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    Kalauao Trail

    4.3 (17 reviews)

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    Chris B.

    Great trail. I'm conflicted about posting this. There wasn't a soul on this trail. Had a waterfall to ourselves and I want to keep it that way. Trail is well-marked. If you can't find it, well, maybe it isn't for you. To do the loop you need more than a bottle of water and some sandals. You WILL get dirty. My dog did it. He had a harness/backpack which he needed to get a boost sometimes. Long, but not too long. Not TOO taxing. For those of you who would have trouble hiking for 4 hours going down and up over a 1000 ft, just stay on the Aiea loop. Oh, about the Aiea loop, I have a dog. He is well-behaved and trained. However even HE cannot pick up after himself. It takes a well-trained owner to keep this trail people and dog friendly.

    The trail in was pretty easy but everything else was rough. It was muddy and slippery. The incline to get down and up was crazy steep. My legs were burning after. Very fun hike where you get to climb. Not an impressive waterfall since we haven't had any hard rains.

    Looking towards airport
    Kara P.

    Well, girlfriend and I missed the left to go to the falls and wound up doing Aiea Loop Trail...I hiked it barefoot and with a backpack that had a gallon of water in it....trail was pretty muddy. She had on Nike's and I think we both did pretty well...after reading about the falls being dried up I'm glad we missed the turn. We found ourselves with a birds eye view of the H3 right before the entrance to the Harano tunnel. Additionally, we had several breathtaking view points along the way. We detoured off on a few stray paths which led to more beautiful views of the Koolau valleys which would be unviewable by any other method except helicopter. Not an easy hike, not a short one either... About 4 and a half hours round trip...

    Bonnie H.

    This isn't hiked as much as it was probably done in the past... pretty overgrown but the falls are amazing, we have had a lot of rain lately so the falls were flowing but it's been sunny for 2 days so the trail was fairly dry and not too muddy. Getting up to the ridge and finishing the loop was a challenge to say the least. The trail markers passed the falls are useless so have a good GPS and good shoes for the climb!

    Tyra G.

    This hike was very tricky to find. Lol ! The hike was 5 hours to get to the waterfall there's a lot of crossing the stream because you have to follow the pink ribbons . My friend and I had the waterfall to ourselves and every walk to get to there was beautiful.

    Alex D.

    I was so stoked to find this trail! I hike the Aiea Loop a lot and it was getting boring. This is just as long as the Aiea Loop and took about the same amount of time. I loved that most of the hike is along a river. The waterfall at the end is gorgeous and the fact that there were no people there was even more awesome. If you happened to find this trail please don't litter!!! Even though this is a less visited trail we still found trash! Very disappointing! Mahalo!

    Pixel K.

    The waterfall and stream were dried up when I went. I took the option where I went past the waterfall, took the path that goes parallel to the stream, eventually turned right (keep a close lookout for this turn; I initially missed it and was lost for a while), and headed up a steep long uphill to get back to the Aiea Loop trail. If you do this option, a bit of warning: there are pig carcasses next to the stream that smell bad and are creepy, especially if you get lost like I did. The views are very nice on the way back up to Aiea Loop trail, but I'd recommend just turning back the way you came after getting to the waterfall.

    Kayla M.

    Thanks to watching a YouTube video by Not so good hikers, I was able to find the Kalauao Trail path along the Aiea Loop Trail. The beginning of the trail wasn't so bad until you take a 2nd right going down a very steep path and pass the marked 'wrong way' rock. Luckily, there are blue and pink markers that help guide you along the trail. We went with a couple of other people & our Bullterrier. They slipped & fell a few times and almost came close to twisting there ankles. Our dog was also struggling afew times too. The trail was very muddy & slippery. I thought it was dangerous as we came close to slipping on many of the rocks in & around the stream. Luckily, there was a rope, tree branches & rocks to help grab onto going down/up the trail. We were sad to reach the end of the trail & there was no waterfall! Going back up was much faster than going down but a bit of climbing is involved. We were now covered in mud & wet from the rain. It took us a little under 2 hours to do the entire trail. IMO I wouldn't bring my daughter or dog here on this trail again. Overall a good trail to do on a DRY day. I liked that the trail was shaded & well maintained. I recommend bringing a change of clothes, slippers/extra shoes, towel, hand sanitizer & water.

    Jumping into Kalauao Falls! The pond below the falls may not be deep when you go- so check first
    Kayla M.

