Nakalele Blowhole
Nakalele Blowhole
4.5
About
This natural spout shoots up to 100 feet in the air—the view from the hilltop is impressive enough, but a hike down a rocky trail will let you get up close and personal. Approaching from the island’s west side is a lot easier than the drive from the east, and you may find the descent down to the geyser challenging. Wear appropriate footwear, as the area can be slippery and dangerous, and time your visit during high tide when the water spouts are at their most impressive. While you’re there, don’t miss checking out the Nakalele Point lighthouse, a short walk away. – Tripadvisor
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- Fireweed25Edmonton, Canada257 contributionsWorth the driveThe terrain is steep and rocky, but not necessary to hike all the way down to view the blowhole as it can still be seen from above. We arrived late afternoon and were able to see the waves crashing and water ‘blow’. The views from above of the open ocean and neighbouring cliffs was spectacular though very windy. We did not have an issue with parking at that time of day and the banana bread stand was still open. Nakalele blowhole may have been the destination, though the drive to and from was also amazing with several stopping places to admire the views and changing landscape.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 5 November 2023
- Colleen WBlue Island, Illinois9 contributionsThe trip as excellent as the sight. Bring provisions.Great hike to get closer (but not too close). Our children enjoyed the rocky terrain. We were able to buy a snack from a stand in the parking lot. Bring water. We were hoping to ‘find something’ for lunch, but ended up having to drive back to town because of the remote nature of this excursion. Thank goodness for snacks. Lots of scenic overlooks and beach stops along the way to get to this short hike & natural wonder.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 17 November 2023
- smhrPickering, Canada298 contributionsNice place to visit. Will recommend itThis is a really nice place. If you are staying in North West Maui, I will strongly recommend that you go there. T. The drive to get there is nice. There are red coloured rock formation that you will see as you are driving to the blowhole. You can see the blowhole by parking your car and walking about 5 mins. But if you prefer, you can walk down. We didnt go down so not sure how long it takes but my guess will be about 20-30 mins. We spent 15 mins here which is about the same for most people that I observed when I was there There is no entrance or parking fee here. Parking is on the side of the road ie no "established/paved parking lotVisited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 November 2023
- Domino M16 contributionsGreat experience and great views along the wayThis was worth the drive to go up to the far west side of the island. Lots of beautiful scenery along the way to the blow hole. Lots of places to pull off and get pictures of the ocean and cliffs and waves. Then when you arrive at the location it’s about a 250 foot flat walk to the edge so you can get pictures of the water shooting up in the sky.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 November 2023
- Sara Z2 contributionsBeautiful, but beware the route thereThe area of the blowhole was beautiful in itself, but when driving to/from there, DO NOT TAKE THE KAHEKILI HIGHWAY!!! Our Apple Maps recommended this route, so we took it without researching it. Apparently it’s nicknamed the “highway of death” which is an appropriate name. I didn’t see any warning signs upon entering the route regarding the dangers we would experience. It felt like you could die by falling off of the cliff at any moment; most of the route was a road that was barely wide enough to fit 1 car, yet it was meant for two-way traffic. That paired with extremely sharp turns made it a horrifying experience. Please take the other route. The views along the highway are beautiful but not at all worth the dangerVisited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 8 February 2024
- Hrothmir226 contributionsGo for the scenery around the blowholeThe blowhole itself was just OK. Perhaps we went at the wrong time in term of tides and it is more impressive at other times. However, the volcanic scenery around the blowhole is dramatic and worth the trip. A couple sources recommended clambering up the "bench" or "saddle" of rock behind the blowhole and continuing down the coast. One source recommended continuing until you get to the metal remains of an old lighthouse structure, at which you've reached the end of the more interesting coastal scenery. That proved to be good advice: colorful and curiously shaped volcanic rocks, nice coastal vistas, etc. The hike beyond the blowhole is not technically difficult (just walking and clambering around rocks); no harder than the hike down from the road to the blowhole itself. Worthwhile.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 13 March 2024
