ʻAiea Loop Trail is a birder's dream and my current favorite trail on Oʻahu. I don't know how much the Yelp community intersects with the birding community, but I was drawn to ʻAiea Loop Trail because of the eBird app. I heard both the ʻApapane and the Oʻahu ʻAmakihi on my first trek here, but I did not get to photograph them properly for ID purposes (let alone for aesthetic photography). It was on my second trek on the trail that I was able to get up high enough to video record both the ʻApapane and the Oʻahu ʻAmakihi. It was a magical moment, cut short because I started my hike too late. It was also on this second trek that I also heard what I believe to be the Oʻahu ʻElepaio. I have yet to see it or photograph them, but I believe in the rare bird rule of second attempts: I hear these birds before I see them, and I see them before I can photograph them (naturally). I have to return as soon as I can. If you aren't a birder (yet), there is still a lot to be gained from hiking this trail. The views of valleys full of greenery are simply gorgeous. Perhaps a given because Hawaii, but rainbows appear everywhere here. The trail is better maintained comparatively, and the loop isn't too long, although I accidentally started the loop too late and did not know how long it actually was until I completed it. I was so scared I was going to get stuck on the trail after nightfall, but thankfully I got out before dusk. Mosquitos are still a nuisance here, so be prepared. read more

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I've hiked this trail a few times and have seen downed trees before however nothing like our recent hike. 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. read more

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Aiea Loop Trail is an excellent and well-maintained hike that's friendly for everyone, and a very safe, 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! read more

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Spare yourself and park at this sign. Its about the third tier. Nice mellow hike after that. Lots of people though. read more

Aiea Loop Trail - 5/1/26 Rules and regulations - Hiking Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

One of my favorite Sunday activities is lacing up my hiking shoes and heading to Aiea Loop. This 4.6-mile trail winds through lush forest with birds, tropical plants, and plenty of shade. About halfway through, you'll reach a stunning lookout with panoramic views of the H3 slicing through the mountains. I always must stop and take it all in! Arrive early for easy parking, bring the family fur babies included, and enjoy a hike that's both relaxed and refreshing. 10/10 recommend, fun fact being in nature is incredible for your health and well-being, so why not try it out? read more

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Enjoyable hiking! Overall can't complain! I am not a hiker and found the trail to be more of an intermediate level vs easy. For an experienced hiker- yes- easy. My main issue was the exposed roots uneven footing. I had to really pay attention or risk falling or rolling my ankle. It was a lush trail with lovely greenery and many trees and plant life of interest. I would have liked to see markers showing distance or any trail Markers. As others mentioned this trail Is very slick and muddy during rain or after recent rain. Glad I visited and loved the views. read more

We've taken our kids on a bunch of hikes here on Oahu, kid friendly ones, they're still little. By far, Aiea Loop Trail is their favorite! They've never finished it though, roughly 5 miles is still a bit long for little legs. But every time we go, they're able to go a little further. They love having a packed lunch and finding nice spots to have a picnic while we are there. Obviously, we'll keep coming until they're able to finish. It'll be a celebration when that happens! But it's a beautiful trail, easy enough for kiddos, and we'll maintained. We recommend Aiea Loop Trail for a fun family adventure! read more

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This is a well maintained hiking trail located at thr very top of Aiea hts (same park as Heiau ancient hawaiian burial ground) just drive past Heiau and you will see a bathroom and a nice pavillion with picnic tables and a patking lot...dont park there...continue on till u see "Aiea loop trail" sign (to your right) take that toad till you see another parking lot (this is where you want to park so when you finish hije and walk back to your car you are walking down the hill not up) or there is another parking lot further up thr hill (this is where most people park and start but you will have to walk up thr hill once you finish) either way I guess dependant on prefference. The hike is very popular with alot of foot traffic. The trail is mostly pretty easy (when it rains the trail can get slippery but manageable for sure)mostly dirt and roots and thr incline are very gradual. The majority of the time you will be under the canopy of trees so its not a real hot hike with the sun on you constantly. There are several points where you can see the H3 (pretty cool) and there is even wreckage of a warplane (not much left just the wing) ...All in all A very casual fun easy hike for young ones..dogs (bring your poop bags if you bring a dog) and familes. They have a pavillion with picnic tables at both parking lots...cool place to hang out after your hike...a cool and fun hike!!! read more

