Kauai Hikes – Kuilau Trail

This hike is one of the more beautiful foliage walks, following an old road turned trail that gently guides you up to a glorious view of the Makaleha Mountains. At the beginning of the path you’ll catch glimpses to the west of Kawaikini and Mt. Waialeale, the wettest place on earth. For the first part of the trail you are treated to a smorgasbord of native and non-native plants from guava to the hala tree. At roughly the one mile point is an excellent spot to take a break. This grassy plateau with impressive views offers a picnic table and a forest of ohia trees which often produce a bright red bloom. The panoramas extend west across the lush hillsides of shrubs, vines and trees, and beautiful valley to Mount Waialeale.

The trail picks up to the east and descends slightly into a narrow, twisting ridge with lush, tropical greenery. After a quick ascent you’ll be treated to a lovely view of Nonou Mountain (Sleeping Giant). Further down the trail you will come to a wooden footbridge which crosses the Opaeka’a Stream. A junction lies up ahead and you need to take the left fork into a grouping of eucalyptuses and ferns. Just ahead is a beautiful veiw of Kapehua’ala, the highest peak of the Makaleha Mountains. The trail ends about 2.2 miles in at the Moalepe Trail. The total length of the two trails is 4.5 miles and is a popular bicycle and equestrian route.

Directions: To reach the trailhead take Highway 580 (Kuamo’o Road) from Wailua for 7 miles until you reach Keahua Arboretum. There is a spillway across the road and parking for the Arboretum. The trail starts about 100 yards before the Arboretum.

Length: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 700 feet