- Valerie R24 contributionsMagnificent Up-Close Water ViewsThis was the best impromptu rainy day/high surf activity to do. It was only a 30 min drive from Napili Bay, or longer if you want to stop at the scenic overlooks (highly recommend the “enchanted” Honolua Bay Access Trail). The water in the blowhole went very high, and the sea was pretty rough slamming against the cliffs, which was another sight to behold. There were a few dozen people or so spread out among the paths. At the blowhole itself, everyone got to take ample pictures and videos without other folks in the shot. It’s a steep and very rocky path downhill. Some people were trying to go down in flip flops, which I would not recommend. We had hiking boots, which let us more easily navigate the paths and explore the rock cliffs a bit further. It was surprisingly peaceful being down by the cliff edge, as the waves roared and the constant cool breeze blew.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 August 2024
- wilsonsbythelakeCharlottesville, Virginia70 contributionsWhat a hike!We got lost trying to find the parking lot and ended up taking the LONG way. Ended up being awesome because we saw TWO blow holes. The hike was long and moderately difficult. The views were fantastic- you could just envision Poseidon churning up the water.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,339 reviews
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358
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99
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AlgersonA
Sunnyside, NY55 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I can’t stress this enough...BRING PROPER FOOTWEAR! It started raining before we came across this attraction and were unaware just how muddy it would have been. While you can get a clear shot of the blowhole from an adjacent cliff above (guessing around 200 yards away), in my opinion, it doesn’t really AWE being so far away from this cliff. That being said, if you want to get really close to make this a memorable experience, you’ll have to maneuver down a decent amount of mud and rocky terrain (which we were unable to do because of poor footwear) to get up close to the blowhole.
It’s definitely worth it if you’re able-bodied enough to make it down closer to the blowhole for a good snap! Again, even if it’s a balmy sunny day, I strongly encourage you to wear sneakers to this attraction. I would definitely recommend seeing this attraction, but simply because I was unable to get as close as I wanted to I’ve rated this as Average.
It’s definitely worth it if you’re able-bodied enough to make it down closer to the blowhole for a good snap! Again, even if it’s a balmy sunny day, I strongly encourage you to wear sneakers to this attraction. I would definitely recommend seeing this attraction, but simply because I was unable to get as close as I wanted to I’ve rated this as Average.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenneth K
Clermont, IN5 contributions
Jan 2020
Took the trip up from the Kaanapali area. It was a very easy drive up and around on Hwy 30. The road was pretty good (slow at times) but easy to drive. The Blowhole is located at mile marker 38. There were actually two areas to stop and park, about 1/4 mile apart. The second area had a banana bread stand, and a handmade sign announcing the Blowhole. The hike to the blowhole was about 1/4 mile from the road, although it could be seen from just beyond the parking area. The hike was somewhat challenging, so wear some appropriate shoes. Being older, we only made it part way, but the show was spectacular! Unless you are sure-footed and have good balance, you will not be able to go all of the way to the blowhole.Take allot of pics. I’m sure that it gets better, the closer that you can get. All in all, a very good trip. My understanding that if you continued the drive to the east, toward Kahului, the road became one lane only for short stretches, making the drive more challenging.
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie S
New Jersey64 contributions
Dec 2019
Wow! This blowhold was formed with the lava rock and looks to be on another planet as you walk down to the blowhole. The hole shoots up water from each wave that comes in and the amount of force of the wave seems to drive the height of the geyser effect! Just wow to see it in person as the water blasts up and sprays the area. The rocks can be slippery so good shoes would be better than flip flops/sandals. Enjoy this cool sight!