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This place will forever hold a special place in my heart. My husband and I had our elopement here a small intimate wedding and I'll forever be grateful for Gods hands that created this beautiful park. If you do plan on eloping here just keep in mind that the time of parking really matters and the space you pick matters as well. Since the park is open to the public from 7am-7pm so it's first come first serve bases. And if you have any elderly folks just make sure there aware that there's small hills to some of the pavilions so you gotta help auntie or uncle walking up and down. Gotta take care of the Kapuna!! The trees and greenery are perfect for pictures and if you go at the right time (4pm) the sun hits all the trees in such a lovely way that you're guaranteed to love your pictures!! Another piece of advice is if you are planning a small elopement go ahead and check out the site first just keep driving and the road will take you around the entire park. And you can see for yourselves what time and area you folks would want to have it. I'm just blessed to know that every time we come up here now it'll have the memory of my husband and I becoming one and remembering all of our loved ones that could attend our special day. read more

Aiea Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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Great 4+ mile hike, comfortable trail just the right amount of altitude changes with great views of the city as well as the internal valleys. Large number of parking places. read more

The 'Aiea Loop Trail is about a 5-6 mile trail (depending on where you park). This is one of the longer hikes we've been on Oahu, given most are no more than 2-3 miles. This trail runs along the ridge on the west side of Halawa Valley and offers views of the southern coastline of O'ahu from Pearl Harbor (Pu'uloa) and the Wai'anae Range to Honolulu and Diamond Head (Le'ahi). Not the easiest hike, but also not super strenuous. This hike involves some gradual uphill climbs with a steep switchback and a stream crossing at the end of the trail. The trail may be muddy with sections of exposed tree roots. TIP: check the weather when you come here. If it's been raining for the last few days, I'd come another day. Some days we've come it's been extremely muddy and makes the hike miserable and legs so dirty. Make sure to actual wear hiking shoes too, sandals are no go when it's muddy. As always with any hike--Bring your sunscreen, bug spray, hats, wipes, and even trash bags or boxes for your muddy shoes! Hike Length: 2 hours if we don't stop too much to take breaks. They say it takes on average 2.5-3 hours for most people. It's beautiful and peaceful here. Usually not too many people either. We've probably been here over 20 times and keep coming back! Plenty of parking available. You can even camp here, I've seen people with tents during the weekend. Bathrooms available in the front and the end of trail. Enjoy! read more

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Started from the top parking lot with the opened restroom. Could had used some TLC (the restroom). I squat so who cares LoL. Our first Aiea hike after numerous research. Something moderate for my dad and step mom. In their early 70's and still able to make it through. I fear mosquitoes so I wore long pants and I was sweating my tush off and took sips of water since the restroom was my first stop. Snacked around 2.48 miles in and all you hear is nature, some breeze and the view of passing cars on H3 which was lovely. I'd say 2 hours of a 4.8 mile hike was worth it. Some parts were muddy but nothing a 6 year old can't handle. Saw lots of dog walkers, runners and families with little ones. It was fun, we started about 10 am. My advice is sunscreen, repellent, light back water with water and snacks, maybe some music and most importantly proper shoes. I broke into my running shoes and have permanent red stained dirt in them now. Don't try to look cute or wear sandals on this hike. Can easily twist your ankle walking over the tree roots. I'll do this hike again! read more

Aiea Loop Trail - View of H3 - Hiking Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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Good moderate trail with really nice views. To get some views you do have to veer off the trail. If it were to rain the trail would be slippery and muddy, so be careful. The trail is well maintained, easy parking, bathrooms at the trail head, dog friendly and great picnic areas by parking. The trails is mostly wide but does become narrow at some points. But the best part of the trail was the SMELL !!!! The eucalyptus trees were amazing, you just wanted to take deep breaths in and enjoy the natural aroma. It was just unreal! read more

