Three trailheads will get you to the top, all coverging near the summit. That’s his chinny chin chin (above) to the left, a dangerous side trip to a spot that is just a step from a free fall. But the main trail is not hazardous, even though hands are necessary for one short stretch, where the hiker is pictured above.

The mountain is part of a ridge cleaved by the Wailua River (seen above meeting the sea), by far Hawaii’s biggest. On the opposite side of the river rises Kalepa Ridge

The ocean-side trail climbs just over 1,000 feet (four miles, round-trip) giving up blue water views all the way.

From the Giant’s nose (the top) is a 360-degree view, with Mount Waialeale inland and Kong (Anahola Mountains) to the east (pictured above).

The mountain-side trail is the shortest, and perhaps most-scenic route, if you appreciate  tropical flora. The beginning  traverses a grove of stately Norfolk Pines. This route is 3.25 miles round-trip, with a gain of some 775 feet. The third trailhead, on the west side, covers 5.5 miles round-trip with a gain of 925 feet—but the main reason to take this trail is to enjoy a bridge over Opakea’a Stream and the Vista Hale picnic pavilion, which is .75-mile from the trailhead.

Kauai Trailblazer has further details on these trailheads, as well as many others. Well-known trails, such as the Kalalau, attract hoards of visitors, leaving dozens of other great hikes relatively free of foot traffic.