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.

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!

Laie Point State Wayside is quite a breathtaking scenic lookout with beautiful views of the Koolau…read moreMountain range and an interesting rock formation that's bridged together. Located in Laie, you take the street directly across from Laie Shopping Center, Anemoku St. Just follow it and make the next right onto Naupaka St and straight down. There's a few unmarked parking spaces. If none, you can park on the street. It can get pretty windy here and the walkable areas are quite rocky, sharp, and uneven. The waves crash onto the rocks as well. Just adds to the thrill! Cool place to stop by!

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.

I read a lot of reviews before trying this hike out for myself. A few of them said to get a…read morepermit, so I sent in my application by fax to the office and within a week I got an email from them with the permit and it is good for one year. The beginning part of the hike up to the falls is a nice hike - I think it can be considered medium/intermediate. You start by walking from the park on a dirt/gravel road. You pass through two gates and from there it is a walk steadily up through trees and open areas with hard packed dirt and some loose gravel. One of my friends described one of the sections as the pathway for the rock in Indiana Jones (I hope that didn't date me too much) lol. There are great views throughout this whole hike!!! This section can be hot!! After the Indiana Jones part of this hike you come to the pine trees...and they are magnificent!!! So tall and majestic, they sometimes block out the sun. After this you come to the muddy section of this hike and when I say muddy, I mean MUDDY. My friends and I looked like ballerina monkeys trying to balance on roots, hold onto the trees along the side of the trail, and tiptoe our way up. It stays this way until you reach the sign for the falls. By the time we got back to our cars all of our shoes were caked in mud and some of it got into shoes as well. The sign at the falls says it is 2 hours more to the summit. This part of the hike I would consider intermediate/hard. You meander around the two mountains - no real inclines, just a whole bunch of zigzags. However, the trail has a lot of sections where you feel like you're walking on a balance beam and it can be quite muddy if it's been raining. There are a couple sections where there are ropes to assist you, and we only used them on the way down. It is a ridge trail, parts there is just cliff on either side of you, and some there are ferns to one side but when I tested if they were stable enough to lean on, I couldn't figure out where the ground was without feeling like I was going to fall. It took my friend and I three and a half hours to reach the "summit". It looks like it is an intersection for five other trails, which they are I have no idea. If you are going to do this hike, I recommend that you bring snacks, at least 2 liters of water (to the falls), 3 or more liters of water if you're going to the summit. To the falls and back it took my friends and I six and a half hours. We did take our time throughout this hike, so if you're one of those go-go-go hikers it may take you four to five hours round trip. When my friend and I went back to do the summit, it was a 9 1/2 hour round trip hike for us. It was raining the night before and an on and off drizzle while we were hiking so we did not rush. I would definitely do the hike to the falls again, but it would take some serious bribing for me to go back to the summit.

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.