Honolua Bay

Honolua is a small bay located near mile 33 on hwy 30 past Kapalua. There's no sandy beach here, so it's not a place to come and sun. What you will find is a great place for snorkeling and diving.

As part of the Honolua - Mokuleia Marine Life Conservation District the bay is teeming with sealife. During summer months, when the swell is not comming in from the north, snorkelers and divers can enjoy views that rival and surpass Molokini. During winter months, when the waves are high, the water clouds up and it's often not safe swim or dive here. The picture above was taken in January and you can see the silt in the water after a rain.

When the surf is high Honolua turns itself into a surfers paradise. If you'd like to watch the action drive past Honolua Bay and up the hill. Near the top of the hill you'll find a wide dirt road turning off to the left. Follow it down to a parking area from where you can watch the surfers do their thing.

Directions: Past Kapalua on hwy 30 and just before the 33 mile marker you'll find a wide spot on the left that's paved. Park here. (If you see stairs, drive on, your at Slaughterhouse) A footpath leads down to the beach.

What You'll Find:

• No sand beach
• No lifeguard
• Great diving and snorkeling when the surfs not up.
• No taking of marine life by any means.

View Honolua Bay in a larger map

Thanks to reader John Carty for pointing out below that Honolua Bay is being loved to death. See http://www.savehonolua.org/ for more information.

Iao Park

Iao Park is one of our favorite places to visit on Maui. It's lush tropical setting in the West Maui Mountains takes one into a world far different than the warm and dry areas of South and West Maui. On a warm day we enjoy visiting the park in the afternoon when it's 1000 foot elevation and cloudy weather usually make for cooler temperatures.

The most famous feature of the park is the iconic Iao Needle. This lava remnant rises 1200 feet from the valley floor. In ancient times the needle was probably used as an altar in religious ceremonies. It's usually most visible in the mornings, before the clouds settle in.

After parking you'll find a paved path leading to a bridge accross Iao stream and a magnificent view of Iao Needle. From here you can choose to hike up to a lookout point, down to a stream-side path or choose one of the other well marked trails in the park. Take your time, this is truly a peaceful place, one that needs to appreciated not rushed through.

While it's peaceful today, it wasn't always so. Iao Valley is also the site of the famous Battle of Kepaniwai in which King Kamehameha I destroyed the Maui army and ultimately changed Hawaiian history forever. Kepaniwai means "damming of the waters" and refers to the bodies of slain warriors blocking the stream.

Park Information:

• Restrooms
• Paved parking lot
• Hiking trails

Directions:

From Wailuka take highway 32 towards the mountains and follow the signs.


View Iao Park in a larger map

Papawai Scenic Lookout

The Papawai Scenic Lookout, near mile marker 9 on hwy 30 is a great spot for whale watching. The vista from here takes in a view from Lanai nearly all the way to Ma'alaea Harbor. If there's a whale anywhere in the area you'll probably be able to see it from here.

Pacific Whale Foundation staffs a free "Whale Information Station" here from about 8 AM till about 2 PM everyday during whale watching season. The experienced naturalist on hand can answer your questions about the whales. Like why do they come to Hawaii, where do they come from, how big are they and just about anything else you can think of. Displays, models, brochures and binoculars are all available.

So, stop by and spend a few minutes with the expert. You'll probably see whales and who knows, you just might learn something too.


View Papawai Scenic Lookout in a larger map

Ka'eleku Caverns

Authors Note: This article first appeared in www.govisithawaii.com.

Ka'eleku Caverns records a moment, frozen in time, from Maui's distant past. A walk along it's passages brings one face to face with Maui as it was long ago. A place where lava flowed from inside the earth and built the island we know today.

About 30,000 years ago molten lava flowed down Haleakala near what is now Hana. Along the way it formed the lava tube system known today as Ka'eleku Caverns. Lava tubes are made when flowing lava cools from the outside forming a crust or protective shell around the still red hot lava flowing on the inside. Over time these flows occurred again and again. Each flow left it's mark, recording it's passage as amazing formations that can still be seen today.

Ka'eleku Caverns is now a peaceful place where those traveling along the road to Hana can enjoy a tour of the lava tube, catching a glimpse of Maui's long lost past. After a brief orientation guests are free to tour the ¼ mile of the cavern open to the public at their own pace. Printed guides help visitors identify the many interesting features of the cavern. Guided tours are no longer offered. After the tour, for those so inclined, there's a picnic area and a one of a kind Red Ti Botanical Garden Maze.

Ka'eleku Caverns is operated by Maui Cave Adventures. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:30am to 3:30pm. They're also open some Sundays, but call ahead. Cost is $11.95 per person, kids 5 and under are free. From Kahului, drive the Hana Highway to just past mile marker #31. Turn left on Ulaino Road. Drive 4/10 mile to the Caverns. Allow about 2 ½ hours for the drive from Kahului and about an hour for the tour.

Ka'eleku Caverns is truly a one of a kind Maui activity and well worth the stop on the road to Hana. Where else can you go 50 feet underground and 30,000 years back in time?


View Kaeleku Caverns in a larger map

Olawalu Petroglyphs

Without a written language ancient Hawaiians recorded their thoughts by etching pictures into rock. These pictures, or petroglyphs, are found all over the Hawaiian Islands. Many examples are found on Maui, but most are on private land and not accessible to the public.

