This is not for the faint of heart. First peak is an hour and a half of serious cardio. Rope…read moresections and rapid, steep elevation. Pic is from second peak. Don't forget to bring enough water and snacks.

Tl:dr: the most technically challenging hike on the island, takes 5-6 hours round trip including…read morestops on each of the 3 peaks to take pictures, rest etc. People talk about mortality on this trail, although I don't think it's as dangerous as people made it out to be if you exercise common sense. Who should do it: most people can make the 1st peak. Trail from 1st to 2nd becomes noticeably narrower but it's short and about the same level of difficulty as trail up the 1st peak. 2nd to 3rd peak was where the challenge is - lots of vertical rock climbing, path is narrow, and ropes aren't all in good conditions. If you don't have good upper body strength, have knee problems, or are afraid of heights, it's not a good idea to do the 3rd peak. If you don't have good endurance, it's just going to be a long day. Words of caution: try avoid going after a rainy day because the trail becomes very muddy. It started raining when I was coming down from the 3rd peak and the ground became slippery. Better to go with a friend if you can - there are only a few people hiking past the 2nd peak and in case you get injured, it's good to have someone with you to help. Preparation: pack enough water, gloves (protect your hands from climbing), long pants, and a light windbreaker (waterproof is ideal). You never know how the microclimate changes in the mountain. Throw on some hiking shoes too if you have them. You can get away with gym shoes as I did but extra grip comes in handy on a muddy day. Views: view is the best from the 1st peak. Past that is more for the adrenalin and experience. Parking: no official parking lot for the hike, park across the bridge on the side of the roads. It's a ~15 minute walk to the trailhead. Have fun out there!

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.

The Kalawahine Trail is beautiful, a little muddy, and not too difficult. It connects to many other…read moretrails in the Tantalus network of trails, so you can make it a longer or shorter hike, depending on how far you go. Some sections are quite shady and there is sometimes a little bit of sunlight. One section was labeled as a native snail area but I didn't see any snails. I recommend trail shoes and even a walking stick as there are some sections that are narrow with a section where you wouldn't want to fall down. Some sections have small rocks or rocks with moss on them, and good hiking shoes can help here. I always wear bug repellent but unlike some other hikes, this one didn't seem overly buggy. A beautiful hike with some lovely views and a nice workout that's not too overly difficult.

Quick and easy! So…read moremuch has been done to improve safety over the years. I cannot remember the last time I've hiked this trail but I believe it was more than 5 years ago! Kamaaina parking is $4 upon entry. There will be 2 parking lots in the area. One will be uphill and downhill. However, good luck finding a parking space during the weekends because it can get PACKED! There will be signs to guide you where to go so no need to be scared. This is absolutely my favorite hike, not only is it easy but it is soooo beautiful all around! I was a bit upset about the rock barricade preventing us from going in the waterfall but nonetheless people still refuse to listen to the sign and whoops... i'm one of them HAHA. Stunning views.

This is a super friendly beginner hike! Well not like your first hike ever but maybe 5th one ever?…read moreIts comparable to Manoa Falls! It was not rainy at all but there is some incline. Beautiful views and done within 2 hrs. Theres not a lot of people like, starts off with lots of shade. Sun hits you for about 20 mins towards the end. Parking is sparse, but just keep driving up, its only street parking. Gl. Theres also lots of strawberry guavas!!!

Hiked this trail and Kolowalu together. This one in my…read moreopinion is easy, now that being said that you don't like hiking trails with lots of roots this one is not for you. Loved views and the rainforest vibe of the trail. There were some interesting trees along the trails. Old grown trees, one has a massive root system. Another with a root that wrap around the base of another tree. The climb up is easy, with multiple view locations along the way of Manoa Valley, mountain ranges and Honolulu. If you want a fairly quick morning hike or want to combine with another this is a nice one to do. Although easy wear good shoes/boots bring water, especially if no breeze (humid). I would not do if it looks like heavy rain, looks like water would flow down trail in some areas.

