Kaiwi Shoreline Trail

Ka’iwi Shoreline Trail is a wonderful trail that takes a nice scenic look at ponds and the ocean. I took my son and daughter there because the water is very calm. But there are a few issues that cannot be overlooked. First, the parking. The Ka’iwi Shoreline Scenic Trail also takes you to the lighthouse. There is limited parking so most people park on the side of the road and that can get quite tight. Second, there is no bathroom. Third, the beach is reall, really, tiny.

Did this trail to get down to the secluded beaches. Kids loved it. The trail was easy enough. More of a nature walk than a hike for sure.
No facilities or anything, so be prepared for that. And take some water. While there are a few trees here and there, the trail starts out in a field and ends on the shore. So you’re pretty exposed most of the day.
The little coves are good for swimming, but with rocky bottoms, so wear or bring shoes that can get wet!

Walking up the concrete path, a trail map display of what didn’t look like the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail caught my eye. It’s been years since I first hiked the lighthouse trail, but the thought of walking along the breezy shoreline of Ka’iwi Shoreline Trail seemed more refreshing than seeing a lighthouse, so I found myself making my way between the two wooden posts & down the rocky terrain. The ground levels out to a dirt path surrounded by a field of golden leaves of grass glinting in the wind. It was a peculiar sight knowing that you’re in Hawaii walking in the dry desert of an African safari scene.
After a while, the path leads to a secluded beach cove slightly obstructed by outstretched branches where you’ll start asking yourself if this is the end of the trail. If you want to swim, then yes, it’s the end. I’m not a beach person so I lugged on, taking a right before the beach. Apparently, it was a wrong turn because it seemed like it took me further into the middle of the field & I immediately sought out a path that looked like it led to the tide pools. If you walked through the beach, it’d take you to the shoreline (which is the right path anyway). From here, you’d see the other sandy beach which is where you want to go.
Keep in mind that there’ll be two paths in front of you at some points, but use trail markers like Pele’s chair, which is the rock formation on the tip of the mountain where the lighthouse trail is, or the other mountain, which happens to be Koko Head Crater, to determine where you are. Or you can just follow any ol’ dirt path you see. It doesn’t really matter because the paths just loop around & are easy to follow.
In this trail, I traveled through African-​like fields, Hawaiian shorelines caked with glittering lava rocks & now a mangrove swamp. I couldn’t help but skip rocks into this picture perfect scene. Aside from the scenery, there isn’t much else to this hike. It’s more of a walk that should be supplemented by doing the lighthouse trail if you have approximately an hour to kill or if you want to take a dip in an uncrowded beach. I got hungry so the lighthouse trail’s for next time.

More of a pretty stroll along the beach than a hike. Not crowded if you go on a weekday, but it gets more popular on weekends. This area can be windy and/​or hot. Bring sunscreen (if you are human).

«…If I was a sculptor, but then again, no…
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you…»
A hidden gem so close to many tourists traps. Even locals tend to forget about this wonderful little hike!
I mean should I tell you about it? Or, should I keep it for me and my amazing bestie? Heck, I’m just too nice a guy…
KA’IWI SHORELINE TRAIL!
The cool thing about this historical hike (ancient Hawaiian fishing grounds) is that it’s not really a hike, but instead a nice stroll through some old lava fields, cactus and elephant glass. Plus, it’s maybe only 30-​minutes each way. Well, unless you plan to hike all the way to Sandy’s Beach which would add another hour or so. I hiked here maybe a decade or so ago, and quite frankly forgot about it, until my BFF asked about choosing a hike suitable to bring her young boy! Hmm. I thought for a long minute and realized many of the hikes in the area were not kid friendly, too hard for a family, or simply cluttered with tourists (Lighthouse, Haunama Bay, etc.), so we checked Unilocal and Online sources for some ideas and finally came across…
KA’IWI SHORELINE TRAIL!
«…And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world…»
It was exactly what we were looking for! A trail just to get outdoors, not get lost, and interesting too! Plus, it was more like a stroll rather than a hike! Perfect if with a toddler, or two! Here’s what we experienced…
1. KA’IWI TRAIL: It’s on lower «rockier» trail of the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail. Take the right at the fork. You’ll see some bushes and stuff — just head towards the beach, follow the trail, and you’ll be okay.
2. KA’IWI DIFFICULTY: Pretty easy. Low-​key and relaxing for self or a family. We went with my BFF’s toddler and he walked maybe 99% of the time! Even with the toddler steps we still got to the shoreline in about 30-​minutes!
3. KA’IWI SUNSCREEN: I highly recommend sunscreen and maybe even a hat. No shade and the trail is through old lava fields w/​elephant grass and brush. Insect repellent not needed, but once again… Sunscreen!
4. KA’IWI TERRAIN: The beginning of the trail is shared with the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail, so the beginning park is paved. Once you take the turn at the fork it gets more rocky, but nothing a toddler can’t handle! At the shoreline it’s more rocky lava, but there are patches of sand and the tide pools are easy to find. If you keep walking the shoreline you can stroll all the way to Sandy’s Beach! I do recommend shoes on this hike, but you can remove it when you get to shore. If a toddler can do it, so can you!
5. KA’IWI CRITTERS: Amazing how one can find «living» in even barren lava fields. We saw birds, something rustling in the bushes, of course when we got to the shoreline we saw goby fish, crabs, hermit crabs, sea urchins, seabirds, flying fish, a shadow in the water, opihi, and tide pool sea cucumbers, etc. On the way out we even spotted a «big as a cuban cigar» grasshopper! We also played the imaginary game of «Jurassic Park!» running out! How fun!
6. KA’IWI PHOTO OPS: We took some pretty amazing pics — not all published here (per my BFF), but if you like nature, lava fields, cactus, tide pools, and untouched rugged coastline… You’ll find that here!
KA’IWI SHORELINE TRAIL!
No, it’s not as majestic as Olomana or breathtaking as Haiku «Stairway to Heaven», yup, I’ve been there more than twice, but for what it’s worth, and being part of Mother «Amaaazing» Nature, this place, that’s super easy to get to, deserves a perfect score in my book! Why? How about a hike that’s for the entire family, a dog or two, and little chance of getting lost with no hope of survival!
KA’IWI BONUS: We also came across a sweet Hawaiian family camping out — drinking beer and tropical juice — talking story & eating live sea urchin (wa’na)! Laughing and just enjoying the day away! They were nice enough to show my BFF’s little boy what a live and eaten sea urchin looked like! Island life! Priceless! Nope, it’s not the most extraordinary Hawaiian hiking trail, but a trail for everyone to enjoy. And that, my dear friends, deserves perfection! Lastly, just respect the Āina is all we can ask for. Mahalo in advance!
«…So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re ‘brown’
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen…
…I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in ‘my’ world…»
And what’s up with the song? I sang it over and over from the start to the shoreline! It was my mood, y’know?! Heck, at least it wasn’t «Frankie Goes to Hollywood»…
OVERALL GRADE: 5.0-STARS!
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #412

