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    Hau'ula Loop Trail

    4.0 (24 reviews)

    Hau'ula Loop Trail Photos

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    Amie H.

    Lovely hike. Just the right length to fit in between other activities. Not too challenging but still good exercise with the elevation gain. We really enjoyed the diverse array of plants and trees. It was pretty muddy in one area so I recommend considering that when you pick your shoes.

    Norm C.

    Really nice short trail. Not too technical. It had some great valley views bit no clear view of the beach and ocean. It took us about 1 3/4 hours and we parked at the beach park. Would suggest that as there is no parking at the trail entrance. Its a good workout and an potentially cool waterfall but sadly it wasn't flowing during our visit. Enjoy this ine.

    Lauren G.

    This is a quick and easy trail! I know a lot of people that run this, but even us normal hikers don't take too long. Personally I like to hike for the view so this one is hard for me since it's a loop. It's also mostly green and I want to overlook the ocean, but that's only because I'm picky. This is a nice trail, super green, and super pretty! I do think there are better hikes out there though

    Sun coming through the pines trees
    Joy N.

    I was searching the webs for an easy and fun hike to explore and came upon this hike at http://www.explorationhawaii.com/2011/10/06/hauula-loop-trail-a-short-jungle-like-hike-perfect-for-beginners/ . I always use explorationhawaii.com for research on hikes. They always tell you where to park, what to expect, update their website for "Closed" hikes, and post A LOT of pictures. While they are seasoned hikers, the levels that they rate the hikes are pretty spot on. To get to this hike, my friends and I parked at Hauula Beach Park and walked in from there. You walk through a residential neighborhood, so please respect the properties and do not litter or antagonize the dogs - there are quite a few houses with dogs along your way to the trail head. You will go around two yellow gates before starting the trail. The beginning is all paved, once you reach the trail head marker that's where the fun begins! If you decide not to go on this trail, you can continue on the paved road past the pretty awesome graffiti'd wall up to the 7 Waterfalls hike - which I plan to try another day. As you go up this trail, this is really a beginner hike. There is an incline, but it is steady and not strenuous. It was a little humid the day we went, but there is a lot of tree cover so at least the sun wasn't beaming down on us. As we approached a trail marker, we went to the right. We went up a lot of switchbacks and crossed two streams. If there are heavy rains, I would not recommend doing this hike as those two streams will probably be running. Parts of this hike was reminiscent of Kuliou'ou - pine needles all over the ground and cool, but most of all it reminded my friends and I of Aiea Loop Trail except shorter. There is a "summit" but the view was not that awe inspiring. As we continued on the trail we came to a break in the trees where there was a much better view of the valley we were hiking in. There are A LOT of strawberry guava trees on this hike and if we could have found ripe fruit closer to the trail we would have sampled some. There are a few places with man made stairs to assist you as you walk through this forest. To be prepared for this hike I would bring: Bug spray - we used OFF active before starting the hike and were not bothered - there are A LOT of fruit flies that get disturbed as you walk around. Water - at least 1 liter - a camel pack is not necessary unless you drink a lot of water normally Hiking Shoes - the better tread will help you with the moist ground, crossing the streambeds and keep your feet dry if it is muddy Camera - There are a lot of interesting views through the tress as you walk. I will be back to do this hike again and maybe try the 7 Waterfalls hike as well.

    Starts the loop, we went right and feel it was a good choice.
    Becca B.

    This was a great hike if you're on the north shore. A small waterfall and ocean view in one hike! All the other waterfall hikes were by Honolulu. This hike started off easy but got pretty strenuous with the length, 4 miles total ( other reviews said it was only 2.5) and the mud! The bad: The bugs were annoying, I recommend bug spray. Limited parking. We parked down the road close to the ocean. The only wildlife seen were fruit flies, chickens & roosters. But let's get to the good stuff... It was a good incline, getting to the waterfall added some extra strenuous adventure, it was cool to see the three very distinct tree habitats (it went between lush jungle, pine tree forest, and coconut palm trees. Don't miss the random red clay 25 foot climb halfway through the hike to get up to he ocean view.

    When you see this mailbox,  look to the right. Trail starts there.
    Daphne E.

    Enjoyed this 2.5 mile loop today. Nice incline (gain of 720 ft), footing was good, and it was very peaceful. I don't think I would have found the trailhead without the help of the hiking group I was with though. I'm giving only 4 stars because there's not really any views, and there's no parking or restrooms. If I'm in the area I'll do this one again. http://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/trail.php?TrailID=OA+08+017&island=Oahu

    Natalie C.