Nice hike with shade for the most part, trail becomes steep but has ropes to help…read more Lots of roots and uneven footing so watch your step. The California grass is tall and sharp, needs to be cut back. My friends and I have lots of little cuts on our arms from it. Also beware of bees! Bring you Benadryl or epo pen if you need, they sting one of us in the face as we were walking through the tall grass. This might not be a long hike but due to incline and climb up it is a good hike to get a good workout in. The view also did not disappoint, AMAZING!!!! As you go up of course they just get better and better. We are all so glad we finally made it to this hike!!! Parking is tight! And you are in a neighborhood, where you do not want to block there parking, only room for 3-5 cars smaller cars at one time. Love the friendship garden part of the hike with the gorgeous plants and trees that have species placards.

Not my favorite...kind of strenuous, with nice, but not necessarily breathtaking views…read more I had this hike on my list for a while now, so when friends suggested we go, I was up for it. Parking seemed limited, but I drove past the trailhead down to a section of the neighborhood that had a number of spaces. It was probably about an 8 minute walk back up to the trailhead. It starts easy, with much forest greenery, and several routes, that will take you on the Oneawa path. I guess I hadn't mentally prepared, but was surprised by the incline and the ropes. Perhaps my lack of uppers that morning was to blame, as I not expecting this to be difficult, but I was struggling to keep up with my friends as the hike continued. It took us about an hour to see the quarry waters, which were interesting, but only needed a few minutes to take in. You do get some nice views of the bay and it's not a very long hike, so there is that, but I honestly don't think I'd come back. It felt like more effort than it was worth and there are so many other hikes on Oahu that unless I lived RIGHT there, I don't think it warrants another go.

This is the legal way to get to the Haiku Stairs…read more It's a very fun trail in its own right! Whenever it gets slippery, there's a janky rope to help you up. It might be useful to take microspikes (you know, the ones usually used for icy sidewalks) in particularly wet conditions. I got up early, hit a bakery at 6am and then started making my way up. The trail is really well maintained with beautiful views on the way up. Unlike so many Oahu hikes, the parking lot is also very straightforward.

Great experience, went with a group of friends for a walk around and got to experience the…read morebeautiful nature,

Another weekend in the books and another trail to conquer. Thanks ever so much to Yelp to pointing…read moreme towards new epic adventures - whether here locally in Honolulu or on the mainland, foodwise or otherwise, its so great to be able to do the things I do with Yelp. I don't know how I got along with life without Yelp. With that said, I found this new trail in the hills of Aina Haina & West Hind Drive. Located within the residential nook, never far from the Aina Haina Shopping Center, you can load up with food and water @ the Foodland or McDonald's before settling on this easy to moderate hike. Once here on a recent, crisp Sunday morning, I feel like I need to do this, especially due to all the traveling and running marathons on sidwalks and asphalt. I needed to get back into the thick of nature. While running the marathon is exciting in itself, I just need to get that alone time that nature always seems to have an ample supply of. Getting back into nature always is inviting, and the Halapepe Nui Trail does that and a whole ot more. There were a few folks running the trails that morning and it was a nice feeling to be out there. The terrain was not as bad as I thought. Thankfully that I haven't gone here after a rain, since I am sort of prone to injury at times. For hikes, always be mindful of where you are going and be mindful of where you step, especially for those ridge hikes that can seem good at the time, but eventually can lead you to the hospital or on the evening news. Be careful, but enjoy the natural beauty that is Hawaii and Oahu. Spectacular views when you reach the top of the trail, which is about a 6.5 mile journey. There are a lot of side trails all up and down the main switchs, so again, be wary of your surroundings. Plenty of elevation changes and ups and downs, so wear appropriate clothing and covered shoes. Views of Pearl Harbor can be seen at the top, but getting back down can be an epic adventure in itself. Support local! B+

Length: 6.6 Miles Hike difficulty: intermediate…read moreElevation gain: about 811 feet Coordinates: 21°24.530N, 157°55.896W Named after a single tree that resides on the trail. Counterclockwise loop, ridge-valley hike. Trails not kept cleared & not clearly marked. Numerous side trails and unexpected junctions makes this difficult to follow. Lots of up & down. Wear long pants or your legs will get scraped/cut up from dried brush. Lots of loose dirt/gravel. Be careful, there are areas alongside the trail with dried brush - if you step there you may fall through. Not much coverage so wear a hat or get fried in the sun. Views of pearl harbor and the entire waianae mountain range can be seen. I've been on hikes with better views.

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.