ALOHA!
This is basically part 3 of what you can see when hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail (aka Piilani Trail) in Waianapanapa State Park.
Below will tell you a bit of what you can see if you hike to the SOUTH along the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail.
Part 1 and part 2 were basically what you can see hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail to the north from the black sand beach overlook.
Next will be what you can see by hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail to the south for a little bit!
If you can’t see the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South video above, then you can watch it on youtube.
This part of the trail is a little bit away from the black sand beach.
But there is a paved trail that connects to get from the black sand beach overlook to the south side of Waianapanapa Coastal Trail.
Maybe you’ll spend 5 minutes getting between the black sand beach overlook and the start of the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail.
There are more amazing views of Pailoa Bay to be seen on this “connector” trail, so you might stop for the views along the way and take a little bit longer!
You can think of this section of the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South as hiking from the blowhole to the sea arch.
Your starting point for this hike can be the blowhole overlook.
Well, it’s more like a short side trip to the blowhole overlook first.
And then you can start the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail that goes to the south.
Actually a more helpful landmark for where to find the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South trailhead would be the Honokalani Cemetery, but… it sounds better to start from the blowhole. 😜
So you want to also be on the lookout for the cemetery to find the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail on the south side.
And your “destination” for this hike can be a sea arch! (This is not the only sea arch in Waianapanapa State Park, but it can make for a turnaround point!)
From the blowhole to the sea arch, it will likely take you around 10-15 minutes of hiking along the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South, one way.
And it is possible to go (much) further if you want!
The Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South goes towards Hana Bay.
I hiked along the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail south for a little under an hour one way to what seemed to be an old fisherman’s hut before turning around and still did not make it to the end of the trail, so I am not sure what it looks like on that end.
👆 Hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South from the blowhole to the old fisherman’s hut might take around 1 hour one way.
No matter how far you go, along the way you will be walking across lava rocks and get grand views of the ocean!
Also note, the sea arch is created by nature!
This sea arch has seemingly been around for a long time, but with the relentless rough ocean waves crashing against it, there is a chance that it can be destroyed! This is what happened to the previously famous heart-shaped rock on Maui!
I hiked this section of Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South in February 2020.
If you have not yet gotten the intro to Waianapanapa State Park, here are some basics:
- The best of Waianapanapa State Park
- Hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail North for 30 minutes
- Hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail North for 2+ hours
If you are short on time, the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail North is more convenient as it starts directly from the black sand beach, which is THE big reason most people visit Waianapanapa State Park.
So you will already be at the black sand beach, and then you can immediately start hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail North. You will also see amazing views.
The Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South is the side of the Waianapanapa State Park cabins.
So Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South will be convenient if you are staying in a Waianapanapa State Park cabin.
The Waianapanapa Coastal Trail is directly behind (in front of? oceanside!) some of the Waianapanapa cabins. (Yes staying in a Waianapanapa State Park cabin can be practically an oceanfront stay!)
From some cabins there is direct access to the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail! (Otherwise you’ll walk for 5-10 minutes to get there.)
So if you are staying at the Waianapanapa State Park cabins, you can make it a perfect morning walk along the ocean… afternoon walk along the ocean… sunset walk along the ocean… starting just a few steps (possibly!) from your cabin!
You could also make it a hike to the blowhole from your cabin along the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail… or further to the black sand beach if you’re up for it!
If you are going for a sunset walk, be sure to be back by dark!
Maybe take a flashlight or headlamp just in case you end up out later than you expect, for safety!
Walking across lava rocks along the ocean in the dark does not sound very good!
A light is good to add to your Hawaii packing list as part of your camping/cabin essentials!
See more about staying near the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South: Waianapanapa State Park cabins
The official hiking trail info for the Piilani Trail
The Waianapanapa Coastal Trail’s official name is Ke Ala Loa O Maui Trail or Piilani Trail.
According to google translate, “Ke Ala Loa O Maui” means “the best road of Maui” in the Hawaiian language.
The trail sign you will see as you start the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail on the south side. 👇
More below about getting to the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail SOUTH trailhead!
🌴🌋
So now…
How to find the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail that goes to the south
From the parking lot, you can follow signs to the blowhole.
You may see a sign that shows the “trail” in both directions.
The Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South will be in the opposite direction of the black sand beach.
👇 Trail to the blowhole overlook in Waianapanapa State Park.
You might want to hang around the blowhole overlook for 5 minutes or so to see if you can see the water spraying up!
There’s also somewhat of a side trail along the coast from the blowhole overlook that you can walk around.
Don’t get too close to the edge though!
👆 No matter where you are in Waianapanapa State Park, stay back from the edge. The ground may break off without warning and you could be seriously injured or killed.
👆 No matter where you are in Waianapanapa State Park, another reason to stay away from the edge is because the ocean waves can break on the ledge. If this happens, you could be swept off, injured, or drown. This has been known to happen elsewhere on Maui at the famous Maui tide pools.
Then once you have think you’ve waited around long enough for the blowhole, you can move on to looking for the cemetery and start of the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South.
And then you will see the official start of the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South!
And then off you go to see the sea arch… and more!
And that’s a bit about hiking the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail South!
More for your trip to Hana! Post-hike food in Hana?!
Or buy the famous Road to Hana banana bread on your way to Waianapanapa State Park!
More things to do in Hana.
Plus see the big list of stops on the Road to Hana!
Plus, if you are interested in the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail, you may also be interested in these top activities on Maui:
- Waihee Ridge Trail
- How to spend one day in the West Maui mountains
- Kapalua Coastal Trail
- Hoapili Trail (more Maui lava fields!)
- Pipiwai Trail
HAPPY HIKING THE SOUTH PART OF THE WAIANAPANAPA COASTAL TRAIL!
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