Christine Hitt
Hawaii is filled with epic trails with astounding views of varied landscapes that you could easily fill up a trip itinerary with hikes every day. But if you only have time for one outing, these are the top hikes I recommend on each island.
Kalalau on Kauai
The 11-mile Kalalau Trail is extraordinary for adventure lovers with backpacking experience, however, the first 2 miles alone, from Haena State Park to Hanakapiai Beach, is worth it for visitors who want to see the trail's sea cliffs and tropical valleys on a day hike without the need for permits. Hiking to Hanakapiai Beach requires an entry and parking reservation; swimming is strongly discouraged.
The islet off the coast of Lanai is Puupehe, or “Sweetheart Rock.” Photo Credit: Christine Hitt
Manoa Falls on Oahu
This island has many memorable trails that are easily accessible, but if I had to choose one, it would be the 1.6-mile roundtrip Manoa Falls Trail. It has a lot of what a first-time visitor to Hawaii is hoping to experience: a tropical rainforest hike that ends at a waterfall. The trail is good for all ages and levels of experience, and the path is well-maintained. Swimming in the waterfall pool is not allowed.
Pipiwai on Maui
One of the most enchanting trails I've hiked, the Pipiwai Trail requires some planning ahead of time as it is in the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park and is 12 miles past Hana. Unless you're staying in Hana, you'll have to watch the clock as it may take many hours to get there on the winding Road to Hana. But the hike is worth it. The lush trail takes visitors through bamboo forests, past many waterfalls and to the 400-foot-tall Waimoku Falls.
Puupehe on Lanai
An iconic landmark, Puupehe is a short 0.9-mile coastal hike near Hulopoe Beach and the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, but it's a beautiful one with a haunting story. Puupehe, which literally means "Pehe's Hill," is an 80-foot-tall islet just off the coast. It's inaccessible, but the trail gives you a close view of it. Its nickname is "Sweetheart Rock" for a legendary story attached to it: A woman named Pehe drowned in a cave, and a mourning chief is said to have buried her at the top of the islet.
The Manoa Falls Trail is the quintessential Hawaii trail — perfect for first-time visitors. Photo Credit: Christine Hitt
Kilauea Iki on the Big Island of Hawaii
There aren't many places in the world where you can walk into a 400-foot-deep crater on an active volcano, and that's why Kilauea Iki at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tops my list of hikes on this island. The 3.3-mile-loop trail descends slowly through a rainforest along the rim, until you reach the bottom of the crater -- a solidified lava lake, created during the 1959 eruption, that you can walk across.
Halawa Valley on Molokai
The Halawa Valley Falls Cultural Hike is perhaps the best hike in Hawaii because it combines a beautiful waterfall hike with authentic cultural presentations by a Hawaiian guide who is from the valley. The hike to Mooula Falls is 1.7 miles each way, and visitors will learn about the native plant species, see historical sites and hear Hawaiian stories along the way. Visitors also have a chance to swim at the waterfall, weather permitting.