Ready to explore some epic island nature and a unique part of Hawaiian history? The Hoapili Trail in Maui will take you through the vast lava fields underneath the Red Hill Haleakala Mountain peak. This special rocky pathway goes along the stunning Maui coastline and all the way to the Hanamanioa Point Lighthouse. The best part is there are dozens of wild goats roaming around this Maui trail!
How the Maui Lava Fields Came to Be
The Maui Lava fields are truly one of the best things to experience on the island. They were created by the last known eruption on Maui, which is thought to have occurred from the Haleakalā volcano sometime in the 17th century.
Our first thought was were we on Mars or Hawaii still?? Walking through the rocky black Maui lava fields that surround La Perouse Bay, truly feels like you’re on another planet!
How to Get to the Maui Lava Fields
To get to here, you’ll first want to look into the current prices for car rentals. We actually wrote a full guide to help you with renting a car on Maui.
The Hoapili trail is about a 30-minute drive from the popular town of Kihei. Along the route, you’ll pass some of Maui’s most luxurious hotels!
From there, it will take you on a beautiful winding road along the coast that leads to the parking lot.
Really ,the only reason to venture to this part of the island is to walk the Hoapili Trail. However, on the way back to Kihei is the perfect opportunity to stop at Mākena State Park and its white sand beach.
Across from the entrance, you can even grab fish tacos at Jazzy’s food truck!
Quick Tips For the Maui Hoapili Trail
Parking: The lot is conveniently located at the start of the Hoapili Trail in Maui. There is not many spots available, so arrive early and be careful driving on the rocky surface.
Wear Shoes: We can not overstate this enough! Wear shoes or hiking boots for the Maui lava fields. You don’t want to do this one in flip-flops.
Essentials: When packing for a day hike, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a bathing suit, and even a snorkel if you’re planning to take a dip. It’s important to note there is also no cell phone service on the Hoapili trail.
Maui Wildlife: In addition to the wild goats on Maui, keep an out for dolphins and sea turtles along your walk.
Trail Care: Stay on the path for the entirety of the hike to not alter important archeological sites. Also, remember to take any trash with you when you leave.
Seeing the Wild Goats of the Hoapili Trail
We had heard we might meet some furry friends on the Hoapili Trail, but we could have never expected this many wild goats on Maui! Feral goats were first introduced on the Hawaiian islands with the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778.
Since then, they’ve grown in population and are used as livestock, for hunting, and farming purposes. The goats you’ll see on the Hoapili Trail roam freely.
Honestly, they seemed pretty friendly to us. However, still keep a safe distance and respect them in their natural environment.
We started the trail around 8:30 am and noticed dozens of wild goats in the starting section of the hike (before the Maui lava fields). On the way back around 10am, there were noticeably fewer goats as the trail got more crowded. If you want to see the most goats, try to plan your Maui itinerary to be on the path early!
Walking the Hoapili Trail on Maui
The trail is completely flat and more of a walk than a hike. After passing through the trees (where the goats hide from the hot sun), you’ll be walking directly on the Maui lava Fields!
This is where you can see the mountain in the background and more of the gorgeous coastline.The Hoapili Trail took us about 2 hours to complete roundtrip. Still, you could easily spend all afternoon on the part of the island.
More Maui Hikes: Don’t miss all of the best hikes on Maui! Some of our favorite climbs were the Waihee Ridge Trail and Pipiwai Trail. For more of an easy stroll, check out the Kapalua Coastal Trail or Wailea Beach Walk.
Hanamanioa Point Lighthouse
Once you reach the Hanamanioa Point Lighthouse you’re at the end of the Hoapili Trail on Maui! This small light fixture marks one of the most Southern points on the island.
As you circle back to the parking lot, take your time going through the forest. We recommend stopping for a picnic at one of the beaches if you have time.
Looking for a longer and more challenging hike? Take on the King’s Highway, which starts from the same location as the Hoapili Trail. It’s a 5.5-mile round trip hike that will take you to the remote Kanaio Beach.
Have any questions on Hoapili Trail or want to share your own Maui lava fields experience? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
I did this a few days ago. Went from La Perouse Bay to Kanaio Beach and back. It was about 4.5 miles. Make no mistake that it is NOT all smooth paths along the water. I ran/scrambled the route early in the morning (sunrise) and it took about an hour.
The more I think about it, I think the article really gives people a non-realistic idea of this hike that could be dangerous. Cell service is spotty at best and at most, it will be only you (and maybe a fisherman) out there. As for the goats, yeah, I saw them. But it isn’t like they just stand there while you pass by. They immediately bolt and run when you get close. For anyone thinking of doing this trail, go to google maps satellite view and look at the terrain before deciding to take the hike. That said, I am glad I did it and Kanaio Beach was fantastic.
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Hey Mike! Are you sure we’re talking about the same trail? This article is just to the lighthouse and back along the coast. You might of done the longer inland trail called Kings Highway? Also weird we passed probably 30 goats and they barely even glanced at us. We didn’t try to get too close to them though and I wouldn’t recommend that with any wild animal!
The terrain itself is very rocky on the path we did but there were barely any inclines. Just need a sturdy pair of shoes… Saw people doing it in flip-flops which is definitely a bad idea. There are signs about the cell service when you head in but that’s a good point that people should know! Thanks for reading.