Kauai Hike – Moalepe Trail

The Moalepe Trail on the East Side of Kauai has a gradual ascent and wonderful views of jagged green ridges, and a distant blue ocean. The trailhead is at the end of the pavement on Olohena Road. It begins as a red dirt right-of-way within the Wailua Game Management Area and leads you through pasturelands. Early into the hike there are ocean vistas, views of the Anahola Mountains and Kong, and close-up views of the Kamalii Ridge climbing into the Makaleha Mountains.

The trail enters the Halelea Forest Reserve after about a mile, while the Moalepe Stream winds its way through the valley on the north side of the trail. The Moalepe Trail narrows and becomes dense with foliage and gradually climbs up to the Kuilau Ridge. Along the way you will be rewarded with panoramas of lush, green canyons and ridges on one side of the trail, and views of Sleeping Giant (Nounou Mountain) and the ocean behind it on the other side of the trail.

The Moalepe Trail is part of the Na Ala Hele trail system and is also popular with equestrians and mountain bikers. As with most interior hikes on Kauai, it can become muddy after extended rains, but you can also be treated to views of waterfalls. This hike ends at a wooden bridge which also marks the end of the Kuilau Trail and can be combined for a one-way shuttle hike.

Directions: From Kuhio Highway 56 turn up Kuamo’o Road 580 aprox. 2.75 miles, turn right onto Kamalua Road 581, go to the end and turn left on Olohena Road and continue to the yellow gate at the end of the pavement .

Length: 2.25 mi.
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 680 ft