    Did this hike today and I must say the waterfall was gorgeous! We went after a fairly heavy rainfall last night and pretty frequent rains throughout the week, because I have seen some picture of the dry water chute and we really didn't want to come across that scene. So from the beginning, you start out in Keaiwa State park in Aiea and begin the Aiea loop trail. After approx 5 minutes we came to the first lookout on the right and continued on the trail until the trail made a 'reverse S' and the first junction to start this trail was on the left. From here there were obvious ribbons and we went through eucalyptus trees and strawberry guava for approx 20 minutes until we came to a large mango tree (unfortunately the mango were not yet ripe) on the right with pink ribbons tied to it. This leads you to a trail basically going straight down a hill with roots that can be used for assistance. Due to this section, I would not recommend kids on this hike because it was quite muddy which can easily lead to a fall. After about 20 minutes going down the hill we were encountered by a plethora of Mountain Apple trees (don't worry about finding the perfect Apple just yet, there were thousands up and down the entire trail!) Then you encounter the stream, going upstream (right) you do several, I believe I counted 6 stream crossings before you reach the falls (approx 20 minutes.) DOnt worry so much about finding the correct stream crossing paths because as long as you stay close to the stream you won't get lost at this point. Atlast! You reach the beautiful waterfall! Due to the recent rains we did jump off the waterfall but it was actually fairly shallow. One person back at the falls jumped from the highest point- which I definitely do NOT recommend! We also saw several lilikoi along the trail. We decided to do this trail as a loop so we climbed up the falls and continued to follow the stream doing about 5 stream crossings again. You'll come to a Y in the trail and you want to stay to the right hand side. Then, approx 20 mins after leaving the waterfall you will take a discreet right hand turn on the trail, which was also marked with pink markers to go up the hill. This way seemed a lot more dangerous because it was muddier and you were scaling up a steep hill with limited things to grab onto, as opposed to the original trail down to the falls. Once you finally make it up the steep hill you realize you have to climb the ridge all the way around because you are on the complete opposite side of where you started. So the loop makes the hike back approximately twice as long, but it was a nice change of scenery. tips: bring mosquito repellent Go after it rains, you don't want to see a dry chute!

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    Ask the Community - Kalauao Trail

    Review Highlights - Kalauao Trail

    If you're doing the Aiea Loop Trail, think of this trail for as an alternative as it branches right off it.

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    Keaiwa Heiau State Park - Heiau, very tranquil

    Keaiwa Heiau State Park

    4.6(18 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I was surprised I haven't written a review for Keaiwa Heiau State Park but maybe I did and the…read moreYelp Ghost stole it! Anyway this is the park that you enter in order to get to the Aiea Loop Trail with breathtaking views from the coastline thru the beautiful Halawa Valley with H3 smack in the middle. The Heiau is well marked and as a Hawaiian Spiritual place it is noted that it is to be respected as such. When you enter the park the Heiau is immediately on your left and parking in marked stalls is required. There are restroom facilities next to the covered pavilion and walkways from one to another. The path to walk into the Heiau is uneven and not easy to access so watch your step if you intend to walk around. I've seen feral chickens, feral pigs, feral cats and campers here. Permits are required for the campers not so much for the aforementioned animals. Dogs are required to be on leash. Beautiful and cooler temperature wise. The drive up Aiea Heights Drive isn't as perilous as others comment about but you do need to pay attention.

    This place is such a great secret that I almost don't want to review it…read more.. Almost, Momma didn't raise no gatekeeper! This is my favorite place to camp in Oahu. It's located in a high altitude forest. The rain usually isn't that bad, and if it is, you've got trees above you to buffer it before it slaps your tent! Since it's not beach-front camping, it is actually bookable and doesn't fill up within seconds! Campsites are numbered and come with a picnic table and a fire ring. Other campers are generally pretty chill and quiet, at least when I've stayed here! One thing to note, there are lots of creepy crawlies on the forest floor here. Make sure your tent doesn't have any weaknesses in its netting! I haven't done the trails here yet, but I will next time!

    Photos
    Keaiwa Heiau State Park - Beautiful day for a drive through

    Beautiful day for a drive through

    Keaiwa Heiau State Park - I wonder if this was made with felled trees from the park

    I wonder if this was made with felled trees from the park

    Keaiwa Heiau State Park - Respect is requested and given

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    Respect is requested and given

    Aiea Loop Trail - Definitely NOT edible but cute

    Aiea Loop Trail

    4.2(322 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    I've hiked this trail a few times and have seen downed trees before however nothing like our recent…read morehike. After two heavy rain storms that caused flooding in the Islands some areas of the hike had whole hill sides that had numerous trees down. The trail is only passable because of the hard work of the parks crew. In normally shaded areas there is more because of this. It's really a sight to see the terrifying yet amazing strength of nature. The hike is about 5.5 miles long, not very hard with beautiful views.

