Awa'awapuhi Trail

Waimea, Hawaii

5.0/5
based on 2 reviews

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.

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app
Download GPX File

Features

Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Scenic

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.

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

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.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike Honopu Ridge

Hike Kalepa Ridge

Hike the Pihea & Alaka'i Swamp Trail

Hike Kawaikoi Stream

Waipo'o Falls

Waimea Canyon Lookout