Merriman’ s and the Kapalua Coastal Trail

Question

We are currently in the Kaanapali area and are considering a happy hour at Merriman’s tomorrow. I understand it is valet parking. After Happy Hour would we be able to take a half hour to stroll part of the Kapalua Coastal Trail before retrieving our car. I can’t see paying $ 29.00 to park at the trail parking lot for a short stroll ( mobility issues), and I’m not going to beg for the location of the free spots people know of. Has anyone had experience with this?

Answer

Good question. Short answer: yes, you *probably* can do part of the Kapalua Coastal Trail after a happy hour at Merriman’s, but there are some important parking-considerations and trade-offs to be aware of.

Here’s a breakdown based on recent information and traveler experience:

Merriman’s Parking: - According to their FAQ, Merriman’s Kapalua offers complimentary valet parking. - Because that parking is provided by the restaurant, you should be fine to leave your car there during your visit. On TripAdvisor, someone said: “I think you would be fine … a walk to the beach is common after eating there.”
Trail Access & Hours: - The Kapalua Coastal Trail is open from sunrise to sunset, per Kapalua Resort trail guides. - Access points for the trail include Kapalua Bay, Oneloa Bay, and D.T. Fleming Beach Park.
Parking for the Trail: - Many of the dedicated trailhead parking lots are now paid lots, managed by ParkLinq, with flat-day rates of $19–$29. - According to TripAdvisor: several lots along the trail now charge $29 for all-day parking. - There *is* a cheaper parking option at the Kapalua Tennis Garden (across from Merriman’s) with rates around $10–$15, per The Snorkel Store’s parking guide.
Mobility & Short Walk Feasibility: - Since the trail is easily accessible from Merriman’s’ location and you only plan to stroll for ~30 minutes, using the valet parking should cover your needs — you won’t necessarily need to pay for one of the expensive trailhead lots if you don’t drive off to park elsewhere. - Multiple travelers have implied that a post-meal walk from Merriman’s down to parts of the coastal path is “a very common thing.” - That said, if mobility is a concern, be sure to stick to the flatter, paved or board-walk parts of the trail rather than steep or uneven sections. The Kapalua Trail Guide notes some parts as packed dirt, boardwalk, or paved.
Risk of Overstaying / Parking Policy: - Because the paid trail-parking lots are privately managed, tipping overstay or abusing them could lead to towing, per TripAdvisor: “violators are towed.” - If you leave your car at Merriman’s via their valet, you avoid the risk of being penalized in the trail lots because you’re not parking in them — though you should double-check with the valet staff on their policy for “leaving during a walk.”

My Recommendation:

Go ahead with Merriman’s happy hour at ~4 PM (or its scheduled times) — try to finish early enough that you still have daylight to walk the trail.
Talk to the valet when you arrive: let them know you'd like to take a short walk on the Coastal Trail and confirm it's okay to leave your car there for that time.
Walk from Merriman’s down to the Coastal Trail from the Kapalua Bay side — you’ll likely hit a very pretty, relatively easy section without needing to move your car to a paid lot.
If you want to park and start the walk further along the trail (or need more guaranteed trailhead access), consider using the Tennis Garden lot ($10–$15) instead of paying $29 for the main trailhead lot.

Bottom line: Yes — it’s quite reasonable to have a drink at Merriman’s, stroll part of the Kapalua Coastal Trail for 30 minutes, then return to your car at the restaurant — without paying the $29 trail-lot fee — if the valet is okay with your plan (which many people say it is). Just be cautious about which part of the trail you choose, pick a safe and accessible section, and ask the valet staff for confirmation when you arrive.

Merriman’ s and the Kapalua Coastal Trail

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