Hiking the Waiakoa Loop Trail on Maui, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 4.2 miles / 6.8 km
The Waiakoa Loop on Maui is one of the few standalone day hikes in the Kula Forest Reserve.
By this, I mean that the vast majority of trails within the Kula State Forest Reserve, also referred to as Polipoli, are often linked together with a number of other trails to create one longer loop trail, as is commonly done with the Polipoli-Redwood Loop Trail.
However, the Waiakoa Loop is the one exception to this, as the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) day hike is generally completed on its own, with the option to connect it with the Māmane Trail as well as Waipoli Road for those interested in hiking further.
This can be better understood using the map in the photo below, but for the shortest and easiest option, the Waiakoa Loop Trail on its own makes for a fun and casual adventure, allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful cool weather on the upper slopes of Haleakalā.
Waiakoa Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Waiakoa Loop Trail is located directly off Waipoli Road, about 4.8 miles (7.7 km) up the switchbacks on the left-hand side.
Note that most hikers will need to use the lower parking area, as the upper area is reserved for handicap vehicles only.
Google Maps Directions: Waiakoa Loop 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 Waiakoa Loop Trail
The Waiakoa Loop Trail begins on a service road for the first 0.8 miles (1.3 km), before the Waiakoa Loop truly begins.
This first section before the second trailhead is a bit hilly and would most likely require a 4x4 vehicle if you have access to the first gate.
Waiakoa Loop Trailhead
Then, after 0.8 miles (1.3 km), the Waiakoa Loop Trail begins beyond the second gate.
Additionally, the map below is a great way to see how linking the Upper Waiakoa and Māmane Trails, along with Waipoli Road, would create an alternative loop.
Waiakoa Loop Trail
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the second gate, the Waikoa Trail splits into the Waiakoa Loop Trail.
That being said, I personally prefer to hike on the upper side of the loop first because it makes the climb back out relatively short, as opposed to going left first, where the climb back to this junction would be nearly constant over the course of the loop, following the initial descent.
With all that said above, I chose to hike the upper side of the Waiakoa Loop first.
For the most part, the Waiakoa Loop Trail simply meanders in and out of a handful of small drainages through a mostly non-native forest, with a handful of native Hawaiian plants here and there.
Note that this, and all of the trail markers, are only indicating the distance from the Waiakoa Loop Trailhead at the second gate, not the parking area.
Waiakoa Loop-Upper Waiakoa Junction
After 1.4 miles (2.3 km), the Waikoa Loop and Upper Waiakoa Trail split.
Go left to continue on the Waikoa Loop, or go right if you’re interested in hiking the separate Waikoa-Māmane-Waipoli Loop, as previously mentioned.
Following the split, the Waikoa Loop Trail begins descending more noticeably, down a handful of switchbacks, toward the lower half of the Waikoa Trail.
In my opinion, these switchbacks that descended on the northern side of the loop were among the most beautiful sections of the entire hike.
Toward the bottom of the Waiakoa Loop, I ran into a number of boars on the trail.
However, in my experience, they typically run away at the first sound of a human coming near.
Compared to the upper half of the loop, which is a bit longer, the lower half of the Waiakoa Loop only extends for about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) before it begins the climb back up to the beginning.
This is where the Waiakoa Loop Trail noticeably begins climbing the 6 or 7 switchbacks, depending on how you count, back up to the beginning of the loop.
Waiakoa Loop Junction
Finally, the Waiakoa Loop Trail completes the loop, with only about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) of hiking to return to the parking area.
Overall, the Waiakoa Loop Trail is one of the easier and most straightforward day hikes in the Kula Forest Reserve; and for those who are up for the challenge, the Waiakoa Loop also makes for one of the best hikes to trail run on Maui.
Native Plants on the Waiakoa Loop Trail
On account of reforestation efforts that took place in the early 1900s, the vast majority of plants that can be found in the Kula Forest Reserve area are all non-native/ invasive overstory and understory plants.
However, there are a few natives that hikers can see on the Waiakoa Loop Trail, such as ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Koa, Palaʻā, and Pūkiawe, to truly only name a few.
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
More Maui Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Maui adventures, check out my separate posts below!
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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