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Since we were getting a late afternoon start, I looked in my hiking book for something short and easy. I found it in the form of a 2-mile out and back to Kealia Point. Since the book I had was a bit dated (2006), I looked it up on the web. I found that a bike path had been built over the same route as the hike, back in 2009. That would make it even easier.
So, instead of parking south of the hike, like the book recommended, I simply parked north of it,
at Kealia Beach. One word of warning - the parking lot is quite long. The beach access is mostly at the far northern end, while the point is toward the southern end. If I had parked all the way at the end, I would have saved myself about a quarter mile in each direction.
The first thing you'll notice from the parking lot is the power of the waves. There are warning
signs everywhere about the dangers of the water, but for us no warning signs were needed - it was
quite evident that the water was dangerous. Wave after powerful wave crashed onto the long
beach. We walked all along the beach, then past the far end of the parking lot. The trail
crosses the Kapa'a Stream over a bridge, then soon reaches Kealia Point. There are picnic tables every so often if you're inclined to bring a lunch.
Looking south along the beach
Looking north along the beach
A mass of the point was carved out (presumably for the bike path). There are fences on either side as you walk through this section, presumably to keep falling rocks from encroaching on the path. The point itself can be accessed via a dirt trail at the southern end of the fence. It's an easy walk up to the point, and out toward the ocean. You're rewarded with nice views up and down the coast, and of the waves
crashing powerfully onto the partly submerged triangular point below.
View south of Kealia Point
View from Kealia Point
View of Kealia Beach from the point
After enjoying the views, we continued along the path just a little further. A sign mentioned
the presence of monk seals (and warned not to approach them). At that point, we decided to
turn around and head back. It didn't look like the views would be any better the rest of the way.
Waves crashing south of Kealia Point
Since we hiked on a bike path, I should probably bring up the point that we did see a few bicyclists,
but none of them were wearing helmets. In fact, the entire time I was in Hawaii, I don't think
I saw a single person on a bicycle wearing a helmet. This bugs me to no end. It was as if there's a law
*against* wearing bicycle helmets in Hawaii. In fact, Hawaii does have a law that anyone
under 16 has to wear a helmet. Based on what I saw, I doubt the law's effectiveness considering
none of the adults wear them.
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