Maui Visitors traveling the road between Ma'alaea and Lahaina pass close by one of these sites. It's know as the Olowalu Petroglyphs. The 300-year-old stone carvings are engraved into the face of Pu'u Kilea, a volcanic cinder cone in the V-shaped Olowalu Valley. There are over a hundred individual petroglyphs, including a famous one of a man with a crab-claw sail head, various human figures (many with triangular bodies), dogs and sails.

The site once had a viewing platform to allow visitors a closer look at the pictures. Today because, of vandalism, the viewing platform has been allowed to deteriorate. A faded red metal handrail remains, but there is no safe access to it. So, view the petroglyphs from ground level.

Standard Directions: Turn mauka (towards the mountain) at the 15 mile marker on hwy 30. Drive across the gravel path to the frontage road behind the store and turn left. Drive about .1 mile until you see a road leading straight towards the mountain. You'll see a sign for the petroglyphs. Park here and walk the rest of the way. By the way, the sign says it's a 1/4 mile, it's really more like a 1/2 mile. You'll know you're at the site when you see the handrail along the cliff.

Alternate Directions: After I walked all the way to the site I noticed a paved road that passes nearby. It leads to a new sub-division. Here's how to find it. At mile 14.5 on hwy 30 look for Luawai Street. You'll see a sign for "Olowalu Mauka Subdivision." (Luawai Street is off the frontage road so you'll have to decide how to safely get there) Drive .5 mile along Luawai Street until you see a dirt road to the left. Park here. Walk about 100 feet towards the white building and you'll intersect the road to the petroglyphs. Turn right and you're nearly there.

We found the petroglyphs to be an interesting side trip. We hope you will too. Here's a few reminders:

• The petroglyphs are on private property, so permission to enter can be revoked at any time. Everyone's good behavior will help keep the site accessable.
• This is an irreplaceable historic site. Don't do anything to alter it.
• Be safe. Don't try to climb the cliff, it's not safe to do so.
• Public access ends at the petroglyphs, though the road continues.
• Don't leave any valuables in your car.

(This is an update of an article that first appeared in December 2007)

Slaughterhous Beach

Slaughterhouse is a beautiful little sand beach that's part of the Honolua Bay Marine Preserve. Be ready to walk down more than a 100 feet of staircase from road level to the beach. What you’ll find at the bottom is a beautiful beach of white sand bordered to the front by the ocean, the back by the cliff and about the length of a football field. Because of it’s location the beach is usually shaded till mid morning and is not too crowded early in the day. During winter months heavy surf is common here so as always use caution. On calm days boogie boarding and snorkeling are favorite activities here. The cliff also shelters the wind and blocks the traffic noise. There are no facilities here.

So, you may ask, how did such a beautiful place get such a, well, interesting name. Images of long past battles may come to mind. The real story is a little more tame, unless you're a cow that is. Maui had quite a beef industry in the past. The slaughterhouse where the beef was processed was located, you guessed it, on the hill above the beach. As time passed the slaughterhouse was no longer needed and was torn down, but the name of the beach remains.

Amenities

• No lifeguards
• No facilities
• Good snorkeling, surfing, body boarding, scuba diving
• No fishing or spearing - this is a protected marine preserve
• Concrete stairs lead from road down to beach
• Limited roadside parking
• Dangerous high surf and strong currents often present in the winter

View Slaughter House Beach in a larger map

Our Top Five Free Things to Do On Maui

Here's a list of our top five free (or almost free) things to do while on Maui.

Whale Watching: Each year from December through April thousands of Humpback Whales migrate from Alaskan waters to the warm waters of Hawaii to mate and to give birth. Tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world respond by making a migration of their own to Maui, the best place in the islands for whale watching. The whales can be seen from many spots along Maui's shore and it doesn't cost a thing. One of the best spots is the Papawai Scenic Lookout on highway 30 just north of Ma'alaea, near mile marker 9. Pacific Whale Foundation staffs a free "Whale Information Station" mornings there during whale watching season.

Spend Time At The Beach: Maui has over 30 popular beaches that visitors frequent, and they're all free. You may not realize it, but nearly all beaches in Hawaii are open to the public, even the ones in front of the fancy resorts. The cabanas, lounges and wait staff may belong to the hotels, but the beach is yours. Big Beach is one of our favorites. Just pack your beach stuff and head out to catch some rays. (Tip: bring plenty of bottled water) (An even better tip: empty one of the water bottles and fill it with margarittas) :)

Go Snorkeling: This is one of the almost free activities since you'll probably have to rent some snorkel gear. At most of the snorkel shops around the island you can rent a set for under $20 for a week. When you rent your gear ask the staff for tips to good snorkeling spots in your area. Frankly, you'll see more fish at some of the shore snorkeling locations than you'll see on a Molokini excursion and save a $100 to boot.

Visit Iao Park: We just love this place. It's paradise on earth, with restrooms, and doesn't cost a thing. On a warm day we enjoy visiting Iao Park in the afternoon when it’s 1000 foot elevation and cloudy weather usually make for cooler temperatures.

Take an Evening Stroll Along Front Street in Lahaina: Music, lights, the harbor, art shops, it just goes on and on. What more can you say? (Caution: while strolling is free, entering a shop can become very expensive.) ;)

Well, that's our list. We also enjoy sightseeing Upcountry and driving the Road to Hana. What's your favorite free thing to do on Maui? Why not leave a comment and let us know?