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Maluhia Road: Tree Tunnel to Poʻipū, South Shore, Kauaʻi, Hawaii
Photo: u7shin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Hawaii Kauaʻi

Maluhia Road: Tree Tunnel to Poʻipū

Maluhia Road, Poipu Road, Pōʻipū Road · Kaumualiʻi Highway → Poʻipū

Leisurely5.9 mi15 min0 ft climbHigh point ≈ 600 ftOne way
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The drive

Maluhia Road is the gateway to Kauaʻi's south shore. From Kaumualiʻi Highway it runs through the Tree Tunnel, an avenue of eucalyptus planted about a century ago, then heads on toward Kōloa and Poʻipū. The drive is 5.9 miles and takes about 15 minutes, and it is gentle all the way.

The trees meet over the road for the first stretch, and the road is a draw for visitors, so expect slow going. Past the trees the drive skirts Old Kōloa Town, where Kauaʻi's first sugar mill opened in 1835 and shops now occupy the plantation buildings, and joins Poʻipū Road near the shore.

It ends on Poʻipū Road, short of the beach lots. Resorts surround Poʻipū Beach, which is a sharp contrast with the old plantation town.

Along the way

  1. Kaumualiʻi Highway
  2. Poʻipū (Poʻipū Road)
Elevation
0 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 600 ft
Kaumualiʻi HighwayPoʻipū
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
Kaumualiʻi HighwayPoʻipū
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Visitors slow and stop in the Tree Tunnel for photos, so allow extra time.
  • The road closes for an annual community cleanup, and county crews close it for a few hours when a tree falls.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Hawaii DOT: Kauaʻi lane closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Maluhia Road Tree Tunnel drive take?

Maluhia Road from Kaumualiʻi Highway to Poʻipū is 5.9 miles and takes about 15 minutes, longer if you stop for photos.

What is the Tree Tunnel on Kauaʻi?

The Tree Tunnel is a stretch of Maluhia Road lined with eucalyptus trees planted about a century ago. It is the gateway to Kōloa and Poʻipū.

Is Maluhia Road ever closed?

Yes. It closes for an annual volunteer cleanup tied to Kōloa Plantation Days, and for a few hours when a tree falls.

Is Maluhia Road a twisty drive?

No. It is a short, leisurely road with gentle bends and one brief twisty stretch.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Maluhia Road: Tree Tunnel to Poʻipū, from Kaumualiʻi Highway to Poʻipū