Hiking the Hiʻi Trail on Lānaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 5.1 miles / 8.2 km
The Hiʻi Trail on Lānaʻi is one of two day hikes on the island that traverse Lānaʻi’s Bench Lands—the foothills on the leeward side of Lānaihale that sit above the Pālāwai Basin, the area across much of the island that was formerly used for Pineapple agriculture, stretching from the airport to these foothills.
The other of these two trails is the Waiapaʻa Trail, just to the south, off Mānele Road. However, I personally think the Hiʻi Trail is the better of the two because of the beautifully preserved Heiau at the top of the loop.
This is all to say that, whether you decide to hike, bike, or trail-run the Hiʻi Trail, I highly recommend exploring the entire loop, as the Hiʻi Heiau is one of the best ways to experience and learn about not only Lānaʻi, but also an important part of Hawaiian culture when you understand the historical context of this and other Heiaus discussed later in this article.
Hiʻi Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Hiʻi Trail is located directly off Mānele Road, about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) south from the beginning of the highway in Lānaʻi City.
Google Maps Directions: Hiʻi Trailhead
Hiking the Hiʻi Trail
The Hiʻi Trail begins on a relatively flat path for the first 0.3 miles (0.5 km), just outside Lānaʻi’s Bench Lands.
There are a number of different splits on the Hiʻi Trail, but for the most part, the entire Hiʻi Loop is very well marked.
That said, stay to the left to continue toward the beginning of the loop.
At this next split, go left once again to continue on the most direct route.
Lower Hiʻi-Waiapaʻa Connector Junction
The next time the Hiʻi Trail splits is at the first of two different routes that connect with the Waiapaʻa Trail, just to the south.
This connector is often called the Hiʻi Flats Trail or Pipeline Trail. However, to stay on the Hiʻi Trail toward the loop across the Bench Lands, go left.
Read My Separate Post: Waiapaʻa Trail
What is Kōʻele on Lānaʻi?
The signs that refer to Kōʻele here and on other trails across Lānaʻi are in reference to the leeward sides of mountains, as the name stems from moisture-laden clouds that descend the slopes from Kaiholena Valley to Lānaihale, creating a verdant environment in contrast to other, drier areas across Lānaʻi.
Today, Kōʻele is a common point of reference on Lānaʻi trails, which can more broadly be summarized as the trailhead, beginning, or civilization, as in Lānaʻi City.
After the first Waiapaʻa Trail junction, the Hiʻi Trail begins to climb up to the Bench Lands.
Upper Hiʻi-Waiapaʻa Connector Junction
This is the second Waiapaʻa Connector, following the Hiʻi Trailhead sign, with the start of the loop located straight (left) ahead, about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away.
Read My Separate Post: Waiapaʻa Trail
These sparsely found Hōʻawa trees are always a nice sight in a landscape otherwise dominated by non-native, invasive Acacia trees.
Hiʻi Loop Trail
After 0.6 miles (1.0 km) from the trailhead off Mānele Road, the Hiʻi Trail splits into the 3.9-mile (6.3 km) Hiʻi Loop Trail.
That said, both routes lead to the Hiʻi Heiau at the top of the trail, with the route going left being the most direct, and the route going right leading to the best viewpoint.
This is why I recommend hiking entire loop, as the full Hiʻi Trail fairly easy, with only a few minor hills in the beginning if you choose to go right first.
Regarding everything mentioned above, I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction around the Hiʻi Loop Trail to hike the most significant hills right away in the beginning.
On a different note, there is a lot of exposure both at the beginning of the Hiʻi Trail and around the loop, which is why I recommend hiking with a hooded sun shirt to stay safe on this longer adventure.
Other than the rare Hōʻawa trees mentioned previously, ʻUhaloa is one of the few native species that can be found along the Hiʻi Trail prior to the Heiau.
When the Hiʻi Trail comes to this split, it truly doesn’t matter which direction you choose to hike, as both meet up shortly ahead.
That being said, the path to the right is shorter but steeper, while the route to the left is slightly longer and more gradual.
I chose to go left up the more gradual path on the official Hiʻi Trail.
This is where both sides of the split come back together.
After the hill above, there are no more significant elevation changes as the Hiʻi Trail traverses the Bench Lands.
This is why I prefer to hike the Hiʻi Loop counterclockwise, as I think it makes for a much more relaxing hike, following these initial sections.
South Hiʻi Loop-Hiʻi Connector Junction
About 0.25 miles (0.4 km) past the top of the hill, the Hiʻi Loop Trail splits for the first of two times, with a connector that leads to the other side of the loop.
However, I strongly suggest skipping both, as the first connector bypasses both the Hiʻi Heiau and the Overlook, while the second leads directly to the Heiau, skipping the overlook.
Hiʻi Loop-Hiʻi Heiau Connector Junction
Just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) past the first, the Hiʻi Trail reaches the second connector that shortens the overall loop.
This connector junction is the more popular of the two, as it leads directly to the Hiʻi Heiau, about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) away. However, I recommend continuing forward because taking it bypasses the best—and only—overlook on the entire Hiʻi Trail.
Hiʻi Loop-Hiʻi Overlook Junction
About 1.1 miles (1.8 km) past the beginning of the loop, the Hiʻi Trail splits with the short path that leads to the Hiʻi Overlook.
Here, go right, and the overlook will be found shortly ahead.
Hiʻi Overlook
The Hiʻi Overlook is the one and only viewpoint on the entire trail.
However, from this one viewpoint, one can truly gain an appreciation for how much Lānaʻi has changed since humans first made contact in Hawaiʻi.
