After a 45-minute drive from town to meet a friend for lunch at that popular pulehu and kalbi rib…read morespot, my bladder led me to seek relief. The original destination was the CVS restroom in the back of the store until I read the posted sign, "Employees Only". I asked a gal at the pharmacy where the nearest restroom is and she directed us here. My friend and I hopped in our car and drove here, parking in their relatively empty parking lot. After accomplishing our mission to the restroom seen here on the left (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=264&select=sGBTAyLzrA6LzXJQW3jCtQ), I walked along some of the paths to explore this park. When I reached the the beach (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=264&select=gI27rfH6NvAhj-HQ9ZNHRg), the scenery was eye-catching. There was a small group walking along the beach but it didn't look like they meant to suntan or swim there. I noticed a water fountain and picnic tables likely used for weekend items. Coming on a Thursday morning, this part of the park was empty. Though we came here for a purpose, I could see us bringing our food from our lunch spot here and enjoy our meal with nature.

This beach is beautiful and you can avoid crowds. Lots of parking and restrooms facilities nearby…read moreas there are benches and a grass area to just chill out if you don't want to be on the actual beach. The water is so blue and clear but the waves are pretty strong but still manageable for kids who can swim.

Like so many other beach spots Laie is very beautiful. Go here for small waves seclusion and shady…read moreareas. There are no services and there is no parking lot. We found produce and coffee stand across the road...my preference is for wcs parking and showers, but it is a neat stop/hike.

Love this beach Sand is soo soft…read more Water is warm and clear Family returned here after visiting other beaches because we all preferred it here over other more popular beaches The history of Laie, a beautiful town tucked away on the North Shore of Oahu This beach is known as "pounders" due to the waves

Great trail for the family. However; trail is full of roots and does have some rock climbs. But we…read morereally did enjoy it. Mostly shaded, not a lot of views but good hike. Loved the different trees and flowers. Bring the bug spray!!! And be patient with parking, locals do. Or want you parking in front of their house so you do have to park kinda far.

First time on this hike on the Windward side. Parked across…read morefrom the beach park, since other reviewer on Alltrails said there wasn't much parking near trailhead. The walk was pretty easy to the beginning of the hike through residential area. The beginning of trail leads to 2 different trails, we chose this one. The first third of the trail is an up hill climb and once you are at the ridge level there is some up, down and level. The elevation gain according to Alltrails is 853 ft. We clocked more miles than what was listed on site which included the walk to trailhead. The trail itself is in rainforest and varying foliage and terrain. Trail was damp in some spots and there are a few areas that you will cross a stream, where if there is hard rain that would cause fast flowing water it may not be safe to cross. We had a little rain on hike which did not cause a problem. There a few areas where the trail is narrow which is common here on the island. Once you make the ridge there are there are steps mostly going down the trail. We did it cclock wise which other hikers suggested. Although I think we would have been comfortable either way. There are views of the ocean and canyon once you make it to ridge. We all enjoyed views and the foliage on this hike. Note: we used poles and crampons on for the muddy areas. Must keep eyes on the rooted areas if you don't want to trip. There are mosquitos and it can be humid in some areas of the hike. It is mainly shaded and there are nice breezes on the ridge area of the hike. Alltrades gives it a Moderate rating which is accurate. We are all over 65 and are active and know what to expect from island trails.

Fun times in the waves a must visit I will be back soon to…read moreplay! Great spot for a picnic too

Walk through a few grassy dunes and you are there !…read more Hukilau Beach Park is located in the little town of La'ie on Oahu's northeastern shore.It is a section of the long sand beach that runs between La'ie and Kalani Points. Swimming is good here during the summer. In the winter time when the surf is up, watch out for strong currents.

A beautiful gift of nature. Perfect photo op. Absolutely stunning when not too many visitors…read more Hope it remains pristine for future generations.

What's the point…read more.. Lā'ie Point State Wayside to be precise where it's not quite a park but a lookout point with an easy access drive up located right across from Late Shopping Center on Anemoku Street though be aware it's a residential area and with very limited parking so you need to be mindful not to block driveways and find some area to park to take in the view. No trails or path and is quite rocky so be careful making your way around to take what nature has created which is quite interesting and it's nice to see that there is a plaque that explains the legend of how the scattered pieces of rock formations came to be was quite fascinating and one that I learned on this visit but a place not to be missed for a cool and unobstructed view of a unique part of the island. Thank you!

I visited this beach at the start of summer and before the crowds got heavy. This is a nice open…read morebeach on the Laie coastline with the name coming from the limestone shelf which makes a Sandy bottom great for kids. I guess if you look at it, you could say it looks like a bathtub in the old days.

