Awa'awapuhi Trail
Waimea, Hawaii
Details
Distance
6.07 miles
Elevation Gain
1991 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Karyna Wilkerson
The Awa'awapuhi Trail is a ~6-mile out-and-back hike offers amazing views from cliffs of Awa‘awapuhi and Nualolo Valley. The hike to the viewpoint is downhill, so prepare yourself for the thigh burner on the way out. If you want to get on the trail early, consider camping at Koke'e State Park.
This 6-mile hike leads you through a forest reserve filled with native dryland plants and ends abruptly above the sheer cliffs of Awa‘awapuhi and Nualolo Valley. You will often hike in clouds and mist through the forest, but the clouds tend to part near the ocean, giving you spectacular views of the cliffs and blue Pacific Ocean. The hike to the cliffs is all downhill so the return leg is much more tiring. The hike itself is not that difficult, although a fear of heights may keep you away from the great views that walking out past the lookout point will give you. A night of camping is recommended so you can get an early start on the trail, otherwise it's about an hour drive from Waimea town.
If you're interested in camping, you can make a reservation for a campsite in Kokee State Park here.
Stop at the menehune food mart in Kekaha for food/snacks and water or there is a small store in Kokee State Park.
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Awa'awapuhi Trail Reviews
We completed this hike just hours before our plane took off for home because we wanted one last adventure on Kauai, and we are so glad we did! This hike is about 3.1 miles downhill to get to the end. Once there, you are rewarded with the most amazing view of the Na Pali Coast and can even walk (very carefully!) on the ridge of one of the peaks. It was very cloudy when we first arrived and we couldn't see much of anything, but as we climbed down further and waited it out, everything became much more clear! Keep in mind that it is 3.1 miles uphill to return to the parking lot, so bring lots of water and build in time to take breaks.
5.0
Great hike with great views! If the clouds are in your way, just give it a couple of minutes until they disappear. Unfortunately the loop that connects the Nu'alolo Trail with the Awa'awapuhi Trail is still closed due to maintenance. I stayed a night at Koke State Park which is a nice and quiet campground, though a little colder than the campsites along the beaches
5.0
I haven't done the camping, but I did do the hike. There are a few hikes that connect to each other. There is a portion of the hike that was washed out when I went. You could proceed, but with caution. It was terrifying, as I'm scared of heights, and the trail was definitely dangerous.
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Nearby
Hike Honopu Ridge
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Hike Kawaikoi Stream
Waipo'o Falls
Waimea Canyon Lookout
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