Might be the actual worst hike I've ever been on. Went at 6am and the beginning wasn't bad. It…read moreramped up in difficulty when it started to get steep. Then, halfway through it started to turn into a thorn trap. You couldn't see where the trail was and it was covered in thorns. Every step was actually the most painful step I've ever taken. Please take pants when going on this hike. Slipped a bunch but overall had a great time.

Just happened to decide to go hiking with a bunch of folks here shortly before sunset and it was…read moreinteresting. We had all the gear we needed and lights so we know where to go in the dark. It was surreal. Definitely be careful if you do go hiking after dark. Don't want to end up in the 10pm news and the morning after newspapers. With that said, my first time here at the Wailupe loop trail was interesting on a brisk Friday evening. We ran as we could in the daylight before sunset fell and we ended up walking a bunch before night fell. The brush was picture perfect, but we were mindful to stick to the main trail before something dangerous or disastrous could occur. The beauty of east Oahu is in full display once in you are near or at the top of the tail. Picturesque views of Aina Haina are at your perview when you reach the top. During my time here at the Wailupe loop trail, my experience here was physical, mentally and spiritual cleansing, while having a good time with friends. During the COVID era, best bet is to wear masks and tread lightly on the trails. My friends and I managed to make it to the top of the trail and it was very surreal and amazing at the same time, where the wind was gently pushing your back at 8:30pm, physically tired from the evening's hike, and you can see the island below your feet in the dark. This is what adventure is made out of. The scenery was epic, especially at night, knowing that during the day is easier than doing it at night. Not recommended, if you're not experienced hiking in the dark. The overall experience here at the Wailupe loop trail was very nice and looking to go back sometime soon. Maybe in the daylight hours. Haha. The trail itself can be challenging, no matter what time of day, but obviously, 100 times more when you're in the dark even with headlamps on. With that said, the views were nice on the way up and quite awe inspiring. There's nothing like the wind in your heair and the sheer addrenaline rush that can be felt while just being out in nature this way. For the most part though, the experience with friends taught me trust is the most important thing and safety while hiking at night is a priority. Hiking during the day as well, but its definitely heightened during the night hours. The Wailupe loop trail is located in the back of Wailupe Valley in east Oahu. The physical address is the 1000 block of Hao Street in Aina Haina. Best bet would be to come and go via private car or maybe and Uber or lyft. Street parking is sometimes a challenge to find, since it's basically residential street parking. If you are like me, only bus route 1 comes through the area and stops along East / West Hind Drive. After getting off, you're on foot - traveling either on Hind Uka Drive, then Ani Street, then Hao Street, or find Hao street and walk towards the back of the valley. The walk itself is about 1.5 miles from East / West Hind Drive one way. Be sure to carry the essentials when walking or running the trail and mind your footing when you're on the single track portions on the trail. Many parts of the trail has dangerous drop zones, if you misstep and can cause a lot of hurt or pain - or worse. Carry water and essential aid in case of trouble, along with your phone and a spare battery, if necessary. My experience here at the Wailupe Loop trail took about 3 1/2 hours roundtrip, majority of it was in the dark. It was good fun with friends, but don't recommend it in the dark unless you are really knowledgable about hiking in the dark. Enjoy the scenery during the day and you'll be good to go. Best kept secret in east Oahu. Hidden hiking gem for sure. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+

Nice trail. It's pretty good for trail running and exercise. It's well maintained with lots of…read moresignage throughout. Bathroom facilities right at the beginning. The loop is 3.8 miles and is rated moderate probably because of the length. The trail isn't that difficult but will get your heart rate up. It's shaped like a heart and the loop is comprised of three trails - Maunalaha, makiki loop trail, and kanealoe. I started outgoing counter clockwise first going up Maunalaha which is the most challenging part hiking straight up a gradual ascent uphill a bit more than a mile. There are lots of roots and interesting rock formations. There's a junction that connects to several different trails. This loop heads downhill and west at this junction on makiki loop. This portion winds through a forested jungle portion with some nice banyans and along a stream. There's a some light bouldering and moist spots. You can hear but not really see waterfalls. After hiking over the top park of the heart shaped loop, you'll start to head back to the trailhead via kanealoe. This section runs along the hill and you get a few peak-a-boss at some water falls downhill. I didn't feel comfortable for most of them but found one treaded path to one on a man made structure. This portion of the trail is easy but wetter, lusher and there was a lot of fruits on the trail, hence more bugs, so bring spray. There's not a lot of direct sun on the trail and the for the most part it was pretty dry. One hiker on the way out told me after rain it gets to be three inches of mud throughout. It's a fun hike, more of a local exercise route. Wouldn't really recommend for tourist. Although pretty doesn't give you some of the more breathtaking sights and a nice variety of mild ones to keep it interesting. Nice workout though.

