We went to Nahiku 3 yrs. ago and had a picnic in this beautiful place and want to go back again as it was so special. Now I'm reading that people are posting KAPU signs, and I'm wondering - is this a public road or a private road? If it's a private road, then we won't go on it but if it's a public road, I don't see how the residents can stop you from going on the road. We live in an area where there are some bumpy, narrow roads and if the county doesn't fix them, it doesn't mean that we can't use them. Sometimes I feel as though some Mauian residents are a bit self-righteous with their island - of course we go there because of the beauty too! I live close to Banff Alberta and I'm sure the residents there would prefer to have less tourists too but they don't put signs up to 'keep out' - what is the difference? If we go on this (hopefully public) road - are we going to meet residents telling us to get off the road - we certainly don't want a big confrontation over this - we just want to have a quiet picnic in a beautiful place!! Is there somewhere where we can verify the status of the road? Thank you

Geez. Local people put up a KAPU sign and you think you want to go there?

And now you are slagging off Maui residents for being self-righteous with their island?

You're just asking for a confrontation. I suggest you find another picnic place.

Hmmm, I can see both sides of this. But if it is a public road I would want to know why it's off limits.

I'm not trying to be confrontational - I'm just saying that 'here in Banff' we can't say 'keep out' on a certain mountain for skiing even if we want to - the fact is that it's not for us to tell people where they can go or not go. I just honestly wanted to know if it's a private or public road - and where would I find that out? I didn't expect any emotional outpourings and I'm sorry MARGINAL if I offended you or anyone else....I simply think that if the fact is that it's public that I can go there as much as anyone else! We aren't allowed to go to Perouse for snorkelling because of the problems with the environment getting there and I totally get that, it shouldn't be allowed and I assume it's the county that has stopped it. If the road belongs to the county and they think it should be for public use only - then they should put a sign up to that effect. That is all I wanted to know.....simple! Thanks once again.

I've never been to Nahiku (I'm a Hawaii resident) but supposedly the road is a public one, according to various threads I've read on Trip Advisor. You could probably confirm it by researching with various state agencies or looking at TMK maps, but there's some effort involved.

However, the area is now supposedly pretty congested with tourists. Understandably the residents are upset with large numbers of tourists, some that park their cars or trespass on private property.

So while the road is a public one, the residents probably posted the signs to discourage so many tourists from going down it. Whether you decide to go down the road anyway is up to you but I would not be completely surprised if you do encounter some unhappy locals. Hopefully in that situation the worst would be some stink eye.

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That's why I do to people who use my street to cut through the neighborhood when there's a perfectly good, and much bigger, thoroughfare nearby! (But nothing illegal about them being on my street, and no signs saying "keep out" either )

To sf7307 - that would be good if I found an alternative road to get to the ocean, do you know if there is one? Also, I have written to Maui County to have them confirm to me whether it is permissible for us to go there on the road as noted. I can handle stink eye, although I'd prefer for that not to happen. We are a gramma and grampa who just want to return once more to a 'happy place'!!!

Let me guess. And I am sure this isn't a big leap. You heard about this area from Andrew Doughty's Blue Book Reviled. If I lived there, I'd have a KAPU sign. I would think, haven enjoyed the area, you would be more compassionate to the people who live there. Perhaps you could read up on the history of the hawaiian islands to better understand.

sorry, baddeck, I don't. We were down at La Perouse Bay a month ago and looking up at cars coming down the hill, but we couldn't even figure out how they got there, or where they would connect with roads on the south. We just went back the same way we came.

So if you end up with a flat tire while picniking, are you going to write to Maui county, too?

Ohmigod!! Didn't mean to hit a nerve with people! And let me guess, I would gather that some of these people have 'anger' issues that find it easy to hide behind the computer in expressing their judgments/opinions with others. Having said that, I did not get a blue book - we simply were taking roads willy/nilly when we spent time going to Maui. And so I will close with this - if you decide not to go somewhere that is simply your decision. I am not a horrible person for wanting to go on a road for public use, and will really enjoy a quiet beautiful spot in a most respectful manner.

