This is one of our favorites places on Maui. Waihe'e Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Refuge has a 2+ miles roundtrip flat trail that ends at Waihe‘e Stream - Part of Nā Wai ‘Ehā (The Four Streams). Waihe'e stream meets the ocean where big waves roll in and splash against the coastline.
Waihe'e Coastal Dunes was once populated with two thriving ancient Hawaiian villages, an extensive inland fishpond and several heiau. Waihe‘e Refuge is among the most significant cultural sites in the state. The Hawai‘i Land Trust ensures that this rich cultural site, once slated for development as a golf resort, will be forever protected.
The Kealaka'ihonuua heiau is marked by a sign along the trail. It has not been fully restored and may look like a pile of rocks, but it is a unique and powerful cultural site.
Today, the landscape was covered in wildflowers and we had the trail to ourselves until we reached the river. We saw whales far in the distance. Once we reached the stream we sat on river rocks and watched the big waves swell and break in regular sets. If you plan to go in the river bring water shoes to make it safer and easier to walk over the slippery rocks.
The entrance road is rocky and deeply rutted so a sturdy vehicle with high clearance is a must.
Halewaiu Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793
