Maui: Where is East entrance of Lahaina Trail? (Kihei: gated, land)

[nemrut]

Heading NW on Hwy 30 just past Kihei, i see a brown sign for Laihaina Pali trail in brown lettering on a dirt road but there are also signs on the gate indicating private property and 'keep out'.

[whynot?]

Yeah. Lots of mixed-signal signs on Maui. I'm assuming that you're seeing the sign near the cow pasture and Ma'alaea? The other end of the trail is at the end of the Pali, near Papalaua State Wayside Park and Ukumehame. There's no parking on the Ma'alaea side, but a small dirt/gravel lot on the Papalaua/Ukumehame side. (There's a pull-off into the lot on the Lahaina-bound side of Honoapiilani Hwy/Rt 30.)

Here's a link to the best description of the hike that I could find: MAUI HIKE FINDER: ♦ Lahaina Pali Trail . It has some photos of the trail, but also a shot of the parking lot (although I wouldn't have recognized it had I not been familiar with it.)

As far as I know this trail is still open to the public. Please note, though, that several trails that are written up online and in old hiking/guide books are no longer open due to changes in ownership of the land.

Enter land marked "kapu" (or "keep out" or "private") at your own risk. There have been stories in the Maui News about people confronting hikers demanding fees for access to trails and -- in some cases -- making threats/assaulting hikers. These acts are unusual, but common enough to have been reported and investigated. People of ill-intent who know the land and trails are at a distinct advantage over visitors who do not. Be advised and be careful, but don't be afraid. Take a cellphone, preferably with a videocamera.

Best of luck.

[nemrut]

Thanks for the useful info. It turns out that there is public access afterall at the east entrance though it's not clearly marked. Decided to run it today, or more like slow jog and took about 45mins up to the windmills and 30mins back down to the car. Some pretty steep rock areas, but manageable and well worth it!