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.

Very cool hike. Unexpected difficult hike I would guess 2 miles round trip with some steep…read moreclimbing. I wouldn't bring kids unless they experienced hikers and no small dogs. But very rewarding hike with a beautiful 360 view at the top. Bring extra water and snacks and can have a nice picnic at the top.

This west side Pink Pillbox Trail isn't as famous as the east side's Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but…read moreit's only about a 15-minute drive from Aulani and way less crowded -- definitely a nice bonus. Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch. Still, I'd recommend parking closer to the entrance for safety because we noticed broken glass scattered on the ground further down the road, probably from past break-ins. We actually parked once, saw the glass right by our car, and quickly moved closer to the entrance instead. Right after we parked, it started raining. The forecast said it would last about 30 minutes, so we just waited it out in the car before starting our hike. The trailhead is right between a yellow "Falling Rocks" warning sign and a white "Speed Limit 25" sign on a utility pole. The hike starts with a steep incline, but overall it's not too hard and just a bit narrow at parts. There are three pillboxes total. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the first one at a relaxed pace, stopping for photos along the way. The first pillbox is painted in blue graffiti inside, and from there you can continue up to the famous pink one. When we got to the pink pillbox, there were surprisingly tons of flies swarming around the entrance for some reason, so we didn't stay too close. The wind was really strong up there -- strong enough that I had trouble keeping my balance! It looked like reaching the third pillbox would require climbing over quite a few rocks, so we decided to turn back instead. On the drive back, we passed Ulehawa Beach Park, where we saw a whole row of homeless encampments right by the ocean -- literally parked and camped along the beachfront. We even saw a few people running across the road and one guy riding his motorcycle the wrong way, yelling at drivers passing by. If that's a regular thing, really sad to see this.

I try to hike new trails a couple times of month instead of always doing ones I know…read more This one is located on North Shore, starting high up in a residential community. A bit of a drive up fairly steep hills to get there. Parking is outside entrance on side of road. Only part of trail was actual single track, rest was road. Although my preference is actual hiking trail. The trail section was pretty, narrow in spots and may have small waterfalls crossing trail. Probably not the best trail with heavy rain The road section, although scenic it was too long. If I lived close by I'd go back.

Wow, it was 2pm on a Sunday and blazing hot! I couldn't see a cloud in the sky! I had planned on…read moreposting up by the beach with a good book in my hammock but something came over me. I felt like being active! I had my running shoes with me but it was too hot to hit the pavement. I could've gone on a trail traveled but instead took some time to look up a new trail close by. I found a trail with warnings of all the mud, "be careful, your shoes will get muddy!" Would the trail be muddy even on a day like this? It hasn't rained for a few days.. I was ready to stand the test! If anything a little mud would be reprieve from the fire I found myself in. So I drove all the way up Pupukea to the end of the road. Be watchful for all the signs indicating where not to park. You will find something close by! The trail starts off on a paved road and I recommend turning left onto the first chance at the trail and coming out at the top or second entrance. I really enjoyed the ease of the paved road back down to my vehicle. Especially after all the attention required along the trail. Even on a hot day the trail is in fact incredibly muddy. If you happen to have a walking stick or find one, it comes highly recommended! The trail is manageable without one but I thought at times it could be helpful. I was also wearing running shoes so hiking boots could've helped but would've been muddy nonetheless. Dodging the mud was fun and made it feel like the roots of the trees were on my team. Descending down the mountainside and then trotting up to the tippy top was cool operating and was just the right recipe for a refreshing afternoon. When I drove down Pupukea after my hike I caught the green light (driving the speed limit!) and drove straight into the parking lot of Shark's Cove. Trust, I took a sweet little dip at Three Tables and felt at home. Great way to recharge before the work week!

After spending $72 for a family of 3 to enter the Koloa Fall I was not happy with the trail it was…read morevery over priced and a waste of a hike. It was a small pond and the bottom of a small waterfall that wasn't worth a picture.

This hike isn't for everyone. It's a long and tedious trek, going in and out of water the entire…read moretime. Very easy to slip and fall on huge stream rocks. I agree that this is for experienced hikers only. Shoe spikes and trekking poles saved me as I maneuvered through the mud, rocks, and water. It's about 7.5 miles rt. We did it in 5 hours, but I heard it can take 8+ if the weather is bad. The end is pretty, but not spectacular. I enjoyed it for the workout and solitude. I went through 4 liters of water and ran out about mile 6.5. So bring a lot of water!! You must get a free hiking permit from Hawaii Reserves to be on this property. E-mail them and they'll assist you, or go to their office. http://www.hawaiireserves.com/community_hikecamp.htm

Let's get a few facts and opinions out of the way from the start:…read more- There are better hikes on this island, much better (Olomana Ridge comes to mind) - The start of this hike is arid, ugly, and brutally hot with little shade - There are lots of buildings (and a road, that you ain't allowed to drive on) on the summit Now that you know all these things, this is the highest point on Oahu and a worthy objective! If you're a peakbagger-type, this high point is an absolute must and is very easy compared to the high points of Kauai, Maui, and Moloka'i. If you can stay cool, this is a pretty easy hike, in my opinion. The route-finding is very straight-forward and there's only a little bit of scrambling. About staying cool: I would bring a few gallons of water. Drink as much as you can while you're still at your car, then soak your shirt and a headband in it. This'll help for the mostly treeless first part and it'll be long-dry by the time you reach the cooler, moist upper parts of the mountain. Another options is to start hiking up before sunrise but, if you're on vacation, you're probably not to interested in that. Yes, the summit is covered in military buildings but the views are still fantastic. I highly recommend doing a 360-degree walk around the perimeter fence. Another advantage of this hike is that it's not insanely popular. It's possible you might only see one or two other parties on the whole mountain.

