Kapalua Coastal Trail

Kapalua Coastal Trail, Kapalua, HI 96761, USA

Kapalua Coastal Trail in Maui is one of my favorite and most accessible hikes. Stacks of sharp, twisted lava crags at Hawea Point and Makaluapuna Point (also known as “Dragon’s Teeth”) that resemble a fantasy landscape from Game of Thrones

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Maui's Dragon’s Teeth

Kapalua Coastal Trail in Maui is one of my favorite and most accessible hikes. Stacks of sharp, twisted lava crags at Hawea Point and Makaluapuna Point (also known as “Dragon’s Teeth”) that resemble a fantasy landscape from Game of Thrones

Take a Morning Walk on the Kapalua Coastal Trail

The Kapalua Coastal Trail is the only walk in America that both starts and finishes on a beach that has been voted “Best Beach in America.” Beginning in the parking lot of Kapalua Bay (voted “Best Beach in America” in 1991), the 1.75-mile trail parallels the crystalline cove. Along the shore, beachgoers laze beneath the shade of palms, and snorkelers slowly slip into waters that stand-up paddlers seem to walk on. The island of Molokaʽi looms green on the horizon; it’s the image of tropical bliss. Continuing along the path, the paved sidewalk gives way to gravel, which forks in three directions: To the left, a narrow trail weaves toward Namalu Bay, a protected cove where the rocky coastline conjures images of the Mediterranean. On the trail that leads straight, a short path heads to Hawea Point, the most westerly point on the island. From this rocky, windswept, time-sculpted perch, you can see sea turtles float above the shallow reef and periodically surface for comical breaths of air. To the right, you’ll clamber over rocks before linking up with a boardwalk, which was built to protect the dunes. The boardwalk parallels Oneloa Bay and hidden Ironwood Beach, a stretch of sand that is often empty despite its beauty and size. Finally, before finishing the trail at D.T. Fleming Beach (voted “Best Beach in America” in 2006), spend a moment at the Dragon’s Teeth Labyrinth to reflect on your stroll through paradise.

Sunset at Kapalua

Kapalua Coastal Trail easy but spectacular 3.5-mile hike that meanders through three of Maui’s prettiest beaches, strings of resort villas, and a jagged volcanic fields. Allow an hour-and-a-half to explore, it’s a great location to watch the sunset. The more scenic portion starts at the Kalapua Bay trailhead from the free public parking lot next to Napili Kai Resort.

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