it without too much effort.
But to see it up close and personal, it will require a little bit of a hike.
It’s a pretty short hike, but it is a bit of a steep rocky trail going down closer to sea level where the blowhole is.
So keep this in mind as you’re thinking about what shoes to wear hiking in Maui.
This is also the location of the previously heart-shaped rock. (“Previously” because it’s now broken by nature and only half a heart!)
The ocean is powerful!
To be dramatic… people, including tourists, have been injured, and have even DIED around blowholes. And that specifically also includes the Nakalele blowhole.
The ocean water that sprays up from blowhole has tremendous power so you really don’t want to hover around the hole.
It can also even be dangerous to be hanging in the area around the blowhole.
The danger can be in what’s called a rogue wave. This is an unexpected wave that comes onto shore. You can read 2 news stories about tourists dying at Nakalele blowhole because of this kind of thing here and here.
In both cases, what seemed to have happened is that they were hanging out in the area right around the blowhole.
Then, unexpectedly, a big wave came crashing onto the shore, and they were swept into ocean because of it.
Safety tip for Nakalele blowhole: Stay on dry rock
Aside from wet rocks being slippery, there is another reason to avoid spots that are wet when you’re visiting the Nakalele blowhole.
If it’s wet, that means that the waves have come up onto shore that far. And you don’t want to put yourself in a spot where there’s a greater chance a rogue wave might come.
Even if it’s dry, if you’re close to the edge, a wave can come up when you least expect it. So it’s best to avoid the edge altogether.
And so, the Nakalele blowhole is best admired from a reasonable distance!
Rogue waves are also a thing at the popular tide pools down the road from the Nakalele blowhole, so take care there too.
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Here are some ideas for your time on Maui!
Among the most popular things to do on Maui are Haleakala National Park, the Road to Hana, and Waianapanapa State Park!
For Haleakala National Park, the most famous spot is the Haleakala summit at high altitude of 10,000+ feet! For an epic hike, you will want to be sure to do the Sliding Sands Trail to hike into a crater with a volcanic desert landscape.
Most people do the Road to Hana as a day trip. There are so many Road to Hana stops that it can turn into a really long day. You can make it into a more relaxing 2-day trip by staying overnight in Hana at the Waianapanapa State Park cabins (bring your own everything) or the Hyatt Hana!
Waianapanapa State Park is home to the best black sand beach on Maui. (Reservations required.) You may also want to hike the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail so you can see lava fields with ocean views!
Some more of the best Maui hikes with views you need to see are the Pipiwai Trail (bamboo forest!), Waihee Ridge Trail, and Kapalua Coastal Trail.
Also head to West Maui to see the famous blowhole of Maui, the Nakalele Blowhole.
Read more for your Hawaii trip prep:
Save the Maui video playlist to watch on youtube later!
IMPORTANT!!! If you wanted to see the famous Iao Valley in the West Maui Mountains, unfortunately it will be closed through April 2023. Check the Hawaii State Parks website to confirm.
And now…
More PHOTOS of the hike down to this Maui blowhole!
First it’s a scenic drive just to get to Nakalele Point!
Nakalele Blowhole is marked on google maps so you can set that as your destination to get you there.
The trailhead parking for the blowhole is right off the main road.
And then you can take in more views and start the hike to the blowhole!
And then once you get down to the bottom, hopefully you’ll see the blowhole in action!
Whether you see water shooting up in the air or not, you can take in the ocean views!
And then once you’ve taken in the views, you can head back up!
And that’s a bit about doing the blowhole hike at Nakalele Point!
Where to next?!
Here are more things to do in while you’re in this area of Maui:
Plus, if you are interested in the Nakalele Blowhole, then you may also be interested in these top activities on Maui:
- Kapalua Coastal Trail
- Waihee Ridge Trail
- Iao Valley lookout
- How to spend one day in the West Maui Mountains
- Pipiwai Trail
- Driving to the Haleakala summit
- Sliding Sands Trail
- Hoapili Trail
- Best of Maui hiking
HAPPY SEEING A BLOWHOLE IN MAUI!
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!
The ultimate beach towel for travel?!
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
You can take underwater pictures with a simple waterproof phone case like this. Touch screen may not work well underwater - try the volume button to snap the pic instead!Get your suitcase more organized!
Packing cubes can make it so you're spending less time on your vacation looking for things! They are basically a form of drawers in your suitcase. Take a look at these packing cubes.Wear less sunscreen by wearing a UPF swim shirt!
Wearing a swim shirt means less skin that's exposed to the sun which means less sunscreen you need to apply! See about wearing swim shirts with UV protection like these when you're snorkeling.More for your Maui packing list
- 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
- Essentials to pack for Maui
- Best shoes for Maui