First off, you will need to obtain a permit from Hawaii Reserves, Inc prior to hiking the Laie…read moreFalls Trail, and you can easily do so by stopping by their offices, located in the Laie Shopping Center (near the Foodland) at 55-510 Kamehameha Highway, Laie, HI 96762. They are open Monday-Friday from 9 AM-5 PM. More info on them is available at http://www.hawaiireserves.com/about_location.htm. The reason is that it really is private property and you don't want to get into any legal problems with the residents in the area (No Trespassing signs throughout the immediate area). Now on to the hike. You should park at the football field as there is no parking right at the main entrance to the trail. Make sure you have sunscreen and mosquito repellant on you at all times and wear good running/hiking shoes that you're willing to get muddy and dirty. Oh yes, and don't forget about water! Parts of the trail can be a bit muddy and wet. Also look for pink markers on tree branches throughout the trail, as they can really save you from getting lost or overwhelmed. It's about a 3-4 hour hike overall (round trip) and not one of those easy ones either. Along the way, you'll encounter gorgeous views of the valley and even parts of the ocean from a distance. A lot of work and effort to be put in to reach the waterfall. When you get to the part right after all the tall pine trees and that long winding narrow stretch of guava trees, you might be thinking to yourself, "Is this ever going to end!?" It's about another 1-1/2 miles from the pine trees through the guava trees to the falls. And admittedly, I was about ready to turn back thinking I had gone in the wrong direction, but lo and behold, finally came to the sign that directs you to the waterfall. But be really careful when you make your way down to the waterfall and grab onto any ropes available so you don't go tumbling down to the bottom, as it is really steep and dangerous. You will eventually be rewarded with lovely views of Laie Falls.

There's a waterfall in La'ie?! That's what I first thought when I heard about this hike from a…read morefriend. And yes, there is. Waaaay back there! PROS: + Great views + Variety of terrain + Not too short, not too long + A waterfall! CONS: - Hot - Not a lot of parking near the trail head - Can get muddy in spots We parked and met up with our group at the football field on Poohaili St., then walked along the road towards the mountains. We continued past the driveway that says you will be shot if you pick the coconuts (we did not pick any coconuts), and on the right there was an opening in the fence with a sign that pointed the way to the La'ie Falls trail. We followed the sign, and went up the road. Eventually we walked past the trail head, but luckily ran into a Chinese man and his dog telling us that we were going towards another trail, so we turned around and found the right spot. The first sign marking the way to the trail: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=O7TCR3Hm5SyQP77aC4a-RA#8uft4axCD7x8xkoP_RsSew Another sign showing you're on the right track: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=O7TCR3Hm5SyQP77aC4a-RA#kkPcKWdvIFPCqagW8L6-MA Of course this trail head started off with a no trespassing sign that said we could only enter with permission. I'm sure at least one of the twelve of us had some sort of permission, right??... No? Meh... That's ok. On we went! A weird way to mark the trail head: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=O7TCR3Hm5SyQP77aC4a-RA#sjMCeyIdZ-stSLZkMYrxHg For the most part the trail is a gradual incline going from the road up through the tall grass in the beginning, past ironwood trees, and dirt embankments. There are even some good dirt biking spots off to the sides of some parts of the trail. There were also countless strawberry guava trees everywhere along the trail. Some were even ripe enough to pick and eat! Baby Ironwood: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=O7TCR3Hm5SyQP77aC4a-RA#BFor6rmKBM62fgomT-Ilhw It unfortunately started raining a little bit early in hour trek, and the sun cam out blazing right after, so it was extremely humid. Also, in the lower parts of the trail there isn't a lot of wind because of the hills and trees blocking the soft breezes. HOT HOT HOT HOT! This was pretty killer. The muddiness that the rain had also caused had also made the going a little slower than it should have been. Mud in the making: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=qRmCY5sbYuNUfak5xsUEDg#qRmCY5sbYuNUfak5xsUEDg Eventually you'll reach a part of the trail that's full of Cook Pines. By this point you're pretty far in, and you'll be able to see the ocean, valleys, and even some of the giant windmills from the wind farm in Kahuku. We weren't at the falls yet, though. After the Cook pines we had to keep going, and followed a path that ran along the side of the hills. Cook Pines: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=qRmCY5sbYuNUfak5xsUEDg#y0Sfzi7i5WIffYBqJIHY_w View from the hillside: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=qRmCY5sbYuNUfak5xsUEDg#uJifhZTZqOA85OVchal5OQ After following this path for a while we came to a sign that said if we kept following it we would be heading to the La'ie Summit, so we turned right towards the falls. From this point the path started going downhill to the falls. There were some man made steps and rope to help you down (and keep you from tumbling down the valley). There was also a couple of spots where it's a big step/climb down the path, so don't rush it. After a short journey down the path we finally hit the waterfall. One of the sign at the beginning said it would take about an hour and a half to get to the falls, but I think it ended up taking us closer to two hours from said sign. Summit to the left, Falls to the right: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=qRmCY5sbYuNUfak5xsUEDg#EhQOvprzmck4uuMKauELzA The Falls: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nMG9ITWtXKjmB-Q-7IQqgA?select=qRmCY5sbYuNUfak5xsUEDg#rxa_tfNUkj1CDxjWhmnQKg We spent a while relaxing, taking pictures, and snacking at the falls. When we were all ready to go we headed back out. The way back was a lot quicker than the way in since it was pretty much all downhill, and the sun had dried out a lot of the muddy spots a little. The total round trip (plus the cruising at the falls) had taken us about 5 hours. I had started the journey with a full 3 liter camelbak, and I had ran out a little before we got back out. I drink a lot of water, so it's not too surprising, but I was rationing myself on the way up. As always make sure you bring sunscreen and enough water!