This hike is not for the weak and definitely not for beginners. Mt. Ka'ala is known as the highest…read morepoint on the island of Oahu but the trip and the end result is well worth your efforts. The whole trip can take about 6-7hrs, up and back. Item I highly recommend you bring with you: -Electrolyte WATER (***I took a whole gallon with me***) -Small snacks ( Nuts, fruit bars, protein/granola bars, musubi, manapua, etc) -Sunscreen (7 hrs in the sun will get you. My face was sunburnt after.) -Hiking spikes (It was slippery even though it wasn't raining.) -Gloves ( You'll be climbing lots of rope!! Your hands will get raw.) -Hiking Bag/Backpack -Wear long sleeves and leggings (The water wicking type to stay cool and protected from the sun and bugs.) -Hat -Sunglasses -Selfie stick -Satellite radio ( I had one just in case but we all had cellular connection the whole trip. ) -Cellphone & rechargeable battery -Bug spray -Good Attitude ( This hike was hard but it wasn't impossible.) I came here with a group of hikers, now my new found friends, and we all pitched in on a giant UHAUL 16-seater van so that we wouldn't have to take our personal vehicles. We did this because the parking lot for this hike is well known for break-ins, so we made sure that nothing was left in the van when we began our hike. From the start, it's all incline and it kept getting more and more steep the further you went in. Majority of the trail is covered by trees and brush so there was plenty of shade. The closer you got to the top, the better the view got and it was pretty fulfilling to feel so high up. Once you reach the Mt. Ka'ala sign and the forest conservation, you get to experience the Hawaiian rain forest where you're required to stay on the wood/metal path laid out to minimize human damage to the environment. You'll know you've reached the top when you see a fenced in building owned by the government. There's a path along the fence line that'll bring you to the final view. Once there, you'll finally be able to take break, sit down, breathe in the cold air and enjoy the amazing view from the clouds as they pass you by. Goodluck, stay safe and happy hiking!

This is a short but difficult hike. Lots of going up on rocks, using tree branches and roots to…read morehold on, etc. it was our first full day and I was sore the rest of the trip. Definitely worth the views.

Kahana Bay Beach Parkから Kaneohe方面まで…read moreぐるっと一望できるTrailです。。 Trail入口の反対側に砂利土の駐車場があります。。 広くなっているのである程度分かりやすいです。。 Trailは急斜面が多いく、雨天後は土の部分が滑りやすいです。。 途中ロープが垂れているところもあります。。 急斜面が多いですが比較的距離は短く 片道30分程度で頂上まで登ることができます。。 急斜面ですので、特に復路は滑りやすく注意が必要です。。 頂上に行くとLaie方面からKaneohe方面まで 180度一望できる素晴らしい景色が待っています。。 登ってきてよかった！と実感できるTrailです。。 頂上部分は岩で狭くなっているので 注意が必要です。。 駐車スペースはTrail入り口の道路反対側にあります。。

Common for cars to get broken into here. Be careful!! View…read morewas nice, but we were already cautious with all the broken glasses in the floor.... Wouldn't recommend this trail because our car got broken into...

Access restricted...but that didn't stop my friend and I . The hike is fairly hard and you'll…read moredefinitely break a sweat as it is very steep. Since access has been restricted, the trail is no longer maintained so plants are growing in the way and there are a lot of loose pebbles. Midway through the trail, you have to go across but there is no real place for footing so you're leaning on the wall scrambling across. That was probably the hardest and most scary part! Adrenaline rushing like crazy, woo. But the view is SO WORTH IT! It was a rewarding view for such a difficult hike. It'll take you twice as or even longer to get down. My friend and I had to sit and inch our way down because it was that steep! We had a laugh at the start of the trail which starts on the side of a highway because before there is a sign that says no trespassing. A cop car drove past and the cop inside the car waved as we were about to enter an access restricted trail to a car in Hawaii. Completely different from the NYC vibe!

I don't hike a lot but friends wanted to go so we did the trek. Another friend who hikes a LOT told…read moreme it's one of the most beautiful hikes he's been on. While I don't have a large amount of destination spots to compare, I do have my share of hiking experiences. It really was beautiful. So many picturesque spots. Got some great photos on the way up to the falls. Be sure to have good footwear as it can get pretty slippery. While most of the path is graveled, there are numerous areas where you could easily fall. If you're a mosquito magnet, put your bug spray on before you start the hike and take it with you. I still came out with a bunch of bites, mainly cause my sweat washed some of the protection off. Had a great time. Highly recommend.

We went on a Friday morning; thankfully no police there that day to stop us. A friend tried to go…read morethe next morning - you guessed it, popo were there and stopped all hikers from accessing the trail. For us, though, another great hike up to the falls. Very few people during the week so no fighting for space at the falls. And after the walk up it sure felt great to stand under the falls and cool down. Definitely one of my fav waterfalls on Oahu and, if not blocked by the popo, a really easy 45 minute trek up. Yes, it is technically trespassing since the trail/falls is on BWS property. Apparently loud groups of hikers have pissed off the neighbors so the police now routinely patrol the gate area. Sure hope this doesn't go the way of Haiku Stairs and get permanently closed down.