The Valley Isle has 16 hiking trails maintained and marked by the state and about a dozen others inside Halekala National Park, one of the most amazing parks in the world. The majority of these hikes on Maui are world-class for one reason or another. The Lahaina Pali Trail is grueling but with fantastic views of Lanai and the ocean. The hikes through the lava fields on the leeward coasts are starkly gorgeous. I haven't hiked them all personally but have done a fair number. Here are two of my faves and why I love them.

Pipiwai Trail Where: Haleakala National Park - Kipahulu Area Distance: 4 miles round trip, moderately strenuous Why Big, honking waterfalls! This gorgeous, leisurely trail shadows a lovely stream past waterfalls and pools and through a forest of towering bamboo (an alien species but still). Trail ends at the base of 400-foot Waimoku Falls, a most impressive cataract.

Waikamoi Cloud Forest Hike Where: Haleakala National Park, Hosmer Grove Distance: 3 miles, moderately strenuous Why: You're hiking in a cloud forest, man! This hike, led by park rangers, enters the Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve, a pristine forest chock full of endemic and rare native species. You'll see native ferns, rare koa trees, and stunning native forest birds like the vermillion `i`iwi, the blood red `apapane, and the bright green `amakihi.

More Info: State Trails on Maui, Haleakala National Park

—Alex, 08/16/06