This is one of my favorite hikes because it's shady and you can get what feels like a decent…read moreworkout in a relatively short amount of time. You're climbing partway up a mountain, so I would compare it to being on a stairmaster made of rock and tree roots instead of steps. The main reason I'm taking off 1 star is because unlike many other hikes out there, there's nothing remarkable about the view except that there isn't one. The trail is .7 miles long with an elevation gain of 500 feet. From the parking lot, it takes about 25-35 minutes to go up, and then the same amount of time to come down. Just depends how fast you're going. The top of the trail meets up with a bunch of other trails, and there are benches and a helpful trail map there as well. They should really post more of those around. There are a lot of rocky and tree rooty patches, so this may not be a good hike for you if you're clumsy - lots to trip on. It can also get muddy after it rains (in the non-rocky, non-tree rooty parts). I've also found that the wetter it is, the more mosquitos and ants there are around, so just look out for them if you need to stop moving. When I have more time, I like to complete the Makiki Valley Loop Trail that starts (or ends) with this trail, and includes the Kanealole Trail via the middle portion of the Makiki Valley Trail. Since many of the hikes in this area are interconnected, it wouldn't hurt to consult a trail map before attempting the loop.

Wow! Killer tough advanced hike to the top of the Koolau Summit Trail. Plan on 5-6 hours…read moreroundtrip to complete this tough hike. It's a difficult trail to find and follow since it's not widely used. Once you pass the houses at the very end of the street, just follow that path (easy to follow here). About one mile in you'll come to an open area where the dirt is open. The path into the forest veers left here; go right and STRAIGHT uphill. This uphill is described as the same distance and steepness as Koko Head stairs -- and that's about correct! Go up, up, up until you reach the plateau, then veer left and follow the decent trail all the way up to the KST. You'll need good hiking boots, gloves, and micro spikes for sure. The views of Hawaii Kai and south while heading up are fantastic. The views from any KST ridge hike are spectacular. Good luck and hike this one with a partner.

This hike is my favorite from now! I saw so many amazing views, plants and birds. I was lucky…read morebecause I had a nice hiking weather....no cold no hot. You won't see many people around because this 5.8 miles hike is little bit difficult - lots of ups and downs. I would recommend to go to the right at the begging of the loop (please check my pictures). You will be happy to walk down using the stairs (Hawaii Loa Ridge hike) connection. Also you should wear a long pants! Otherwise, you will need some ointment for the cuts on your legs - Hawaiian plants get overgrown at the top. Enjoy and take plenty of water.

Yikes! Well this hike was scary because I ran into a wild boar...okay I didnt run into it but I saw…read moreit and heard it from a distance, and had to sprint out of there. It's on a ridge line and beautiful, so I suggest just going with a friend and being aware (not listening to loud music or having a ton of people with you). Other than the wild boar sighting, I would totally do it again, just next time I would be a little more cautious!

Pretty awesome hike! Challenging, great cardio and rewarding views. We didn't make it all the way,…read morebut we had a nice time on the first hour in. The staircase to access it is a bit slippery and overgrown, so just take it slow until it opens up just past the house. The stair climb is probably the hardest part! Be sure to access it from 1801 Manaiki Place, not the address listed on the main Yelp listing. After that, there were a few places that we had to climb but it wasn't too difficult or scary, but I think it would be sketchy if it were raining or wet. Definitely not a kid friendly hike or a good hike to bring older dogs who are too big to carry. The views are fantastic. The sounds of roosters crowing from both sides of kalihi valley lend it a rustic soundtrack, but you know you're still in the city bc you can hear the cars on likelike highway. The scent of eucalyptus was really fragrant and welcoming as he made our way through the forest. Overall, it was a nice place to go explore, and I'll definitely go back to try to hike farther.

