Find the top rated hiking trails in Kapaa, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
In late October of 2025, I traveled from Southern California to Kauai for what would be the completion of a retirement goal my late wife and I made twelve years ago: ride our bikes in all fifty states. Although my bride of forty-five years was only with me in spirit, my son and daughter-in-law joined me for this momentous ride on the Hall of Fame trail.
In my mind, this trail can essentially be divided into two parts. From the approximate midpoint in Kapa'a at Kou Street you can head north for beautiful unobstructed views of the coastline, ocean, and countryside. If you're into hotels, condos, houses, cars and busy streets, then head south for a less than primo experience.
Having said that, we started around the midpoint in Kapa'a at Holoholo Bike Rentals on Kou Street where there is public parking and headed north. The northern portion is everything you could hope for in a Hawaiian coastal bike path. The trail is smoothly paved and perfectly maintained with an oh so gentle incline (which my 7-speed rental stuck in 7th gear had no problem negotiating). For me, this ride was all about the awesome ocean views and photo ops, so we took it slow and took a ton of photos. This isn't a trail for racers looking to burn calories; this is a path designed with a beach cruiser mentality, so take it slow and imprint the experience and images into your hippocampus.
Despite the warm eighty degree temps, the steady ocean breeze and intermittent rain showers kept us comfortably cool as we slowly pedaled our way up the gentle incline.
One highlight and pleasant surprise for us was something which isn't noted in any reviews, photos, or the TrailLink trail description. Near the northern end is an unmarked, short, paved spur that takes you uphill through a tunnel of trees for about a hundred yards or so to a parking lot with a restroom. If you're on a one speed beach cruiser, you'll probably have to walk it up the incline, but the experience of being totally enveloped by the tangle of low hanging tree branches is amazing, and of course it's a blast coasting back down to Ke Ala Hele Makalae!
The southern portion of the trail from the midpoint has its moments with decent ocean and beach views, but it's just not the same as the north where you're consistently hugging the rugged coastline and surrounded by natural vegetation. If you don't mind lots of buildings, sharing the road with cars, some dirt/sand paths in need of signs to direct which way to go, or riding alongside busy Kuhio Highway and avoiding vehicles turning into driveways, then go for it!
(I truly wanted to ride the entire trail from end to end, but because of some of that weirdness mentioned above, my riding companions grew a bit perturbed, so we only got as far as Papaloa Road before turning back north to the bike rental.)
All in all, the northern half on its own is Hall of Fame worthy, and the Ke Ala Hele Makalae was a perfect ending for my fiftieth state bike ride!
Great trail to bike or walk. From northern section saw monk seals, whales and Kauai’s famous chickens. Stop and enjoy food trucks, shops or a cold micro brew at Napoli Brewery. Spectacular ocean and beach views. Southern section thru Lydgate park with protected pools to snorkel and 2+ mile swimable sandy beach shore.
My wife and I rented bikes downtown and rode the entire length of the path, making stops along the way. It was a perfect morning on the island, which we enjoyed as part of our cruise.
One of the highlights of our trip! I started at Kauai Shores Hotel and went to the end of the path at Paliku Beach (Donkey Beach). I was afraid the disconnected part of the path from Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort to Fujii Beach would be difficult to navigate and have us riding on Kuhio Highway but luckily that's not the case. Bike paths have been added that don't show up on Google Maps. Look at the photo gallery to see a detail from a map from Kauai Bike Explorer to see how to navigate the disconnected part of the path. When I rode the trail in August 2023 it went a little past the Paliku Beach Access Tree Tunnel. It took about two hours round trip from Kauai Shores Hotel. It was pretty much flat the whole way and an easy, leisurely ride. It's a beautiful, unique trail and I can't wait to see it expand.
Lovely coastal ride on a rental one speed from Hele on Kauai. Level well maintained surface with plenty of spectacular lookouts along the way. We did only the ~5 mile northern section since the trail is not continuous. We saw southern section at Lydgate park which would not be particularly interesting as an isolated ride.
I've been focused on cultivating use of this path system for 20 years. The Trail Link maps don't yet show some recent expansions of the system. There is about 0.5 miles of path spur that crosses Kuhio Highway and goes up Kawaihau Road, and the path extends from the Lihi Park end point indicated about 0.7 miles south to the Uhelekawawa Canal bridge.
I really loved the trail today, but the fact that it is not connected from one section to the next makes it less than ideal. A very beautiful ride though, and easily done wit the loaner bikes from the Hilton Garden Inn.
I admit, I'm biased when it comes to Kauai. That being said, this trail is amazing. It skirts the east coast of the island. We rented bikes at Coconut Coasters and rode the trail a few times back and forth. We also took a side trip to the Spaulding Monument, up Kealia Road. While the monument is not much to see, the uphill climb is worth it for the view. It's a great spot for a picnic too. We rode the trail in 2010 when it was only 4 miles long. I guess we'll just have to go back and ride it again.
Enjoyed this path during our 2 week stay in Kauai. What an INCREDIBLE experience. It's beautiful, easy access and leads to access to the most beautiful beaches and views one might not see by car alone.
We rented bikes and started in Wailua by Lydgate park where we were staying and managed to get through the small spot where there is no trail just fine.
Once past Long's Drugs, there is a small section of highway and sidewalk to ride until it picks back up at Kapaa Shores.
My 12 year old who barely rides a bike at home did just fine on this journey.
Whether walking, riding a bike, pushing a stroller, I highly recommend taking advantage of this path during any visit you make to Kauai.
I for one will do what I can to help support the completion of this project.
Aloha
Rented 3-speed coaster bikes from Coconut Coasters and road the entire trail. It was a beautiful ride and a great way to spend our last morning in Kauai. We do recommend 3-speed bikes as there are some easy hills that are better in a low gear. Several great beaches with picnic areas and restrooms. Not very crowded and great places to hang out or beach if you want. For those who like mountain biking, the paved trail ends and goes into a dirt trail on the north end that looked like it would be fun for mountain bikes. Most of the bike shops also have mountain bikes for rent as well as coasters.
This all coastal path is being built in segments with the finished sections running from South Kapaa to Donkey Beach (which is a few miles north of Kealia) on Kauai's eastern shores.
The path along Kauai's famed Coconut Coast has beautiful wide paved lines to ride or walk with fresh tropical breezes swaying the coconut trees high above. As you continue north, the path starts to slightly elevate just north of Kapaa HI which makes for perfect whale, turtle and dolphin watching points all along Kealia Kai.
The path is non vehicular and not at all crowded. Restrooms and rest areas with picnic tables every .5-1 mile.
Biking the path is how I travel and I recommend Coconut Coasters in Kapaa if you need to rent a bike. This path is good for all skill levels and is easy to navigate.
Coconutcoasters.com
Enjoy!
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