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Best On Sunny Days, This Hike Of A Trail Id Great For All Ages. And Bring Your Doggies, Too! It's About 4 Miles Long If You Decide To Do The Whole Trail. We Usually Go To The 2nd Look-Out And Turn Back Around. read more

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Beautiful and peaceful trail. Love to do it in the morning and have a nice lunch afterwards at yum yum pho down the road. That's what I call a perfect day. What I love about this trail is that it has nice scenery, not crowded, and it's shaded here and there. You can feel that push on upward inclines and then you catch you breath on the declines. Perfect perfect!! Today was the first time I saw part of the airplane that had gone down!! Finally never saw this for all the times I went there. Some nice hiker told us exactly to look to our right and that's the plane remains. I love a peaceful hike ANYDAY!! read more

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Beautiful, lush hiking trail that never gets too steep. My favorite spots were the overhangs where you catch glimpses of the H3 highway. If you love plant life in the wild, this trail's for you. I can't recommend hiking shoes enough though - we came on a super rainy morning and the path was extremely muddy and slippery. I wouldn't want to do it in regular shoes. PROS: - Gradual inclines here and there, nothing strenuous at all. In fact, the steepest part came at the very end, where we had to climb back up the hill to where we parked (right next to where the trailhead started). - You can't beat the scenery along the way. CONS: - Super muddy so check the forecast before you go. We were staying in Kahala but as soon as we got closer to Aiea, the grey clouds started gathering. Most of our hike was drizzly to downright pouring, which at least beats being too hot. Parking tip: I counted at least three parking lots before we reached the one next to the (very well marked) trailhead. Try to park in the second one, i.e., the one not by the trailhead, to save yourself from staggering back up the hill after the hike - the end spits you out right by that parking lot in particular. read more

It was the perfect day for this hike because the sun was out and the view was clear. This hike maybe a little long for others but I say it was easy to do and follow the trail. It was very peaceful to hear the birds chirping. At times you could hear the cars from the H3 freeway. Some trees were down and landed on the trail. It was no big deal as you can just walk under or over the trunk. Some parts were muddy but still bareable. I didn't wear any hiking shoes, just regular walking shoes. Started the trail clockwise and ended up in the campground area. Overall great hike! read more

