Please help with more info about the olivine pools!
 

I have a few questions about the olivine pools. <BR><BR>What is the road like traveling from Kapalua to the ovaline pools? <BR><BR>Would we avoid the white knuckle part of the drive if we retraced our route after visiting the pools?<BR><BR>What is the hike like to the pools? Would it be easy enough for a five year old? What type of foot gear is reccomended?<BR><BR>Thank you!!

Hiking down is very dangerous. You must use extreme caution. I would put head gear/bike helmet on the little one before trying this one. One loose rock will get you. The drive either way is fine if you are not a fearful driver.

Thank you! <BR><BR>That is just what I needed to know.<BR><BR>Best Regards, <BR><BR>Gem

I'm glad lou said it first. Following Maui Revealed, we stopped first and hiked down to the Nakalele Blowhole, which was great (hold on to your little one's hand, because you can walk right up to the hole and get blown away!). A little further on, we came to the Olivine Pools, which I had been dreaming about since buying that book. They looked to be about twice the distance of the blowhole. Well, we couldn't find any trail (although we could see people wayyyy down below in the pools), and it was all boulders. Maybe we were just hot and tired, but we decided to stay at the top and had our picnic lunch there. While we ate, we observed at least three carloads (book in hand) arrive, look over the rocks, and declare it too much. My husband would have done it, but I guess I chickened out. Anyway, definitely drive the whole way around, it's narrow but doable (especially compared to the Caribbean, which I'm used to - hardly any potholes!). Have fun!

I would not take a 5 year old down to the olivine pools. If you do I would not let them near the water unless it was a very calm day. My husband and I were there last Jan. When we arrived it was calm. Not much later he was severely tumbled in the pools by a very large wave. It knocked my glasses off and my sandals, high up were washed away. While we were climbing up, (I was now barefoot) 3 teenagers were climbing down. We warned them about the conditions and urged them to be cautious. One of them was knocked off the ledge above the pools and had a nasty gouge on his elbow. We could see white stuff (bone or tendons??) hanging out. They were very scared. I don't know why you would want to take a 5 yr old into that kind of environment. I suggest you look down from the top. It will probably bore your 5 yr old anyway.

Thank you all for the advice. <BR><BR>I had no idea that it would be such a difficult hike to the pools. I read about the pools in the Maui Revealed guide book and it does not mention that it is the slightest bit difficult. I am so grateful to have this community to turn to find out the real deal. It does not sound like an activity that we would want to take our five year old on.<BR><BR>Thank you for saving us from a wasted day or worse!!<BR><BR>Best Regards,<BR><BR>Gem