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Kanaio Lighthouse LbNA #13389

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Feb 9, 2005
Location:
City:Makena
County:Maui
State:Hawaii
Boxes:1
Planted by:Playmakers
Found by: Squatchis
Last found:Dec 31, 2019
Status:FaFF
Last edited:Feb 9, 2005
NOTE: Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox confirmed alive & well on March 25/09.

Description

The Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox is located near the Lighthouse on Cape Hanamanioa past the end of the road at La Perouse Bay in South Maui.

To get to La Perouse Bay, head south through Makena on Makena Alanui Road. At the end of the road, the pavement stops and you can then go right on some crushed lava to a parking area looking out over La Perouse Bay.

The massive lava fields to the west and northwest comprise Cape Kina’u, home of Playmaker’s ‘Aquarium Letterbox’. The lava fields southeast of La Perouse Bay comprise the Kanaio Coast, home to Playmaker’s Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox.

La Perouse Bay was named after the French sailor who is credited with being the first European explorer to set foot in this area.

To get to the Kanaio Lighthouse requires a hike of about one hour (each way) along a trail that follows the coastline southeast from the parking area to the tip of Cape Hanamanioa, the southern tip of Maui.

Exit the parking area through a fence in the southeast corner. You will now be on a rugged 4WD road that passes numerous ancient Hawaiian villages as it makes its way past several small coves. Take some time to look at the old house structures, the canoe hale (house) by the coast, the salt stones, several old water wells and some of the other structures that provided shelter for native Hawaiians as late as the early 1900s.

After about a mile, the road opens up to an area of a’a lava which came from Haleakala’s most recent eruption said to be in about 1790. At this point, if you go left through a wire fence for about 100 yards, you would then be on the Haopili Trail (King’s Highway) built in its present form by Governor Hoapili from 1824 to 1840.

Instead of going onto the Hoapili Trail, however, you want to take a trail straight ahead. There is a small trail to the right that simply goes down to the shoreline - do not take this small trail. Take the main trail straight ahead that will follow the coast. At this juncture, you can see the Kanaio Lighthouse ahead and to your right on Cape Hanamanioa.

As you approach the Lighthouse you will arrive at a landing area mauka (on the mountain side) of the Lighthouse and about 30 yards from the Lighthouse.

The Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox is hidden on this landing area. It is not hidden near the base of the lighthouse. For specific details on the exact location of the Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox, please see the 'Clues' below.

Good solid shoes are recommended. Sandals are not advised. Definitely take some sunscreen, lots of water and a snack or lunch.

Once you have located the Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox, there is an excellent beach (and a ‘Funhog’ Letterbox) about another 1/2 hour away further down the coast.

From the lighthouse landing continue east on the trail and you will soon join the Hoapili Trail.

Turn right on the Hoapili Trail and in about 15 minutes you will see lots of vegetation makai (towards the ocean) with a spur trail leading off to the right. This trail takes you to Keawanaku Beach which is a usually deserted, well protected, mostly black but with some white and a bit of green (olivine) sand.

Funhog’s ‘King’s Highway’ Letterbox is located in this general area. See Funhog’s clues so you can locate this Letterbox as you enjoy this hike.

Now that you’ve visited Keawanaku Beach and enjoyed a swim from the sandy beach, why not go back to the Hoapili Trail and about 10 minutes further on you will descend down into tiny Wawaloa Cove. The reason we suggest that you take this additional short trip is that at the east side of Wawaloa Cove are some excellent ruins of another ancient Hawaiian Village. These ruins are definitely worth the effort.

At Wawaloa Cove you are about 2 miles from the start of your journey. To get back to the parking area, simply head west back along the Hoapili Trail and you should be at your vehicle in about 1 hour.

As an added attraction on this hike, on the trail along the coast, you will see several inland brackish pools called “Anchialine Pools”. These fragile pools are lined with what is commonly called ‘lava field quicksand’ and are closed to swimming or wading. They are fed from water seeping through the porous lava rock. Anchialine Pools have their own ecosystem with many micro organisms including small shrimp. Please do not walk on the delicate shorelines of these fragile pools.

Clues

To find the Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox, stand in the middle of the landing area facing the lighthouse. The landing area is about 30 yards north from the lighthouse and the trail leads directly to this landing area.

Facing the lighthouse, on your left at the east side of the landing area, there are two large lava rocks.

The Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox is hidden directly behind the large lava rock boulder that is closest to the lighthouse. It is immediately behind the large boulder on the downhill side under a number of small lava rocks.

When you find the Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox, you are guaranteed to see dolphins.

Once you have found the Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox and signed in, thank you for replacing the Letterbox to ensure the integrity of its hiding place.

Please ensure that there are sufficient stones protecting the Letterbox so that it is well protected from the view of passersby. Thank you.

We hope you enjoy the hike, the fabulous scenery and some of Maui’s incredible ancient history in your quest for the Kanaio Lighthouse Letterbox.

Please contact us by email at peter@brill.ca to let us know you
found this box and the condition it is in, plus any other comments
you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Letterboxing!