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Hiking on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii... For her birthday, my friend wanted to go hiking and requested: Aiea Loop Trail I had never done this hike before - and have always wanted to go. My friend reassured me that she did it about thirty years ago and it was no problem (obviously, she had a memory issue). Hah! I'm a very trusting friend (we met in a volleyball class; she bought a house near mine; she got a job at my hospital; and even transferred to my building!) and am willing to make dreams come true, so, I picked her up and drove towards Aiea. I had read some reviews and was prepared with insect repellent, sunscreen, baby wipes, a pair of flip flops (to change into after a muddy experience), garbage bag (to prevent the car from getting muddy), water to drink, and a battery powered fan with a misting function to cool down). Our first stop was McDonald's for a pit stop... In case there was no restroom. However, there was a restroom at the upper parking lot! ...and it had restroom tissue! ...and a door for each stall! Yay! I used GPS to get to Aiea Loop Trail. It led me through the heiau... Sacred Hawaiian grounds... Then upwards to the parking lots. I didn't know that the end of the trail (if you go counterclockwise) is at the lower parking lot. We had parked at the upper lot where the restroom was. Oh, well... There's another restroom at the lower lot where the camping area and picnic tables are. We started of in good spirits with lots of conversation and laughs. Later, after a couple of hours, we questioned each other: Why are we torturing ourselves? How long more do we have to walk? What kind of friend are you to not talk me out of doing this? Are we there yet? Luckily, we hadn't remembered reading that this hike is 4.8 to 5 miles long. Different sources state different distances. It just seemed endless towards the end! Haha! Some people finished this hike in two hours. We did it in about three hours... Maybe because we took a lot of photos, had a water break every 30 minutes, said "hello" to everyone we passed (including babies, toddlers, and dogs), and stopped in the breezy portions - especially the ones in the shade. Yes - most of the time, we were in the shade of trees. It wasn't muddy because it was August. My shoes and socks were dusty at the end of the trail. I had to take my shoes off because my toenails were in pain! LOL! I did take Motrin before I went to sleep - mostly for hip flexor stiffness. The good parts of the hike: - Seeing that view of the H-3 Interstate Freeway - identifying plants such as strawberry guava, hala, ti, Royal palms, ferns, yellow ginger, he'e berry tree, liko lehua, and bamboo - knowing that there are a few benches to rest - feeling the gentle, cool, refreshing breeze - hearing the cheerful birds - spending quality time with a good friend - doing a healthy, free activity together I told my friend that I was working on this review. She said to start off with: "Calling all masochists...do this deceptively LONG ass hike. Lol!" Her words... Not mine! I knew that we were at the end of the hike when I saw the backside of the sign that we saw at the start of our hike. Because it's a Loop, the people who begin at the lower parking lot get the same warning: don't start after 4pm. LOL! Another landmark at the end of our hike was the stairs up to the lower parking lot. We had to cross the Camping Area with picnic tables and benches. Realizing that we'd have to walk up to the car, my brave friend asked a Total Stranger if we could catch a ride up to our car. OMG!!! However, in our condition, we might not have made it back up to the upper parking lot! Yeah... We're out of shape! read more

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1/23/25 Run clockwise or counterclockwise It's always a challenge Tree roots, elevation, rocks, views, packed dirt, shiny mud, steep trail edges, nature...! read more

Aiea Loop Trail The beauty of having a loop is that you never have to see the same scenery twice, and this trail is bursting with cool and varied things to see. This is a long hike (to me), 4.6 to 5.0 forest miles, which is much different than street miles. It takes up to 3 hours if you walk and 2 if you jog with a billion stops for pics (me). If you're a runner, this is a great trail for running, with tons of elevations and declines that offer sure footing. There are some parts where you can't run, because it's too rocky, or you might slip, but these are a few and far between. A pro tip is to park at the middle of 3 parking lots, where the trailhead ends, the one with the blue bathroom next to the campsites. Then walk up to the start of the trail/3rd parking lot. That way when you are finished the trail, you will pop out right next to the parking area by the blue bathroom, only feet from your car. Warning, the blue bathroom is locked at the time of my visit, but there's another bathroom at the first (lowest) parking lot and another at 3rd (highest) parking lot next to the trailhead. You will know that you were at the trailhead, because there is a sign that says "start". Con: Red mud will ruin your shoes and clothes so bring a crappy pair of shoes. read more

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Took a morning hike. First of all there are bathrooms when you enter the trail. There is a lot of parking, but the place is pretty popular and they fill up early. Trail was a little muddy, so don't ware your good sneakers. There were strawberry guava along the trail to snack on. There was a place to clean shoes at the end, but it was out of water. Nice trail to hike with a different look for Hawaii read more

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This is a great trail of your looking for a beginner/medium hike. It's 4.8 miles of rainforest that most people can handle. Get to the trail early and park in one of the 3 parking areas as you drive up through the entrance. I like parking in the lower levels and walking ip to the trail entrance at the top. It beats hiking back to the top to your car when you exit the trail at the bottom. The trail is a nice leisurely walk through a rainforest. There are some inclines and root/ muddy areas when it's wet. And a great view of the H3 freeway at the top. There's also some hidden gems along the way like an old plane crash, views of Honolulu , and maybe some wild pigs. Be careful. Overall a nice family friendly hike. Bring some snack and water. It will take about 2 1/2 hours to complete. Just soak in the greenery and nature. read more