I'd call this more like a easy nature walk rather than label it as a hiking trail. It's hidden away…read morein the neighborhood of Kailua locals. Seems popular to come to walk their doggos, runners, bike ride, bring their kids. It's flat and paved the whole way with the exception of going to side gravel when you need to pass others. Pretty casual and very relaxing walk. I always come here whenever I'm in Kailua and need a peaceful walking spot after eating. It's easy to stop here and only takes about 35-40 minutes each way (for a very casual pace walk). Probably faster if you run or speed walk. About 3 miles long. You can turn back anytime though! Parking lot easily accessible. P.S. wear sunscreen! It's not shaded and can get quite hot during the daytime. We love coming for sunsets so it's much cooler around that time.

Fine if you live nearby or are driving past, but not ideal for biking and definitely nothing to go…read moreout of your way for. It's about two-thirds gravel not suitable for biking, and a bit of paved road (after a stretch towards the beginning that's all gravel). There are signs saying pedestrians have the right of way, and they will. not. move. for cyclists, so passing is tricky, stressful, and generally annoying. There's plenty of parking. There are two fairly nasty portable toilets by the parking lot.

If you are out of shape, newbie or a bit overweight then this course is no fun. Recommend walking…read morearound Ala Wai canal for a few months then slowly build up your leg muscles. The path up is not flat but I noticed alot of hikers walking up with their Hydroflasks.

I admit, we found this trail while we were looking for the Makiki Loop Trail and mistakingly…read morethought this was the start. We weren't completely wrong...it does lead to the Hawaii Nature Center but is a separate trail. This is a super short trail that starts where you park your cars to do the Makiki Loop Trail. You can walk this way to get to the Hawaii Nature Center. This is the more scenic way instead of walking on the concrete road. It's a nice little walk if you have some time and just want to sit in nature since there is a bench.

Staying in Waikiki and don't want to travel too far for a trail? Go here. It's about a 15-minute…read moredrive from your hotel and most of it is steep uphill into a rich neighborhood, so make sure your car can handle the incline. The only drawback, I'd say, is that because it's so close to the city and next to bunch of homes, you'll feel like you're in someone's backyard; you can literally hear dogs barking and garbage trucks coming and going. So if you're looking for peace and serenity, maybe this isn't for you. Google will take you to a gated, private property area. Parking is on the street. The entrance is a narrow opening at the end of the fence line. Easy to spot. So I've seen some reviews that say the trail is a couple miles roundtrip, but it's much, much further than that. Most people will hike to the first bench, and then turn around. You can go further up and it's pretty hard work. Lots of rocks to traverse and it's steep in some parts, so be prepared to climb a little. Also, because it's on a ridge, it's narrow in a few areas so don't look down if you're afraid of heights. Having said that, wear hiking shoes with good traction. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time for sure. Didn't have time to do the whole trail, but I went in far enough to feel the bit of elevation change. Went on a hot, dry day, so the trail was in good shape. I can only imagine how difficult it would be if it rained. Anyway, even you don't go deep into the trail, the first bench will still provide you with a fantastic view of the ocean and city. I'll definitely come back to do the whole thing.

Great hike, like the other ridge hikes to the east but longer. Took right around 4 hours of moving…read moretime, longer with a couple of stops for pictures and to enjoy the views and breeze at the top. Some area with ropes that aren't really necessary when it's dry, would probably be needed in the wet. Some very overgrown areas where you have to watch your footing.

Did a hike with the Sierra Club along with two of my friends this weekend on the Bowman Trail…read more Randy was the hike leader and was very nice and provide good information on the trail and the vegetation along the trail. The group stayed together for most of the hike, which I liked since I'm just getting my feet wet. I have to say that they were very patient with me since I do have a fear of heights, which I am slowly conquering! The description they provided on the local website was pretty accurate. Bowman hike this Sunday! Details: 6.5 mi/Moderate to Strenuous/Ridge/Kalihi Mesic and wet rainforest native plants. The first 25 minutes of this hike is very strenuous, a steep 400-foot climb straight up to a jeep road. After another 20 minutes on the road, we enter a beautiful Hawaiian rainforest, featuring lama trees. Overall my friends and I had a good experience with our first hike with the group. For the hikes, members pay $1 and non-members pay $5.00, however, if you really do not have any money they will still allow you to go on the hike with them, which I thought was very cool of them. The group also made sure we carpooled so that we don't bring an entire fleet of cars to the hike area. They have more advanced hikes which one-day I hope to go on, ... but for now this was a great first experience! I'll do another post specifically on the Bowman Hike.