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
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