Kudos to Hawaii for maintaining amazing parklands and trails for all to enjoy. The Aiea Loop Trail offers spectacular views of iconic Hawaii hills, amazing native forests and peeks of the ocean. The tree covered trail is about 5 miles of medium intensity. The hike takes about 3 hours to complete with scenic stops. They recommend not starting the hike after 4:00 pm. The locals walk their dogs or run the trail. There are a few benches along the trail to rest and enjoy the scenery. The trees along the trail are fantastic. There is a segment of Norfolk pines. There are lot of wild chickens at the trail head. There are several parking lots which hold about 16 cars each. Parking fills up fast, and the trail gets hot, so I advise to get there early in the day. There are restroom facilities at the beginning of the trail. Take water and a camera. Wear sneakers or hiking boots. There is a picnic area with about 16 tables. read more

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This trail is my go to for my cardio if I feel very sluggish and have been lazy on my workout. It's fairly easy and always great to be one with nature. It takes me about an hour and half to go around the loop. I do prefer starting at the top as the uphills aren't as much compared to going through the bottom entrance. After the look out, jogging gets easier as it's mostly downhill from there. It's mostly shaded so the sun won't beat you down but I still wear a bucket hat and arm sleeves. It's a beautiful stroll for families and is pet friendly as long as they are on a leash. There's lots of scenic points to see the H3 and also check out the wreckage of the C-47 wreckage during WW2. There's the famous loop tree that you can climb and sit on if you wish to take photos. Best part is the terrain kind of change the higher the elevation you go. read more

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Update: clockwise is definitely faster. The 2 mile down hill is much more runnable than the counterclockwise downhill. Also, y'all. Stop wearing regular trainers and *flip flops* hahahahaahaha. You need at least a decent pair of trail running shoes, especially during the wet season cuz things can get a bit muddy. I saw a hiker with spikes which I thought was unnecessary but better to have more traction than not enough--talking to you flip flop couple. read more

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Sunday, August 18, 2024: We had our Lyft driver drop us off at the first parking lot just before 9 A.M. The temperature was perfect with a slight mist in the air. Our goal was the loop with a side diversion up to the various vistas that occasionally led to decent trails that paralleled the main trail. We also wanted to hike a bit of the Aiea Ridge Trail to get familiar with that due to wanting to hike that in the next few weeks. In the parking lot, there were at least two people already wearing microspikes. So, I was a bit concerned with how wet things were out there...as it turns out, it wasn't bad at all. I never even removed my trekking poles from the side pocket of my backpack (but it is always nice to know I have them IF I needed them). The trail wasn't crowded, but it seemed about every 2nd or 3rd group had a dog with them. I must have spotted twenty dogs (which we loved seeing and greeting). We also came across two young ladies, one of whom was well-steeped in knowledge when it came to the local flora and fauna. We conversed about birds, trees, flowering native plants, the cost of H-3, and more. Being more than a bit of a nature buff, I was thrilled to have had the chance to cross paths with such a knowledgable fellow hiker. The weeks that led up to this hike overly prepared us for the loop. Our first hike was Koko Head, and nowhere do you have that intense vertical climb right out of the gate. The next week, we did 9.3 miles, utilizing the Judd, Nu'uanu, Pauoa Flats, Kalawahine, Telephone Road/Spur to the Tantalus summit... then down to Manoa using Pu'uohia, Pauoa Flats, Aihualama, and Manoa Falls Trail. This trail, Aiea Loop, barely resembled that hike ... We also did the Makiki Loop with a side trip to Round Top. Again, Aiea Loop was very different (in case you are familiar with those other hikes). Aiea Loop was wide enough in places to drive a golf cart and quite level... "tame," in fact, by comparison. It is very obvious that it is routinely being walked and run by some of the folks we ran into today. I'd say we probably saw between 50 and 75 people on trail (note: it was a Sunday).... we walked it clockwise, and we both would recommend taking every side-trail up, up, up to the overlooks. You will definitely see fewer people that way, if that is the experience you are looking to gain from this hike. Overall, the day was great ... a nice mix of sun and overcast with a misting of rain occasionally. Everyone on the trail was pleasant and respectful. Those with dogs had them under control, with all but one being leashed. I would recommend this to athletic folks without a lot of hiking experience, but I would suggest they go with someone more knowledgeable. Happy trails! read more