"Sometimes I feel as though some Mauian residents are a bit self-righteous with their island"

"And let me guess, I would gather that some of these people have 'anger' issues that find it easy to hide behind the computer in expressing their judgments/opinions with others. "

aloha from kauai...classic dialogue here...i was a fire fighter on Maui although born on Kauai and the irony is that certain areas get over run(a given) when popularized...its not just about if its "state" property such as a beach where we will fight to the bone to retain access when mainlanders who freshly buy a parcel try to block an easement or even a local try to dissuade..there are no absolutes yet you have to sway to the desires of the immediate folks living there...many areas here have been quietly blocked without regards to any one from here...people what to compartmentalize "theirs" and encapsulate or showcase what they have achieved...may not be relevant to Nahiku yet too many glossy books highlight spots to sell the goods...places onKauai are constantly being trampled and we are always on guard to give advise AWAY from ambiguous one dimensional books that never speak on hazards, intangible concerns from various situations...most just read, walk in, loose sense of responsibility which include being conscious of an areas unique circumstances...i feel the original poster has valid opinion yet new set of dynamics are now relevant so go with them...canada is a whole 'nother animal compared with a tiny lush isle...

> I can handle stink eye, although I'd prefer for that not to happen.<

Just keep in mind that I said that hopefully that's the worst that would happen. Unfortunately, I also wouldn't be surprised if you also encountered some hostile/unfriendly/aggressive remarks in tandem with the stink eye.

I've never been to Nahiku so I don't know the makeup of the residents, but people putting up a "KAPU" sign indicates that there are those that feel pretty strongly about the matter.

Even though you intend to be respectful during your visit, some people will see the visit itself as disrespectful, especially given the signs. I would not like for you to have a negative experience should someone decide to confront you about it. But like I said, it's up to you to decide to visit or not.

Having a KAPU sign up means the local people are already antagonistic about having tourists in the area.

Why make the situation any worse?

We used to go to Blue Hole in Hana. That was before it was 'Revealed' Neighbors would wave aloha to us, because it was an I heard from a local place to visit and picnic.

We no longer go there, as what was an idealic spot has turned into a few hundred cars each day, driving down a rural road and interupting a way of life.

How would you like to live in one of the most rural places and suddenly have a few dozen rental cars parking on your property and walking across your property to get to a waterfall, leaving debris in their path?

Baddeck, did life hand you a bad deck of cards? Your sense of entitlement as a visitor makes no sense to me. To call other posters angry solidifies this. I'm not angry, I'm educated and aware and try to be a polite visitor. You could understand, regardless of how you happened upon this area of northern maui, that it was a gift and you have lovely memories. Now there are a few hundred cars entering their community, pulling into their property, idling cars, taking pictures and leaving. That type of car traffic has destroyed the way of life as they knew it. All because people read in a book how quaint the area is for a picnic. In such a rural setting where kids and pets and livestock stroll, the sudden introduction of a few hundred cars a day has a huge impact on their quality of life.

Keeping it real, Hana is in eastern Maui, not northern. Brain freeze. We also enjoyed time at Waioka Pool/Venus when we were welcomed there. I'm not sure if visitors are still welcomed to cut thru pastures to get there.

Interesting thread. I was on Maui in September this year and went to Nahikiu. I did not see a KAPU sign, but that doesn't mean that it didn't exist. We were one of a small handful of cars that was present at that time, and we didn't get any stink eyes at all. Rather, we had folks waving hello to us, and one group who was clearing out some coconut trees flagged us down and offered us a giant coconut to take back "home" with us. I realize everyone's visit is going to be slightly different, and I also "get" both sides of the story. Just wanted to share my positive experience on it.

We also were still allowed to cut through the pastures at Venus pools. Jumping from the rocks into the pools was my favorite stop on our drive.

Who allowed you to cut thru the pastures to Waioka Pools? Who gave you permission?

I love Hana and would love to return for a few months, never mind days!

Allow me to clarify - we were one of many cars of people who were not prevented from cutting through the pastures to the Venus pools. And yes - I do realize that being given permission is different than being stopped from doing something.

I just did some quick googling about trespass laws in Venus pool areas and found some links such as this:

http://www.nileguide.com/destination...ka-pond/370930

This particular article states: "If you see NO TRESPASSING signs, definitely proceed no further. If not, it is a short walk to the shoreline and a shorter hike (or jump) down to the pristine blue water."

There were no "NO TRESPASSING" signs when we were there.

Here's another article: http://mauiguidebook.com/road-to-han...ka-venus-pool/

This article references the following: "This ambiguity can be seen on the sign at the trailhead -the wording is much less clear than a simple KEEP OUT. The sign instead contains a liability disclaimer and statement that use is considered recreational. (Perhaps because the previous KEEP OUT signs had angered many local residents who grew up swimming here.) There is also a barbed-wire fence which is the type for keeping livestock in, with a couple extra strings of wire likely placed to keep (most) people out."

I did see the deisclaimer sign. Had the sign said, "KEEP OUT NO TRESPASSING" I would not have walked further. In fact, I did abide other signs on the Road to Hana which indicated that access was either explicitly prohibited or only granted by special permit.