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jujubean4
Asheville, NC514 contributions
Jan 2020
Firstly, Please Do Not wear flip flops to hike down this rocky hillside with basically no trail, just rocks and boulders to climb up, over, and around. Not for those who are elderly or out of shape. But, if you are fit and wearing lace up shoes, it is worth the rather steep, rocky decent for the 50 foot spray of water! We were thrilled and took so many photos/videos! Also, regarding the "heart shaped rock" that you see on IG posts, it is a very small heart shaped hole in a small rock to the right of the blowhole, and is dangerous to approach due to the unpredictable surf.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chelsea C
Arlington, VA37 contributions
Apr 2021
This is a drive up northwest Maui past Ka'anapali along curving roads with beautiful vistas. Good spots to pull over & take a few photos! There is plenty of parking at the spot to pull off for the blowhole & you don't have to hike down to it (actually, I wouldn't recommend it, it can be dangerous & people have been sucked in before. Plus it's a rather steep/rocky hike down to it). If you walk across a flat, grassy plain, there is a relatively flat rock overlook where you can get some good pictures (wear a mask -- it gets pretty crowded up there, which is why I gave it four stars. Many people were not masked). The blowhole is more active in the afternoon, so this is a good post-beach activity.
Written 5 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fred L
San Jose, CA1,425 contributions
Dec 2020
My family and I were on vacation in Maui (in the Lahaina area) and we decided to visit the Nakalele Blowhole. The drive there is a windy road that was fun to drive with a lot of great views along the way. If you are not an adventurous driver or a nervous driver you might want to let someone else take the wheel. When you arrive you are basically parking on the side of the road, walking on a relatively flat path then climbing/hiking down to the blowhole. I highly recommend that at minimum you wear sneakers and not flimsy shoes like flip-flops. There is no real path to hike down (or up). It's rocky and some sections are slippery. We had a 5 and 7 year in tow and our oldest got a little nervous on the way down. But once you get down there the view is spectacular and you just need to wait a few minutes for the blowhole to do its thing. The lava rock formations also make you feel like you are on another planet. There are a number of signs on the way down reminding you to keep a safe distance from the blowhole. Our girls enjoyed it so much that they wanted to go do it again. I think they had more fun climbing up and down than seeing the blowhole. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it.
Written 1 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan
Charlotte, NC604 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
The blowhole in Waiʻānapanapa State Park is far more impressive.
This location is one of the more crowded spots too. You have to hike downhill quite a bit and the payoff isn’t really worth it relative to how amazing other attractions are in Maui.
This location is one of the more crowded spots too. You have to hike downhill quite a bit and the payoff isn’t really worth it relative to how amazing other attractions are in Maui.
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
megklee30
Appleton, WI256 contributions
Oct 2019
This is a great place to stop on the northwest side of the island. I would definitely recommend you wear shoes even if it is dry. I can only imagine how difficult it is to climb down there if it is wet. We were there when it was nice and dry but the mud dries so smooth and hard that it becomes pretty slippery if you are in flip flops. We saw several people fall and one person fell so hard that they had to be helped back to their car. Not what you want to have happen to you on vacation. Once we got down there it was pretty cool. My husband and I got our picture taken by the heart shaped hole in the rock. We got a little nervous as several kids climbed up on the edge for a picture and almost lost their balance when a gust of wind came.
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Previa1994
Chicago, IL6,652 contributions
Jan 2020
It is well worth the drive on the Road to Hana to drive to see Nakele Blowhole in action. The parking has several spots but it does get busy on weekends. There is no trail sign at the parking lot for the Blowhole, but there are so many people that the path will be pretty obvious or the Banana Bread store folks will point out the way. It is steep path down to the blowhole, but one does not have to go all the way down to see the blowhole. Also, during wet times the path may be too muddy and slippery.
The blowhole action is awesome, and it is pretty frequent. But the size of the gush depends the sizes the ocean waves. This stop is well worth the drive.
The blowhole action is awesome, and it is pretty frequent. But the size of the gush depends the sizes the ocean waves. This stop is well worth the drive.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gljohnson2
Minneapolis, MN25 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
My spouse and I, who are in our late 30s-early 40s, visited the blowhole as part of a trip from Ka’anapali that also included snorkeling at Honokahua Bay and boogie boarding at Slaughterhouse Beach. From Ka’anapali, it’s probably a 35 minute drive to the Nakalele Blowhole with some fun twists and turns that compete with the first part of the Road to Hana.
