Hiking the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail on Maui, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Keʻanae Arboretum Trail is one of only a few established trails along the 51-mile (82.1 km) Road to Hāna, and it’s also one of the easiest day hikes that you can choose off the infamous highway.
By this, I mean that the Hāna Highway is filled with countless secrets that are not obvious by any means to most visitors who drive the road. However, the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail is, without a doubt, one of the easiest and most established adventures that you can find!
In all, the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail is a great day hike to see and learn about a variety of both native and introduced species in Hawaiʻi, with the very end of the trail allowing visitors the unique opportunity to see an actively managed taro patch or loʻi kalo, a traditional Hawaiian form of agriculture that is still practiced to this day!
Keʻanae Arboretum Trailhead Parking
The parking area for the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail is located in one of two small pullouts directly off the Hāna Highway on the left-hand side when driving east.
Out of caution, consider the Keʻanae Arboretum Trailhead, or any trailhead off the Hāna Highway, to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Keʻanae Arboretum Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail
The Keʻanae Arboretum Trail follows a mostly paved path until it approaches the loʻi, a traditional Hawaiian form of irrigated terraces used for growing taro, near the far end of the hike.
Keʻanae Arboretum
As you enter the arboretum, I highly encourage you to take a look at the map or take a picture to follow along.
This will allow you the best opportunity to learn more about the many species that line the trail, which includes both natives, non-natives, as well as Hawaiian introductions.
While Rainbow Eucalyptus trees may seem like a staple in Hawaiʻi, they are actually an introduced species, native to a handful of countries in Southeast Asia.
Loʻi Kalo
At around 0.4 miles (0.6 km), the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail enters the loʻi kalo.
This is where I want to encourage the highest amount of respect among visitors, as these loʻi are actively managed by those who live in Keʻanae.
Therefore, please stay on the path as best as possible, and please close the gate behind you! The fence is the best way to keep destructive non-native ungulates out that would otherwise destroy and uproot all of the hard work.
Native Plants in the Keʻanae Arboretum
For the most part, the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail is filled with non-native Hawaiian introductions, with very few native species because the trail is so low in elevation.
However, visitors can still see natives like Hau, ʻĒkaha, and Hala.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
Best Hotels & Vacation Rentals on Maui
Since Maui is such a big island and driving from place to place can take a long time, many of the best places to stay are located on all different sides of the island.
I recommend starting your search on VRBO to compare places from Kīhei, Kahului, Lāhainā, Kāʻanapali, and Hāna.
Maui
Maui Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel or vacation rental shuttle prior to arrival.
That being said, the shuttle options below are incredibly cheap, and they are a great option to get across North, South, West, and Upcountry Maui!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
One of my favorites!
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Maui or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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Disclosure
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