Hawaii: Maui Rainforests

Hawaii: Maui Rainforests

Walking along the beauty of a nature trail, winding its way through the pristine beauty of a Hawaiian rainforest is a once in a lifetime experience. And it is one that you can experience if you know where to go. For a romantic vacation with your significant other, a relaxing nature excursion or a wonderful photo inspired trip, Maui is the place to go. Below, you will find some of the ways you can enjoy the beautiful rainforests this Hawaiian treasure has to offer.

Guided Hiking Tours

Prepare yourself for an adventure overflowing with once in a lifetime experiences. Marvel at the Hawaiian beauty as you step into Maui's most lush and tropical areas, teeming with plant and animal life. Many tours are available through different companies and some of the most popular are the three, five or 11-hour tours. Many of the guides for these tours are natives themselves or have live in Hawaii for most of their lives. They are like walking dictionaries and history books when it comes to what Maui has to offer. There is a lot that can be gained from having a knowledgeable and experienced tour guide showing you around the rainforests and leading you along the trails to swimming holes and waterfalls. Many tour guides have degrees and advanced training as marine biologist, botanists, entomologist, national park rangers, wildlife biologists, marine biologists, and even retired teachers. With such a vast array of expertise, you know you are in excellent hands and will have the experience of a lifetime in Maui.

Waterfall Hikes

For those who have a limited amount of time or who are looking for a more relaxing and easier hike, there are many self-guided trails that you can explore at your own pace. Many of these feature beautiful waterfalls and take you through some of the lush and beautiful areas of the Maui valley. Some bring you by calm waterfall pools, waterfalls you can slide down, and some even feature deep pools with safe ledges to jump from. The trails range in difficulty and all swimming is done at your own risk as there are no lifeguard stations at these pool areas. Easy trails include ones with a one to two mile round-trip hike and have a gentle slope that makes it ideal for children and those who are not used to hiking. These tours offer great chance to see plant and animal life and take as many photos as you want without worrying about keeping up with a tour group or getting left behind because of your photo obsession. Palapala Ho’omau Church

The Kipahulu area of the Maui rainforest is an incredible vacation spot as it is beautiful, peaceful, and tranquil. It is one of the most remote spot on the island and there is only a small population of those who call the island home. Kipahulu is in a prime spot on the side of the mountain and gets enough rain for the rainforest area to be lush and beautiful, but sees more sun than other areas along the north coast. The dramatic coastline is a beautiful sightseeing opportunity and the serene setting of Palapala Ho’omau Church has caused it to be a popular spot for resting and reflection. The church is historically regarded as the first permanent building on Maui and the small church was not used by many as the population of the island has always been minimal. Because of this, the church has only a few grave sites, including the final resting place of the world-renowned Charles Lindbergh’s. The Palapala Ho’omau Church was built in 1857 by some of the Christian missionaries on the island and was made out of limestone coral. Visitors are welcomed to explore the church grounds and the surrounding areas but are asked not to pick any flowers or disturb anything on the premise and to treat the area with the respect it deserves.

Traveling Past the Forests

Many people who stop by and visit the famous town of Hana, will travel there in a clockwise direction, and once they reach Hana, they will go back the way they came. Usually this because their tour maps do not mark any roads or interesting sights beyond Hana or they were told their rental car would not handle the roads. This is not rue as some of the beauty of the Maui island area lays in this seldom traveled stretch of land. It is important to note that the road is very rough and remote, so this drive is not for everyone. Some areas may be recently paved and others are a patchwork of broken and pot- holed roadway. You can also expect to have a few dizzying “edge-of-the-cliff” moments where the vertigo will kick in and car sickness may be an issue for some. But the drive, if you can endure it, is worth it for all of the untouched wilderness and beauty you can see in this remote area of Maui.

Rainforest Specifics

The vast majority of Maui’s lush rainforests stretch along the northern sections of the West Maui Mountains and Mount Haleakala, which is the area that typically sees the most annual rainfall. The rain causes the area to be filled with fragrant and colorful flora, many different species of exotic birds and animals, and hundreds of beautiful streams, waterfalls, and pools. The terrain can be steep in some areas and can form waterfalls up to 400 feet in height. The Maui rain forest reaches along the area of Haleakala from sea-level to the tree-line, which can be as high as 6000 feet above sea level. These rainforests are similar to others around the world as there are different layers to the forest, with tall tree forming a canopy, smaller trees and bushes filling in the understory and many different ground covers carpeting the ground. Over the last few hundred years the rain forest has seen an influx of many non-native species in the ecosystem. Guava, coffee, bamboo and ginger thrive because of Maui’s tropical environment and force many Hawaiian native species out. For a romantic vacation with your significant other, a relaxing nature excursion or a wonderful photo inspired trip, Maui is the place to go. As you travel eh US in search of adventure and memories to last a lifetime, Hawaii calls out from the sea. Experience the beauty and seclusion that Maui can offer you. Walking along the beauty of a nature trail, winding its way through the pristine beauty of a Hawaiian rainforest is a once in a lifetime experience, and it is one that you can experience for yourself.