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Nice, easy hike up at the top of Aiea Heights. It's well-trafficked with lots of parking up at the trailhead and little below it. Tip: the first lot you hit is just for the recreational area. Go up a little more until you can't anymore. That's the trailhead. Went on a muddy Saturday morning. Overcast with some slight showers, so it was a bit of a muddy trek. The middle of the loop is about 2 miles up, a little flat and not too much of an incline. Very well canopied and wide, which is why it's a popular hike. At the midpoint, there's a path that goes up and to the left. That way is to a single-track trek on the ridge of the mountain. A bit steep, so if you're afraid of heights, don't bother. At the very peak, you get nice vistas of the valley, H3 highway, and all the way to the ocean. Very well worth it! To get down, you can go back the same way you came. If you continue on the loop, you'll end up in the parking area a little below the trailhead parking spot. The latter seemed longer to me than the other half. There are restrooms on site as well as fountains to wash off those muddy shoes. Very fun, easy hike! read more

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This trail was really awesome! Very well maintained and the park at the trailhead is just so nice. The park amenities are awesome: bathrooms, historical sites, and LOTs of picnic tables make this a new favorite for me! We were able to take our dog on leash and the trail was pretty wide enough for passing and walking by people at points. There are also so many trash cans in the parking loop as well so we were thankful as a 2 doggy bag walk goes... We parked at the first parking lot by the main comfort station bathrooms. We had to walk a quarter mile to the trailhead but the trail ends in a different spot, where there's even more bathrooms and picnic tables and the walk back to the car was a nice downhill cool down. We walked total 5.3 miles so prepare for a little more than the 4.8 miles the trail says. It felt so nice being outside mostly on a ridge it felt like but the wind didn't bother us due to the tree coverage. There's also those little strawberry guava plants EVERYWHERE. They are really awesome too.. the last mile or so you're hiking through the valley floor it feels like, this is where we all got a little muddy since it was off and on rain. The white dog feet turned into a nice light brown color. He's still cute. read more

Aiea Loop Trail - Views - Hiking Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

The Aiea Loop Trail is located at the top of Aiea Heights. It's a non strenuous easy 4.8 mile hike. There are some gradual inclines, but nothing your hiking boots can't handle. The trail can get muddy especially since it rains in the mountains. If you start at the top you would be hiking clockwise. The starting and ending points are not the same. This hike is family and pet friendly. The highlight of the hike for me is seeing the H3 Freeway from high up. You can also see views of Peal Harbor and the Leeward side. Aiea Loop is a pleasant hike that is mostly shaded in the forest. If you are looking for a hike that has no rock climbing, no stairs, and no ropes Aiea Loop Trail is perfect for you. read more

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Favorite trail in Hawaii so far. While there is elevation, it wasn't as steep to the point where it makes you wonder if you'll be able to finish the hike (PTSD from Koko Crater). Overall, the path was easy to follow accompanied w/ some nice peekaboo views. Plenty of parking and there are restrooms, too. Lots of shade so you might want to bring a light jacket because it might get cold. Before you leave, be sure to clean your shoes w/ the shoe brush and spray. read more

I don't hike but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a beautiful trail when it's available for drive though. I've read many a book up here in the cool, stillness at the top of the mountain. I'm always dropping off the kids, their friends and relatives to hike the trail up here and they rave about the view, the ease of the hike and the "relics" found while on trails. After several mud issues I now require a change of clothes and shoes for each hiker to change into after hiking and before they get in the car at hike finish. Red mud stain doesn't come out of car mats....no change of shoes (?) feel free to walk home. Take water, lots of water. A few snacks and always bring your opala back. Kids are always bringing back more trash than they take in. Always quiet, sometimes rainy. Sofie likes it but I only carry her...don't want orange paws. read more

