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Waikamoi Forest Ridge Trail
Located within the Hana Highway Region on Maui
Maui Hiking Trails & Nature Walks
Road to Hana Sights
A little over half-mile past mile marker 9 on the Road to Hana keep your eyes open for the parking lot (mauka) to the Waikamoi Ridge Forest Trail and Overlook. It is easy to miss due to the fact it’s around a bend in the road.
After parking in the often crowded lot, head up to the open area to your left to a small overlook with picnic shelters and the Waikamoi trail head. The Waikamoi Trail is a beautiful, short nature walk through trees, bamboo, and ferns with scenic overlooks at various points along the way. There are actually two sections to the trail: one being a short loop that takes about half an hour and ends where it starts (at the picnic area), and the other a one-way extension from the loop trail. Both trails start at the picnic shelter located near the parking area.
Trail day tools
Before you drive to the trailhead, check the trail and weather layer.
Hawaii hikes can change quickly with closures, rain, mud, heat, and daylight.
The trail is usually in good condition but that can change with just one good rainstorm. The worst part of the loop-trail (when heading counterclockwise) is the part beyond the extension trail. It goes steeply downhill at times and can be filled with roots. We suspect this will be “fixed” in the future, as volunteer groups have already improved the first half of the loop.
There are no facilities at this site, and we do recommend bug spray because mosquitoes like to congregate here. The Waikamoi Trail is a total of 0.8 miles if you do the loop-trail alone and about a mile and a half if you do the extension. You can expect to spend about 30 minutes to an hour here depending on which trails you hike.
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Breezy trade winds are in place with windward and inland showers expected tonight and early morning through Monday. South-facing beaches have high surf through Saturday evening—avoid them if rough water concerns you. East-facing shores will see building swell Sunday as Tropical Storm Fausto approaches. Tuesday and Wednesday the storm moves in with heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough seas on the windward side. Forecasters are still narrowing down the exact track, so check updates this weekend. By Thursday normal trades return.
Leeward beaches work through Monday if you stay clear of the high surf. Plan indoor activities or protected bays for Tuesday and Wednesday when the storm passes through.
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Trade winds are bringing showers to the windward side and inland areas, mostly at night and early morning through Monday. South-facing beaches have high surf through Saturday—avoid them if you're not comfortable in rough water.
Tropical Storm Fausto arrives Tuesday and brings heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough surf on east-facing shores through Wednesday. The storm is moving fast, so rain won't linger in one spot for days. Forecasters are still narrowing the track, so watch for updates this weekend. Impacts could shift depending on whether it passes north or south of the islands.
Leeward beaches work through Monday if you avoid the high surf. Plan indoor activities or protected bays for Tuesday and Wednesday when Fausto moves through.
0:000:66
Voice
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Right now you've got breezy trade winds with showers mainly at night and early morning on the windward and inland sides. Conditions stay stable through Monday with the same pattern—showers mostly after dark, trades during the day.
High surf is running through Saturday at 6 PM on south-facing beaches. Starting Sunday, east-facing shores will see advisory-level surf building as Tropical Storm Fausto approaches from the southeast. Tuesday and Wednesday the storm moves near the islands with heavy rain and gusty winds on the windward side. It's moving fast at 15 miles per hour, so rain won't sit in one spot for days, but forecasters are still refining the track—updates this weekend will clarify the exact impacts.
Stick with leeward beaches through Monday if you're comfortable in the current surf. For Tuesday and Wednesday, plan indoor activities or protected bays on the lee side while the heavy rain and wind move through.
0:000:48
Voice
Read the transcript
Breezy trade winds this morning with scattered showers on the windward side and inland—mostly at night and early morning. South-facing beaches have high surf through Saturday; skip them if rough water makes you nervous.
Tropical Storm Fausto moves near the islands Tuesday through Wednesday with heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough surf on the east-facing shores. The storm's moving fast, so rain won't linger in one spot. The exact impacts depend on whether it tracks north or south—forecasters are still pinning down the track, so check updates this weekend.
Plan leeward beaches or protected bays through Monday. Once the trades return to normal Thursday onward, conditions settle back to typical.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