    Great hike! The perfect balance of being a good challenge and not too challenging. And there are awesome views along the way! We took our 10 month old baby in a carrier and mother in law, and we all made it just fine! Took about 3 hours total for us. Take mosquito repellant and good shoes!

    Great views
    Phoebe F.

    This is a short quick hike you can do on the North shore side. It's in Hauula so it can be a little drive out. Parking is in residential so be sure to be courteous and aware of no parking zones. The hike itself is about a 1.5 mile loop. I did it with my friend and our pups which one is a frenchie, who was able to survive it lol. It can get hot at times and wasn't very muddy probably because there was no recent rain. Majority of the hike is shaded which is nice. I did get quite a few mosquito bites so best to be prepared. Overall, great views for such a quick hike, perfect to do right before heading to the beach!

    Trail head sign.
    Yoonie L.

    I chose this trail for a group hike with my friends this past friday. I love the North Shore and because we're a bunch of mommas and kiddos, I had to take distance, level of difficulty and availability of parking for large groups into consideration. We opted to park the cars at the Hau'ula Beach Park, located across the street from the 7-Eleven. Be careful and if you have kids, keep your kiddos close because it's right on Kam Hwy so traffic is going fast. Cross the street and walk toward Hau'ula Homestead road and walk up until you get to the end of the road. Trail head begins in a residential neighborhood and there are signs of high theft in the area so I recommend parking at the beach park like we did. Go around the yellow gate and proceed to walk on the paved road. There are two trails at this location. The other one is Ma'akua Ridge Trail. Hau'ula Loop Trail is a series of switchbacks, reaching an elevation of approximately 930 feet, featuring a view peeking at the ocean along the way and breathtaking views of the valley and mountains at the top. There are some interesting trees, plants and flowers along the way. You will walk through a pine forest as you get to the top and it just makes you feel so tiny! You will also spot some Hawaiian Christmas trees too! Stop and look up every once in awhile! It was a hot day on Friday and it seems like it hasn't rained in a while because the trail wasn't muddy, some spots were damp, but the stream crossings that I read about were more like puddles and the small waterfall I was expecting was more like a trickle. According to my research, this is a 2.5 mile loop, but if you wear your kid like I did (my youngest is 35lbs), the heat, the switchbacks and the snacks and water you may be carrying may make it feel a lot longer! Loved this hike and can't wait to try the sister trail, Ma'akua Ridge! Oh, and when you get to the bottom, don't forget to check out the graffiti art on the wall. You have to walk past the Hau'ula Loop trail head sign!

    View from near the end of the loop
    Kristin J.

    Fairly well maintained trail that took us 1.5 hours to do the loop. We're not hiking enthusiasts and we wore regular sneakers. There were some muddy spots and a few rocky river crossings. If you go right at the first sign post that says "in/out" in marker you will see the ocean views faster. Made for a great morning hike!

    ocean view

    I can see how this path could get muddy, as it crosses a creek a few times, but the day we hiked the loop, it was completely dry and amazing. We chose this hike because it was only 2.5 miles, a loop, and an official trail as part of the Na Ala Hele trail system. Who We Are: My husband and I hiked this trail with a 6 year old, a 3 year old, and a middle-aged dog. Parking: You can park right at the yellow gate and then head up the paved road to reach the trailhead. Parking here is okay, but only enough room for a few cars. There are also signs saying it is a high theft area and you are supposed to leave the parking area by 5PM. We parked here and had no problem but some reviews suggested parking at the beach park down the road and across Kam Hwy for more visibility. The trail: The trail is really nice. Much of it is through a pine tree forest and the trail is soft with pine needles. For the most part, the trail only makes gradual inclines following switchbacks, but there are a few spots with stairs and more uphill climbs. There are also a few spots where you walk along a ridge with drop offs on both sides. For the most part, however, the trail is rather wide and safe! The views: This trail has great views because you get to see the scenery of the forest as well as views of the ocean and the valley. The atmosphere: My son said he felt like we were on Kauai. This place is serene, beautiful, and quiet. We only saw one other group while hiking and enjoyed the stillness of the atmosphere. How we did: My 6 year old had no problem hiking the whole way and we didn't either. My old dog did great as well but did huff and puff at one point where the stairs were a bit steep. She took a break in the creek when we crossed it at one point :) My 3 year old walked half of this trail on his own wonderfully before tiring. I carried him in the Ergo the rest of the way. Overall opinion: This is a wonderful trail for families, little ones, and dogs alike. We loved the quiet atmosphere and the views were pretty. The views aren't as good as a true ridge hike but still lovely. I would definitely suggest this hike and we will be doing it again. Final note: Hunters do hike off of this trail so it is advised to wear bright colors and keep your pets on a leash. We did these things for added safety but did not see a hunter, although one had checked in at the checkin station. Happy Hiking!!