Aiea Loop Trail is a great hike for beginners and families. Even better right now with limited tourists. Be sure to check the weather as the trail becomes a bit challenging and borderline miserable when its wet and muddy. It is very picturous and very relaxing hike. I prefer to park and start the hike at the upper trail, just past the rest rooms going clockwise. If you want parking on the weekend you gotta come early. The trail is mostly flat but some parts of the trail do have some inclines but not unmanageable. It is so tranquil you get the feeling like your on a different island. The hike is a bit less than five miles but it certainly does not feel like five miles. Lots of places to break off the trail and take a breather have a picnic or enjoy the beautiful views of the valley or views of the H3. The park also has restrooms at the beginning and end of the trail. The amazing views, the smell of eucalyptus, clean air and lots of shade make this one of my favorite hikes. read more

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Hiked this trail for the first time on Sunday, May 10th, 2020, Mother's Day! Weather was perfect. ~80degF. No rain. No mud. Peaceful. Shaded. No tourists due to COVID-19. The park opens at 7:00am. Our start time began at 7:30am on the dot, which was from our car parked at the bottom of the hill in the Kaeiwa Camping Area 1, Table #1. We decided to take the trail clockwise. Based on my MapMyRun app, the round-trip was 4.56 miles and we finished in 2:01:57. If I didn't take as many photos and video clips as I did, we could have finished much sooner! :-) After hiking up the parking lot (a steep incline), it was mainly a flat course. There are a few, very narrow pathways. Some extra wide. But, the trail is mainly wide enough just for two people to walk side by side, or for incoming traffic to pass through. All of the hikers we came across were friendly. We exchanged our "Good Morning!" and smiled. There were small families, even some walking their dogs and babies in tow, couples, friends, solo hikers and runners, and even active seniors. Along the trail we came across a lot of fallen trees, which were cut to avoid blocking the pathway. Lush tropical landscape such as ferns, bamboo, ti, koa, ohia, and Norfolk pines. Exposed tree roots helped us with our footing in areas we had to climb, or along the side to grab when descending. At the 2-mile marker we could hear and see the H-3 freeway! There's a gorgeous tree marking the best view which stands at the 'V' shape or switchback. Around the 3-mile marker, we spotted the wreckage of a B-24J bomber near the trail, which crashed here in May 1944. The last half mile we found ourselves at the bottom of the mountain range, so it was a little darker and humid. We ended up finishing at the grassy area, near the picnic tables and restroom. Our car was parked just above it. Overall, I really enjoyed the crisp, fresh air, and the sound of birds chirping. A truly nice getaway from the hustle and bustle. Very therapeutic! read more

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in the LOOP I had my first visit to the Aiea Loop Trail this past Sunday. My friend and I decided to take a chance to explore/hike this trail based on a co-worker's recommendation (small degree of difficulty and lots of shade!). NOTES & TIPS: 1. PARKING: Available at multiple lots within the designated area/location of the trail. There's parking available as you ascend to the starting point, near the trail entrance, and after the trail entrance. First come, first serve. Some people chose to park on the grassy areas where it seemed safe. 2. The trail is 4.8 miles long. Allot for 2-3 hours to complete the loop. For further information, please refer to: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu/aiea-loop-trail/ 3. Use sunscreen! And use sunglasses if needed. 4. Bring water. 5. Wear comfortable shoes. 6. Use the bathroom beforehand. There is a restroom at the start of the trail. 7. For all first-time visitors, I'd like to provide a useful tip: people can "start" at either end of the loop trail. There is an official "start" to the trail (as designated by a sign), but one can choose to start from the "end" as well, which is located near a parking area down the road/below the trail start. My friend and I weren't aware of this (though we should have made an educated guess as trail is a "loop"), as we encountered hikers walking in the opposite direction as we progressed on the hike. We began to wonder (at one point) if we had to hike back the way we came. Fortunately, we didn't encounter anyone who had passed us walking back the way we came. We definitely felt a sense of relief as one of the lower parking lots came into view 8. Great views of the H-3 Freeway and surrounding areas. Definitely worth the effort for sure. 9. Would not recommend (IMHO) if the weather is rainy or windy, as some portions of the trail are narrow. 10. There are some benches/scenic views along the first half the trail. BOTTOM LINE: A leisurely hike that's scenic, manageable, and easy to navigate. Parking can be challenging if crowded. read more