Another great place to pull off the road and enjoy. There are wild chickens and this one happened…read moreto have a few chicks. Such a beautiful beach to enjoy.

Punaluu Beach Park is small park but has some beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area…read more The views are calming and relaxing! A good place for an restroom break.

Great park with a large field, relatively clean park bathroom, and lots of parking on the street…read more The lawn is well taken care of.

Beautiful views, beautiful locations, and pretty much everything you want to see in Hawaii. It's…read moreright off the road, so you'll probably come across this place no matter what. So, stop by and take a break and visit this place. it seems like a lot of the locals come here, so that pretty much tells you something right there. Give it a shot!

Such a beautiful hike to do with friends, acquaintances, and even people you don't really like but…read moreyou went to hawaii together because the plane tickets were cheap ! We met the most wonderful dog (a true native Hawaiian!!!!) who lead us around the ridge . In today's world of late-capitalism, climate change, and the invasion of AI, it is so rare to have someone take a break from doomscrolling and look at you with such beautiful cataract eyes! I've had worse tour guides, give that man a raise! We only saw one other group of hikers so the trail was pretty secluded for a mid-hike leak. I was also pleasantly surprised by the accessibility features of this hike! Since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Haaula Forest has been growing leaves with braille on them (see image 3). As an anti-ablest and someone who had friends with glasses growing up, I am really delighted to see that the jungle is woke and on the cutting edge of social liberalism. If you or your family are thinking of coming on this hike, I highly recommend that you leave your water bottle in the car. Besides the fact that humans can survive without water for three days, sometimes your friend who offers to carry it will change his mind and you will yell at each other on the top of the mountain and then your friendship will never be the same and you will never go hiking together again. Some areas of improvement that I recommend for the next time the tectonic plates collide is that they add a waterfall to this hike and maybe some chickens because it makes no sense that there's no chickens.

Oahu has its share of hikes that every tourist knows (e.g. Diamond Head, Moana Falls), its share of…read morehikes that avid hikers seem to frequent (e.g. Kuliouou Ridge Trail, Lulumahu Falls), and then a whole lot of hikes that are best described as under the radar. Ma'akua Ridge Trail falls into this last category. With the same starting point as the more popular but also under-the-radar Hau'ula Loop Trail, Ma'akua Ridge Trail gets none of the love. As I entered the path leading to the trailhead a young man was exiting, hoodie encasing his head, hollow darting eyes, and a skittish demeanor which seemed to imply recent meth use. After passing, the young man began running and I momentarily grew concerned for what I might encounter on the trail. Next up, a big, graffiti-covered retaining wall without any cute Menehune characters like those I'd seen amongst the graffiti leading to Lulumahu Falls. And all of this was after the sign near the small parking area, alerting hikers that this is a high theft area. So, yes, this hike started off in what I hoped was not a foreshadowing of anything. The hike itself is 2.5 miles with an elevation of 800 feet, almost exactly the same length and elevation as the Hau'ula Loop Trail but apparently this one takes longer to navigate, is steeper, and more unstable. That's what I was told by the homeowner with neck tattoos and herb boxes, who lives down the street from the trail entrance, as he mentioned how people sometimes need to be rescued from this one. I didn't need rescue. On a weekday, the trail was empty and not another soul was seen in a hike which ran 2 hours 15 minutes. The hike is a loop which I took in a counter-clockwise direction per the instructions in the hiking book I consulted. Beautiful ocean views occur early on and again, later. The ridge is reached after about 1-mile and it's on the ridge-top where the trail can be most unsteady. I remained on two feet the whole time but there were a few places where the unsteady trail required some consideration before moving forward. Nearing the end, and down off the ridge, you will have to cross a rock gulch which, on this visit, contained no water. It looked to be long dry, so no problem. An enormous black lava overhang tells you you're almost back to where you began. This is a great trail to work out on, with lots of ups and downs. If you like being on a seldom-traveled trail, with little evidence of others give this one a try. It's worthy of your love. * The hike is #52 in Susanne Swedy's excellent book, "Hiking the Hawaiian Islands". * The parking area is very small, only enough for a few cars, and a sign announces it as a high theft area. You might consider parking down the street or even out at Hau'ula Beach Park, and walking from there. * Take the Kamehameha Highway to Hau'ula and turn mauka (toward the mountain) at Hau'ula Homesteads Road (just across from Hau'ula Beach Park). This road winds around and back out to the highway but you should not. Take it only to where the road turns (about 1/2 mile from the beach), and park. The well-marked path leading to the trailhead begins there. * After the initial signs announcing the trailhead, there are no further signs, only little pieces of orange tape which you will occasionally notice in the trees, alerting you to the fact that you're on the right path. Having the book to guide you helps, but I don't think it's necessary. * I had cell service the whole way, something I can't even claim from my home in Cali.