    Aiea Loop Trail is an excellent and well-maintained hike that's friendly for everyone, and a very…read moresafe, simple, and straightforward for first timers. This hike is located all the way up in Aiea. Just get on Aiea Heights Drive and drive all the way up till the end of the road. You will reach the entrance to Keaiwa Heiau State Park. Note operating hours--opens 7am, closes 645pm winter and 745pm summer. Once in, stay on the right, and keep driving up past the picnic/park area, campgrounds, and other parking lots till you reach the very top. But, if you want to park where the trail ends, it's actually the parking lot to the right just before. There are restrooms and picnic tables at the top. The hike is 4.8 miles. It took us about 2.5 hours with a steady pace and some stops for photos. It's relatively flat with a very slow incline and decline, and shaded by tall trees a majority of the hike with a nice, crisp air. The hard dirt pathway is wide enough and very easy to follow. You get views of Halawa valley, H-3, Pearl Harbor, airport, and east and west side along the way. Nothing spectacular. There are quite a bit of fallen trees, especially towards the end of the trail, if you started from the upper section. Overall, a very nice, quiet hike that wasn't strenuous, or too short or too difficult. Good solid, 5-mile hike with a well maintained path and parking. It's quite safe--if you stay on the path, of course!

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    Aiea Loop Trail
    Aiea Loop Trail
    Aiea Loop Trail - Sofie really wanted to hike but that's a no

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    Sofie really wanted to hike but that's a no

    Tripler Ridge - Full moon with eclipse hike

    Tripler Ridge

    4.5(17 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    We had a kid with us so we only did the paved portion of the hike. Plus my hiking buddy didn't…read morehave shoes. Oops! But since we had this already planned, we went anyway. You need to gain access to the trailhead as it is in the military housing behind Tripler Hospital. Fortunately, my hiking buddy works for the military and we were able to get to the trailhead with no problems. There was ample parking and appears to be fairly safe given that this is on military area. So while I wouldn't recommend leaving your car unlocked, the chances of your car getting broken into is pretty slim. Going up the paved path is pretty straight forward. Just make sure you take the HECO road on the left once you're on the "trail." The incline is steady and you're quickly admiring views of Oahu. We went around lunchtime so the sun was overhead and shade was a bit scarce. I can imagine that once the guavas are ripe, the air would smell guavaey lol. So it was a relief to get to the end of the paved area, do some drone shots and go back down. We would definitely go again to do the full ridge!

    Perfect short hike after work and a beautiful view to boot so one of my battle buddies is a fitness…read morebuff funny kind of like me only her arms put mine to shame!! Anyways last week Thursday was her birthday and of course she didn't want to do anything but work out so we decided to do a hike that I have never done before. we had a great time this was a great hike short but it definitely gets the blood pumping and for me it was a great second work out! I also like how they weren't bugs everywhere. This trail trail was also not crowded at all:) you do need to have access to hmm Tripler the hospital base area to enjoy this hike;)

    Photos
    Tripler Ridge - Tripler ridge summit.

    Tripler ridge summit.

    Tripler Ridge - I'm just calling this signal tower just to refer to it lol. No idea what this is but this where we ended our hike.

    I'm just calling this signal tower just to refer to it lol. No idea what this is but this where we ended our hike.

    Tripler Ridge - Marker 12 along Moanalua valley. Tripler trail is a few feet after it.

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    Marker 12 along Moanalua valley. Tripler trail is a few feet after it.

    Ford Island Historical Trail - February sunset

    Ford Island Historical Trail

    4.3(6 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    This is a new 4 mile walking trail located on Ford Island which is a part of Joint Base Pearl…read moreHarbor. You will require base access to access this trail. This new trail is a walking historical trail around the island, you will see so much and learn about Ford Islands historical past by walking this trail. The trail is mostly paved and all you have to do is follow the blue dots around which are placed every ten feet and makes navigating the trail easy. Every few hundred yards you will come across information boards that explain the area and discusses a bit about the history but military as well as Hawaiian. The designers really did a great job because the trail is well maintained and information boards are located around the island to assist with the history of the island which includes the crucial role Ford Island played for the military over the years and early sugarcane farming. The trail is great for families, kids, bikes, pets and if you stop and take in the great views and read all the history, you will be glad you did. Start early and bring a hat, sunglasses and of course water because it does get warm. Hope you all enjoy this new addition to Ford Island.

    I frequent this location mainly for exercising purposes as it does have a safe path to walk, run,…read morebike, rollerblade, scooter, and take your babies on a stroll. I love that there is no traffic or exhaust to breath in. Just you and the beauty and tranquility of a historical location. I always make it a point to stop at the USS ARIZONA marker to pray for those who gave their lives for our freedom. Even those of the enemies who lost their lives as well. During COVID my husband and I did the Marine Corp. Marathon here since it MCM was allowing virtual times to complete the race on the day of the race. So I got to check that off my bucket list of runs. But hopefully one day I will make it to DC to be a part of the MCM experience. What I would like to see on this trail are more benches to sit and relax at and a playground for children to play on, a volleyball playing area, and even Cornhoe and horseshoe pits near the Navy Lodge. A great place to bring your dogs as well. Three separate areas that are gated for different size dogs near the Navy Lodge. Navy Lodge does have a bathroom you may use. Please be respectful and ask to use it, then keep it clean as you leave. Enjoy!

    Photos
    Ford Island Historical Trail
    Ford Island Historical Trail
    Ford Island Historical Trail

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    Kalauao Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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