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It's an easy trail to walk. But it's long. Be sure to give yourself a lot of time to walk the loop. 2 hours, or soThere's a sign posted that says, "don't start walking after 4:00pm" read more

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The last time I did this hike was about 25+ years ago LOL. We went on President's Day, so we knew it was going to be pretty packed. Got here about 8:30am and the parking lot was already full. There are 3 parking lots, one at the bottom by the entrance, in the middle (where we parked) and one up top by the restrooms. There are two entrances to the trail, we opted to start by the restrooms. It was a perfect weather day to do the hike. Nice breeze. Lots of trees. The trail is pretty easy, until you get til the end, where there is a slight incline, but tolerable. We saw a lot of families with smaller children on the hike. Walking from our car, through the loop and back at the car, my watch clocked in at 6 mi. read more

Aiea Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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This is a relatively flat loop trail that is around 5 miles long. I would classify it as easy. It took me just over two hours to complete. There are some nice views along the way and it's a good way to get active but if you limited time in Hawaii then I would recommend Lanikai pillboxes, Koko Head, Diamond Head or Kuliouou Ridge Trail hikes read more

Aiea Loop Trail - Another view - Hiking Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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I love running this loop! I've done countless runs on this trail. It's a 4.5-5 mile loop. Plenty of up, plenty of down. Run up from the parking lot. The reverse involves a 2 mile climb. Gnarly! There are some great peekaboo views over the H3. A section of the trail has a bunch of eucalyptus trees and smells absolutely amazing. The very bottom of the loop is pretty muddy. Along the way are remnants of a plane crash, though they are hard to find and now in very poor condition. There used to be part of a wing, a motor and a gun. There is not much left these days. Parking is plentiful. Keep your stuff hidden or with you. read more

My father visited recently and I wanted an activity we could do together and take the pup. The better half suggested with try the Aiea Loop Trail, which starts and ends in Keaiwa Heiau State Park. As the name suggests, the hike is a loop; no backtracking or dreading the walk back. As it's a loop you have two options: one entrance is at the far parking lot down the stairs in the campsite; the other entrance is at the last parking lot back near the entrance of the park with a restroom and map. My recommendation is start at the entrance in the campsite. Going this direction, you'll get more downhill especially during the switchbacks near this side. Going the opposite direction you'll essentially be saving the toughest, muddiest parts for last when you're already tired. After the hard stuff is done, it's a leisurely walk through the forest. Our pup Bagle joined us and he loved the entire thing, always smelling and listening. The trail is about 5 miles so it can take 2-3 hours depending on skill level of the hikers. I'd say it's a good one to do with kids. There were a few trail runners as well, I'd guess it would take about an hour at a consistent pace. Be sure to bring plenty of water as there's none along the trail. The humidity and heat are kind of hidden in the shade, but your body will feel it. The hike offers beautiful views of valleys around the H3, as well as down into Pearl Ridge area, Pearl Harbor, and the airport. There are a few side areas with seats to enjoy the views, great if you need a break. Most of the hike back into the parking areas is winding along mountain sides but flat otherwise. It's just pleasant to be out away from the city for a while. This is a great day activity and perfect place to exercise in nature. I look forward to doing it again! read more

Beautiful greenery hike! Clear paths, shady and cool, some parts are a little muddy so be careful. Lots of scenic parts for photos. About 2hr hike. Lots of parking when we went on a holiday. There are a couple of parking lots. Bring water and a snack read more

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