Ke Ala Loa O Maui / Piʻilani Trail

Ke Ala Loa O Maui / Piʻilani Trail follows the southeast shore from Pāʻiloa Bay to a boulder beach and back: 3 miles round trip over uneven lava, with a hala grove, park cabins, and ʻOhala Heiau along the way. It is a memorable coastal walk for hikers comfortable picking their way over broken rock. Plan on at least two hours, with extra time for the shoreline and cultural sites.

Start at Pāʻiloa Bay and head southeast. The tread is distinct in some places and faint in others, so keep the coast in view and watch for the continuation across the lava. This is not a smooth beach path: the surface rises and dips over sharp, broken rock. Slow down where the tread fades, and retrace the same corridor from the boulder beach rather than extending the mapped walk by mistake.

A broad lava bench and a blowhole are among the coast’s striking features. Spray can surge unpredictably, especially around high tide. Keep well back from openings and wet ledges; waves can sweep across the shore rocks, and falling rock is also a documented hazard. The exposed shoreline is the main reason to choose this walk carefully when the sea is rough.

A hala grove gives a welcome change from the black lava. This shoreline is described as part of an ancient King’s Trail, traditionally associated with the high chief Kihaʻapiʻilani. It is a good place to pause and notice how the route threads between the coast and the vegetation rather than cutting inland.

The path passes the park cabins and ʻOhala Heiau. Low stone walls, graves, and platforms are cultural features, not shortcuts or places to climb; remain outside them and leave stones where they are. A faint red human figure pictograph has been noted on a low wall near the cabins. It can be easy to miss, and should be viewed without touching or tracing it.

The state-park walk reaches a boulder beach, then returns the way it came. The longer continuation toward Kāʻinalimu Bay goes beyond the park and is a separate, roughly 4-mile round-trip outing; it is not included in this trail’s 3-mile distance or route line. Stay with the shoreline route described here if you want the park’s shorter out-and-back.

Waiʻānapanapa State Park requires advance reservations for visitor entry, so arrange access before driving out to the trail. There is no drinking water on the route. The park information prohibits pets, while the trail activity listing says dogs are allowed on leash; those rules conflict, so confirm directly with the park and do not assume a pet can join this hike.