A must see place. SO beautiful and relaxing.

Nice and easy (and dog friendly) paved trail with beautiful panoramic views. Went up today for the first time. Plenty of people on the trail on the weekend. I assume it isnt as crowded through the week. Great for whale watching this time of year. We saw quite a few of them. Will be back again.

Not so much my idea of a «trail» but a nice stroll. Great to view the sunset from and it gets really breezy up there!
Nice view of the Makapuu lighthouse if you go far enough up.

It’s about a 1.5 mile hike to the top so 3 miles round trip. paved the whole way. bring water if you do it in the afternoon.

It’s a nice flat hike, and be prepared for lots of sun. There’s no shade for 99% of the hike out to Pele’s Chair. Hat. Water. No bugs to speak of, so sunscreen is more important.
This was a geocaching run for some of the caches I’d missed the last time out. And we went after a hella hard one down the rocky coast hopping on rock tops for ½ hour each way past Pele’s Chair. Almost got creamed a few times with the surf crashing on the rocks as the tide came in.
Whether you park down at the Ka’iwi Shoreline end or the Makapu’u mountain parking end, you’ll have a hike of over a mile. A nice swimming hole at the cove, but there are no facilities of any kind.

How does one rate a trail on Unilocal?The only reason I’m going with a 1 star deduction is that it’s not overly clear at the trailhead which «trail» to take.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not hard to figure out and if you do take the wrong «trail» it’s not like your gonna get lost.
1) it’s an island
2) the ocean is before you, the road behind you, the paved trail is to Makapu light house
3) that leaves just about any of the other not so well marked «trails» the Kaiwi Shoreline Trail, right? Of course, right!
As you might have guessed, not knowing any better, we took the first paved trail that appeared to be the «low road» going toward the ocean. Wrong. It heads back toward the road, parallels it and if you take a rabbit trail /​gully wash back across you can link back up with the «main» trail.
Phew. Not that it was hard. But you do feel a little stupid at first.
The trail you should take veers to the right as you start up the paved trail to Makapu light house. It’s just past the informational kiosk and you’ll see two «goal posts» sort of saying: «Over here, Dummy. This way!»
The rocky terrain is not conducive to anyone with weak ankles or knees, but once in the «valley» it levels out into a pretty nice path.
Again, no signs. Just follow the foot prints and path to the ocean. Where the trail forks? Pick your poison. You’ll still get there.
The reward is a rocky shoreline with waves crashing and a thunderous roar you can actually feel vibrating your bones!
Be sure to explore the little estuary and mangrove swamp. This place is surreal in that it’s so arid but your steps away from the surf. You’re in Hawaii but feel like it could be the African Savannah. I expected to see a wildebeest or giraffe amongst the trees.
It’s a hot little hike. Pack in, pack out. We saw trash cans only in the parking lot.
Follow up with a shave ice at Uncle Clay’s House of Aloha.

The Kaiwi Shoreline Trail is the lower trail at the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail. The area was once home to both sweet potato farming and cattle ranching, as indicated by the sign at the trail head.
This trail leads to the ocean via a hot dirty path and then continues on along the shoreline. There is a beach area that is mostly empty and secluded, even on the weekends. While we were there, there were also a few people fishing off of the beach/​rocky area along the trail. This is a very easy and mostly flat hike, but there is little shade or cover so pack some sunblock. It is also VERY hot in the middle of the afternoon, so plan accordingly. If you want to spend some time at a secluded beach, this is the best trail for it. It is also great for pets!