    Pixel K.

    Pros: it's a loop, it has a couple partial views of mountains/ocean, it has guava/lilikoi (though they weren't ripe when I went), and the cook pines are cool. Cons: the parking is sketchy.

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    Ask the Community - Hau'ula Loop Trail

    Review Highlights - Hau'ula Loop Trail

    We parked here and had no problem but some reviews suggested parking at the beach park down the road and across Kam Hwy for more visibility.

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    Ma'akua Ridge Trail

    Ma'akua Ridge Trail

    3.8(12 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    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.

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    Ma'akua Ridge Trail
    Ma'akua Ridge Trail
    Ma'akua Ridge Trail - Graffiti wall

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    Graffiti wall

    Laie Falls

    Laie Falls

    4.0(34 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Laie Falls
    Laie Falls
    Laie Falls

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    Kahuku Point - Crabs.

    Kahuku Point

    4.6(5 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Many non-island dwelling friends often ask me if I ever get "island fever" or feel isolated living…read morehere on Oahu. Truth is I've never felt that way ever. So much to see and do here. I do however, get occasional "teleworking fever" brought on by the current work-at-home mandate. This weekend we tried to do something about it by seeking out some alternative hiking locations. While Turtle Bay resort is still closed, the myriad of hiking paths are still open. We chose to avail ourselves of the Kahuku point trail and some other ancillary loop trails that stretch across the resort grounds. The day was a perfect one with brisk trades and plenty sun. The 1.5 mile loop and back took us about 3 hours including some time spent gazing out at the point at all the breakers and exploring tide pools. Even spied small fish and found some very interesting geological history--such as micro perforated rocks showing how the volcanic gases escaped. In the end we left the resort feeling decently exercised and ready to face Monday morning! Highly recommend a visit. Mahalo for reading my review.

    A two-mile coastal trail that has a peninsula as the final destination. The path is a simple walk…read moreacross flat land, although the sand may make it a bit more difficult. We only explored a short section from the beginning as it was too sunny and hot for us to go any further. The scenery is relaxing and the beaches were not that crowded despite being next to a hotel. Little critters can be discovered and we had an entertaining time watching all the crabs scurry away from the waves. A variety of birds can be spotted in the vicinity too. We parked at the lot right before Turtle Bay Resort that is accessible via Kuilima Drive. From there, you can walk to the starting point of Turtle Beach and then head east.

    Photos
    Kahuku Point - Java Sparrow.

    Java Sparrow.

    Kahuku Point
    Kahuku Point

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    Kikos Tours Oahu - Beautiful sites

    Kikos Tours Oahu

    5.0(10 reviews)
    24.0 mi

    Kiko's tour was our favorite adventure on O'ahu. She picked us up from the airport and it felt like…read morebeing greeted and then visiting with a long-time friend. She knew the inns and outs of many of the tourist stops. She really let us customize our tour and make adjustments as we went. She confirmed days in advance and since she was picking us up from the airport gave us a heads up to have swim suits readily available if we wanted to swim. She even packed towels and water for us!! I asked if she could greet us with leis and it was such a fun surprise for the family!! She's also very knowledgeable and we truly felt way more prepared for the rest of our vacation. 100% recommend your family book with Kiko, especially if it's your first visit. Thank you Kiko, we will see you next time!

    Kikos Tours Oahu delivers the most outstanding customer service! The BEST of the BEST! Kristi…read moreKline, owner of this amazing private tour agency, has blown us away with her stupendous personality! She is very professional, so thoughtful & has a Heart of Gold! From roundtrip airport transfers, 2 full days of excursions from Waikiki to the North Shores, she made sure our group of 4 had the best time ever. She customized our tours of Pearl Harbor, 3 botanical gardens, Polynesian Cultural Center, Tropical Farms (the Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet), a taste of the best Portuguese donuts or Malasadas of Leonard's Bakery (so moist & so yummy)! We also tasted the best Huli Huli Chicken at The Coral Kingdom Shop & Restaurant. We highly recommend booking customized private tours with Kikos Tours Oahu. Kristi always delivers an Exceptional Service with a Big Smile! She is after all OHANA. MAHALO

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    The best food trucks

    Kikos Tours Oahu - I pick up at the Cruise Terminals

    I pick up at the Cruise Terminals

    Kikos Tours Oahu - Family waterfall swim

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    Hau'ula Loop Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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