The mere mention of the sun-drenched, palm-fringed Hawaiian Islands can get a traveler dreaming. They are the stuff of fantasies and fodder for Hollywood movies, a favorite destination for vacationers from around the world seeking fun and relaxation in the sun. They are stunning in their natural beauty: miles of beaches and secluded swaths of red, black, yellow, gold, and sugar-white sand, a paradise of tropical rainforests, hanging gardens, tumbling waterfalls, rugged canyons, deep valleys, and towering volcanoes. Beyond its beauty, Hawaii has a rich history, with deep ties to ancient cultures.
But for those who are willing to leave the well-traveled road for a trail, there are few destinations that have as much to offer as Hawaii. Hikers—whether they’re climbing jagged peaks or descending to a giant crater floor, bare-footing across a black sand beach, cooling their feet in a waterfall pool, crisscrossing a misty rainforest, or rock-hopping soaring sea cliffs—see the best of Hawaii. Put on your hiking boots and you’ll discover a new view of paradise.
First developed during a period of great social and political upheaval in Hawaii, the Moanalua Valley Trail, also known as the Kamananui Valley Trail, is as much a journey into the island’s history as it is an exploration of its natural environment.
This National Park Service trail leads around the base of an enormous war heiau, or temple, built by King Kamehameha between 1790 and 1791 before completing his conquest of the Hawaiian Islands. Located on the dry North Kohala coast, the trail passes other archaeological sites and leads to a shady palm grove that was once the site of a Hawaiian royal compound.
Arguably, Iao Valley is one of the prettiest and most sacred sites on Maui. A paved .6-mile walk provides a scenic viewpoint of Kuka’emoku (Iao Needle), rising 1,200 feet from the valley floor. It’s believed that the lava-rock formation, surrounded by the forested walls of the Pu’u Kukui Crater, was once used as a natural altar. The valley is also the site of the battle of Kepaniwai where the forces of Kamehameha I conquered the Maui army in 1790.
This dramatic trail on a remote peninsula drops nearly 2,000 feet over soaring sea cliffs, before reaching Kalaupapa National Historic Park, home to the infamous Molokai leper colony. It was here that Father Damien de Veuster helped people afflicted with Hansen’s disease (leprosy), who were banished to the remote and isolated peninsula.
Hike into a steep cathedral valley through dense forest and past ancient settlement sites before reaching the 250-foot-tall Mo’oula Falls. Ancient Polynesians settled in lush Halawa Valley as early as the year 650, and archaeologists say it is one of the most culturally significant places in all of Hawaii. The sacred valley is home to 12 of Molokai’s 19 ancient temples.