What I mean is that the viewpoint looking out toward the Pālāwai Basin tells the story of an extremely altered landscape, shaped for the purposes of human life and agriculture. However, if you turn around toward Lānaihale, you can begin to see and understand what’s left of Hawaiʻi’s native forests.
This story is seemingly as old as time in Hawaiʻi, meaning that the lower elevations, where humans live, are dominated by non-native, invasive species, while the upper elevations, away from urbanization, are where much of Hawaiʻi’s last remaining intact native forests lie.
This is also why visiting Kānepuʻu on a trip to Lānaʻi is of such importance, as it gives a sense of what Hawaiʻi’s lower-elevation forests would have looked like prior to human arrival—a habitat and landscape that is all but gone on the other main Hawaiian Islands.
Once back on the Hiʻi Loop Trail, there’s only about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) left to reach the Hiʻi Heiau atop the loop.
Alternatively, there is the option to turn back toward the Hiʻi Heiau Connector from earlier, in order to shorten the hike by 0.3 miles (0.5 km) overall. However, since the Hiʻi Loop Trail is so flat and easy, I chose to continue around the outer loop.
This is where the trail meets back up with the Hiʻi Loop, had you continued straight past the Hiʻi Overlook.
At this next split, go left to stay on the Hiʻi Trail.
Then, the Hiʻi Trail splits once again to the left to continue toward the Heiau, located about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) away.
This point of interest refers to a small grove of Hala trees, a species that was both brought to Hawaiʻi by the Polynesians, referred to as a canoe plant, and a species that was later proven to be native to the islands.
In traditional contexts, Hala has many uses, some of which include medicinal and construction uses, both from the wood and thatching with the leaves.
Today, Hala is still used for crafting items such as lei, mats, hats, purses, and baskets, to truly name just a few of its many modern uses.
Hiʻi Loop-Hiʻi Heiau Junction
At the very top of the hike, the Hiʻi Trail comes this a four-way intersection, with both the second connector mentioned previously and the short trail that leads up to the Heiau.
Here, go right to reach the Heiau, which is truly one of the best highlights of the entire Hiʻi Trail.
Hiʻi Heiau
The Hiʻi Heiau is located within this fence at the top of the short trail off the loop.
That said, please close the gate after passing through, as fences like this play a crucial role in protecting native Hawaiian plants, which would otherwise be eaten by non-native ungulates, such as the Axis Deer found across Lānaʻi.
Yes, feel free to walk around and explore the Hiʻi Heiau, but please do so with respect!
Do not leave trash, do not deface or take anything, and please watch where you step so as not to trample any native species.
What is a Hawaiian Heiau?
A surface-level definition of a Heiau is a place of worship. However, the true meaning and purpose go much deeper.
In short, a Hawaiian Heiau is a traditional Hawaiian temple or sacred site, typically constructed of stone and other natural materials. Heiaus were often used for religious, ceremonial, and spiritual purposes, which were built to honor gods and spirits and to facilitate various rituals, such as prayers, offerings, and sacrifices.
In addition, Heiaus often varied in size and design, depending on their purpose, as some were used for healing, agriculture, or warfare, while others were dedicated to specific deities or practices. Their locations were often chosen based on spiritual significance or alignment with natural elements.
Past the Heiau, the Hiʻi Trail simply begins the north side of the loop to return to the beginning.
This north side of the Hiʻi Loop Trail measures roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in total.
North Hiʻi Loop-Hiʻi Connector Junction
This split is where the north side of the Hiʻi Loop Trail meets the other side of the first connector.
From here, go right to continue back to the beginning of the loop, about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) away.
Just before the Hiʻi Trail returns to the beginning of the loop, the trail splits one last time, with a path that leads toward Kāpano Gulch and Lānaʻi City.
Once again, go left to follow the much more obvious path back to the beginning.
Hiʻi Loop Junction
After 3.9 miles (6.3 km) or 4.5 miles (7.3 km) from the beginning, the Hiʻi Trail returns to the start of the loop, with only 0.6 miles (1.0 km) left to walk back out to the trailhead off Mānele Road.
Overall, I think of the Hiʻi Trail as one of the best hidden gems on Lānaʻi!
I say this because the hike is relatively mild, great for trail running and biking, it’s not too long, and the Hiʻi Heiau is one of the best and most accessible Heiaus on the island, largely credited to a number of dedicated volunteers who continually protect and maintain it from encroaching invasive species.
Furthermore, if you are interested in running the Hiʻi Trail or the neighboring Waiapaʻa Trail, I recommend the shoes below, as they work well here and on trails across Lānaʻi.
Native Plants on the Hiʻi Trail
Beyond the few native plants mentioned throughout the loop, the Hiʻi Trail is truly few and far between when it comes to seeing native Hawaiian plants throughout the Bench Lands.
That is because the Bench Lands of Lānaʻi are relatively low in elevation by Hawaiʻi standards, which typically means the area is dominated by non-native, invasive species.
However, this all changes once at the Hiʻi Heiau, where volunteers work to promote native biodiversity. This is why not only ʻUhaloa and Hōʻawa can be seen, but also Wiliwili, ʻŌhiʻa lehua, ʻAʻaliʻi, Koa, Hala Pepe, Māmaki, and Kou, to truly only name a few.
If you are curious about trying the native Hawaiian Māmaki tea, I kindly ask that you don’t harvest Māmaki from the Hiʻi Heiau but, instead, buy from one of the local reputable vendors, such as those listed below.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
