Trails 4-6: Volcanic Craters & Waterfalls

4. Kilauea Iki Trail, Big Island

One of the best hikes in Volcanoes National Park on the southern part of the island is the Kilauea Iki Trail. This incredible loop takes you across the floor of a volcanic crater that was a bubbling lava lake as recently as 1959. Few hiking experiences on Earth can match walking across what was once molten rock hot enough to melt copper.

The trail starts at the rim of Kilauea Iki crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where interpretive signs explain the dramatic 1959 eruption that created the landscape you're about to explore. You'll descend through lush rainforest filled with giant tree ferns called hapu'u, some reaching 20 feet tall, and native ohia trees draped with Spanish moss.

Amazing trail. Walking across the volcanic rock bed was unreal. The crater floor itself is otherworldly, spanning about a mile across. You'll walk across solidified lava that still steams in places, especially after rain when groundwater hits the hot rock below. Rock cairns mark the path across the crater, and you can feel the warmth of the earth beneath your feet even decades after the eruption.

Steam vents still active throughout the crater floor remind you that this landscape is very much alive. During cooler mornings or after rain, you'll see steam rising from cracks in the lava, creating an almost mystical atmosphere. The sulfur smell is mild but noticeable, a reminder of the volcanic forces that created this place.

5. Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail, Oahu

Bring your binoculars to Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail, the easternmost point of Oahu and part of the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline. This paved trail is perfect for families and offers some of Oahu's best whale watching during winter months. The lighthouse itself, built in 1909, remains an active beacon guiding ships through the treacherous waters between Oahu and Molokai.

The entire trail is paved and wide enough for people of all fitness levels, including those using wheelchairs or pushing strollers. The gentle, steady incline makes this one of Hawaii's most accessible scenic hikes. The trail winds through a dryland ecosystem dominated by native plants like naupaka, with its distinctive half-flowers that Hawaiian legend says will only become whole when separated lovers are reunited.

From November to May, this family-friendly trail offers a ringside seat to migrating humpback whales; there are also telescopes near the informational signs. The whales travel from Alaska to give birth in Hawaii's warm waters, and Makapu'u Point's elevated position provides excellent spotting opportunities.

At the lighthouse, you'll have panoramic views of Oahu's windward coast stretching north toward Kailua and south to Hawaii Kai. The lighthouse perches on cliffs that drop 600 feet straight into the ocean, creating one of Hawaii's most dramatic coastal scenes.

Understanding Hawaii's Unique Hiking Environment

Before diving into the remaining trails, it's important to understand what makes hiking in Hawaii unique. The isolation of these islands has created ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. When Polynesian settlers arrived around 300-800 AD, they found islands populated only by two native mammals: the Hawaiian monk seal and Hawaiian hoary bat.

Hawaii's volcanic origin means that soil conditions change dramatically even within short distances. You might start a hike on ancient, well-developed soil that supports lush forests, then find yourself walking on recent lava flows where only the hardiest pioneer plants can survive.

The trade winds that make Hawaii's climate so pleasant also create dramatic differences in rainfall between windward (northeast-facing) and leeward (southwest-facing) slopes. A trail might start in dry scrubland receiving less than 10 inches of annual rainfall, then climb into cloud forests that get over 200 inches per year.

6. Waimoku Falls via Pipiwai Trail, Maui

Waimoku Falls via Pipiwai Trail is a unique and very special waterfall hike in Haleakala National Park where your adventures begin even before you reach the trailhead. This trail combines bamboo forests, waterfalls, and lush tropical scenery that feels like stepping into a fairy tale.

The hike takes you through several distinct ecosystems. You'll start in typical Hawaiian forest, then enter a magical bamboo forest where the light filters through in green-tinted shafts. The bamboo creaks and sways in the wind, creating an almost musical atmosphere that's unlike anything else in Hawaii.

While hiking, you wind through bamboo forests and freshwater pools. The trail is well-maintained, wide, and labeled with signage. Makahiku Falls appears first, a beautiful 200-foot waterfall that you can view from an overlook.

The trail continues to 400-foot Waimoku Falls, one of Maui's tallest waterfalls. The falls drop straight down a sheer cliff face into a pool surrounded by lush vegetation. The mist from the falls creates rainbows on sunny days, making this one of the most photogenic spots in all of Hawaii.