Ahihi-Kinau Natural Reserve — Attraction in Maui

Beyond where the road ends, your Martian-Hawaiian adventure begins. Drive all the way past the small monument detailing the French navigator and sailors who came to this bay in 1788 to find a stony parking lot where you could simply park and enjoy the views if you felt them calling to you. For those who would venture further, you will be greatly rewarded. Wear reasonable footwear as you begin your trek into historic cultural lands where exotic lava flows and rock formations jut out of the land and sea.

Is that a baby wailing in the distance? You wouldn't be judged harshly for initially thinking so. Be prepared - this is goat land, and you are being permitted passage while under constant observation by their shockingly enormous population. Where the rest of the islands are run by roosters, the goats have laid claim to this rocky landscape of gnarled trees and shrubs, and the occasional survivor wild flower. 🌺

Turn corner one to find the walls of ancient Hawaiian establishments. Corner two brings you upon an intriguing blowhole spraying every 7th tide. Corner three, is that a sandy beach?? Corner four brings you deep into vegetation and goat territory. There's no turning back now, as trepidation and fear will only entice them. As you turn corner five... is this a new Indiana Jones movie? A beach composed entirely of the bleached white skulls of those who souls the goats judged unworthy... You're either brave or twisted to draw closer, but this gambit fortunately reveals them to be smoothed, bleached coral reefs, an entire shore's worth. Stunned, you will momentarily forget the goats' everlasting gaze.

Does the above sound interesting? Do you want to know more of the secrets at the edge of the Pacific? Come live them for yourself, for the best one is right around the...

Wow! This is a decent size parking lot and well maintained trail of lava rocks taking you from the parking lot through about 3 solid stretches of small pebbles and large boulder lava rocks with multiple beaches and sand stretches to give you give some shaded breaks between the hot walks thru the lava rock. 🌋 Some stunning beaches with multiple colors of sand and trees that look like they were knocked down and burned by lava, then washed the other direction with waves.

There are also multiple historic cultural sites where native houses previously stood. These are now inhabited by cute little billy goats that bounce around the stone walls. 🐐

During multiple points in the trail, we spotted a pod of dolphins and a couple breaching whales (it was Jan/whale season) that were playing out in the blue ocean.

Biggest warning would be for good shoes and lots of water. We wore standard tennis shoes and all wished we had on more sturdy hiking boots to support our ankles. The lava rock is not that bad to walk on, but after a while, your foot really starts to feel the rocks and thorns that poke thru typical foam tennis shoes. The sun was high with very few clouds, so sunscreen and water were essential. Very essential. Bring more water than you think. Everyone gave us the same warnings but we didn't take the advice and wish we would have.

Otherwise, we loved the breathtaking lava rock cliffs and colorful...

This place is for people who like to walk. This is not a little walk to a beach in flip-flops kinda walk. The sign is misleading; the light is not a lightHOUSE as some assume, but is a giant light pole and don't mistake the visuals of coastline on the sign to be the trail. As people we met did. The trail splits; the upper goes to the beach (there are a few on the lower as well) and the lower goes to the light pole and a nice area with some beautiful pools of water (not the kind you want to get in). You can get from one trail to the other, it is not marked on the sign map or any online maps I have seen (unless you look closely on satellite view), but there is a subtle path if you follow the walk-able spots lined with white rocks. It looks like it goes nowhere but eventually they connect. I love hiking and such; a 10 mile walk for lunch is not a big thing, but walking on lava rocks for just 5 is trying. My cross-trainers might have been a little soft-soled for the the job. It is a desolate wasteland of lava wreathed with a harshly crashing ocean. There is beauty to it, and it was a worthwhile experience for us. Though I could see how people could get out there, get lost and die. AT&T signal caught a few times but like most of the island cell service is iffy. Bring plenty of water like the sign says. Children and whiners not...