My neighbor, who had visited the blowhole a year prior said to go if I was in the area, but don’t expect a whole lot after walking down a couple hundred feet. After going in with mediocre expectations, both my spouse and I were pleasantly surprised at the experience. The short hike down to the blow hole is definitely more difficult if you’re not wearing tennis shoes or hiking boots, but not impossible if you’re in flip flops.
You can still get a great view of the blowhole (and even stand in the splash zone a layer of rock above the hole to the left (west)) without venturing into overly dangerous territory. The blowhole, which probably produced geysers 15-20 feet in height when we were there (and it wasn’t a overly crazy weather and wave day) is a unique sight and experience that I look forward to bringing my then-teenage kids back to some day when on Maui again.
My neighbor, who had visited the blowhole a year prior said to go if I was in the area, but don’t expect a whole lot after walking down a couple hundred feet. After going in with mediocre expectations, both my spouse and I were pleasantly surprised at the experience. The short hike down to the blow hole is definitely more difficult if you’re not wearing tennis shoes or hiking boots, but not impossible if you’re in flip flops.
You can still get a great view of the blowhole (and even stand in the splash zone a layer of rock above the hole to the left (west)) without venturing into overly dangerous territory. The blowhole, which probably produced geysers 15-20 feet in height when we were there (and it wasn’t a overly crazy weather and wave day) is a unique sight and experience that I look forward to bringing my then-teenage kids back to some day when on Maui again.
Written 25 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have someone with us that uses a walker so cannot hike down the rocks or even walk very far. Were you able to see the blowhole from where you park?
Written 19 September 2019
From the Car Park - very doubtful. It would require exceptional sea conditions.
The Wales is maybe 80/90 yards over even ground. No rocks or clambering required.
Enjoy your visit.
Written 8 December 2019
My wife will be 6 months pregnant at the time of our visit, is the hike to the blowhole all that bad? Wondering if this will be too much for her. She does enjoy hiking in general though.
Written 13 July 2018
It’s not a difficult trail, however, it is rocky with a couple of big steps, depending on your route down. Take your time going down and you will be fine. It is muddy and slippery if raining.
Written 15 July 2018
Is the drive from Lahaina easy? I am aware that 340 gets iffy to the East of the blowhole but want to know if the highway to the west of it is still "normal" (2 lanes, etc) and "safe."
Written 21 April 2017
Is there a decent view from the parking lot (or safely close by). We have a toddler so I am sure we won't be able to make the complete hike down but I would like to see it a little if possible...
Written 21 April 2017
Yes. You can walk a short distance from your car and see the blowhole. Regardless put your toddler in closed toe shoes so he/she doesn't hurt his/her feet on the lava rock.
Written 21 April 2017
Rebecca K
Nashville, Tennessee
I was wondering if you thought the hike down was very strenuous and a great distance? I can walk but not long, long distances as my knee is not in the best of shape. I was planning on getting some good shoes for walking. I really want to see this, but was concerned about the difficulty.
Written 20 March 2015
The hike is a fairly strenuous one, especially with unstable rocks and steep bits of hillside. You can get a decent view from up top without having to hike down, so I would recommend going that route if you have bad knees, hips, or ankles. If you decide to go down, I highly recommend having real shoes on (not flip flops and especially not barefoot).
Written 31 January 2017
Is there a viewing point from which to see this where there are several shops located. I am trying to figure out where we stopped when we were there.
Written 13 January 2015
There is a spot up above the blowhole where there are several local stands selling jewelry, food, and some other things. They aren't there all the time but they have been there the two times I've visited the blowhole. The shop stands are located right next to the road so if they're open on that day, you can't miss them!
Written 31 January 2017
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