How to Visit the Nakalele Blowhole Maui, Hawaii

Located on the rough Northwestern coast, the Nakalele Blowhole Maui is a short and steep walk down to the impressive blowhole. The small hole in the rocks connects to an underground tunnel where the incoming waves shoot water up above the rocks.

In addition to the unique blowhole, this hike also offers incredible views of the rocky northern coastline of Maui. The views here are truly gorgeous with bright blue water against the black rocky shoreline. Below you can find information about how to visit the Nakalele blowhole Maui and a description of the short but steep hike to get to the blowhole.

It is possible to see the Maui blowhole from a distance without doing the full hike. There are also two different trails you can take to the blowhole and you can see this described below.

See exactly how to make a day of driving the West Maui Loop Drive.

Use caution along the coastline and near the blowhole as there have been several deaths here, either by getting washed out to sea by the waves or getting sucked into the blowhole.

When using caution, this is a safe place to visit.

Overview of the Nakalele Blowhole Maui

Distance: 1.2 miles
Elevation Gains: 300 feet
Difficulty: This is a steep and rocky trail so while it's short its more of a rock scramble than a hike.

There are two trails down to the Nakalele blowhole Maui. One of the trails passes down past the lighthouse to the blowhole, while the other parking lot at 38.5 mm goes to an overlook over the blowhole with a steep and rocky trail down to the blowhole itself. Both trails are roughly the same length, but the trail that goes past a rather unimpressive lighthouse is the easier of the two.

The trails are rocky and offer some challenging walking. Take your time and you will be fine. This is also a popular hike so you will likely see lots of other people visiting the blowhole. The blowhole is best seen at high tide when the waves are big. You can see a tide chart of Maui here.

View from the viewpoint of the Nakalele Blowhole Maui

People looking down from the viewpoint to the Nakalele Blowhole – the trail goes directly down the hill in front of the people.

How to Get to the Blowhole Maui

The blowhole is located along route 340 in northwest Maui. The best way to visit the blowhole is on a drive along the coastline. There are several other excellent beaches and hikes nearby and you can easily make a whole day out of this drive. The parking lot is listed on google maps, but there is limited cell service in the area. You can also drive along the route and look for the parking lots located at mile markers 38 and 38.5. Here are some driving distances to some of the other nearby sites.

Lahaina to Nakalele Blowhole: 30 minutes
Kapalua to Nakalele Blowhole: 20 minutes
Ohai Trail to Nakalele Blowhole: 6 minutes
Wailea to Nakalele Blowhole: 1 hour and 10 minutes

If you don’t have a car, it’s still possible to visit the Blowhole on a tour.

Map of the hikes to the Maui Blowhole

How Does the Blowhole Work?

The blowhole is a relatively small hole in the rocks that connects to a partly underwater chamber. The water from the ocean waves rushes into this cavern and pushes up through the small hole making it look like a whales blowhole. The site is most impressive when the tide is high and the waves are big.

Over time, the ocean will continue to erode the rock under the shelf over the cavern.

What to Pack for Visiting this Blowhole Maui

While the trail isn’t long, it is a bit tricky to walk – I highly recommend wearing sneakers or hiking boots. The rocks are sharp and unstable. Besides that, you can do the Nakalele Blowhole hike in whatever you are wearing. We saw people in hiking clothes as well as bathing suits for the walk.

Common Questions about Visiting the Nakalele Blowhole Maui

How long do you need for seeing the blowhole?

You should plan on spending 30-45 minutes at the blowhole. This gives you time to look at the view, walk the trail and spend a few minutes at the blowhole.