Manoa Falls
This is an easy, well-known hike that is great if you are looking for a short jaunt in the Hawaiian 'jungle'. I'm not sure if it can actually be called a jungle, but I'm from Texas and it's jungly to me. That's the great thing about blogs - everything is based on one person's perspective.
Anyway, it's a great trail, especially for kids - short and gently sloping. If little Tommy here can do it, so can you!
The only problem you are going to encounter is slippery rocks, as it is pretty damp all the time here. Do not do this hike in shoes that you like - the red Hawaiian mud does not come out. During this hike you won't see any scenic vistas, but it is a great example of many different kinds of Hawaiian flora. There are lots of banyan trees, and general flowering plants. As the name suggests, the hike culminates in a waterfall, although it is more accurately described as a water stream that runs down the face of a cliff. You can swim in the shallow pool at its base if you so desire, if the possibility of rocks careening over the edge and cracking you in the skull gives you a thrill. Another word of caution: this is a popular hike, and will almost always be a bit crowded.
This hike is 2 miles round trip, and will take you around 1 1/2 hours.
Aiea Loop
I've done this one several times, and I enjoy this hike for several reasons:
a) There is little elevation gain, and what there is is fairly short.
b) It is not nearly as crowded as more touristy-popular hikes (such as Manoa Falls)
c) The changing scenery keeps you entertained.
d) I can bring my dogs.
(MMM! Strawberry Guava!)
This hike will take you through strawberry guava bushes, which you can pick and eat if they are in season, a big overlook, a forest area that has a plane crashed in it somewhere (I have yet to find it), a small stream, and then an area I can't remember because I had twisted my ankle at this point and was no longer surveying anything other than the foot of trail directly in front of me. I got an impression of green leafiness.
This is a great trail if you are just looking for some solitude. Pretty much only locals go here - and when I say 'locals' I mean people who moved over like we did. I (in my extensive hiking) have yet to see an actual Hawaiian on any trail. However, if you were going to go hiking only once while you are here, I don't think this would be my first choice. It is nice but lacking the wow factor that you have on some other trails.
This trail is 4 1/2 miles and will take you around 3 hours to complete.
Maunawili Falls
I recently took my mom on this hike, and I really enjoyed it. If a 57-year-old woman and my gimp ass can do it, you are probably going to be fine as well.
There are lots of stream crossings on this hike. You will more than likely give up rock-hopping and start walking through them, so please plan accordingly.
The first part of this hike is flat and tropical, with lots of stream crossings and pretty surroundings. This trail has some moderate ups and downs, taking you from the stream and bushes area, up to a nice lookout, and down some stairs to a great waterfall. This hike will have a fair amount of people on it, but once you get to the falls there is usually a crowd, especially on the weekend. I would recommend going during the week if possible. This is a picturesque waterfall, and the pool is deep enough you can actually climb the rock wall and jump into it if you would like. Hence the crowd - many people stay to watch others jumping off. There are two jumping points - one is right to the side of the waterfall, and the other you have to climb up and around. The second jumping point is higher, and I hear it is positioned in such a way that you can't even see the water when you jump - you just kind of take a leap of faith that you've aimed correctly. But it looks like fun. Very scary fun.
To hike back out you just turn around an follow your footsteps out. An all-around enjoyable hike, with a good variety and great waterfall. If you are only going to do one, I'd recommend this hike. It is slightly less than 3 miles roundtrip and took us around 2 1/2 hours to complete, depending on how long you are going to stay at the falls.
Kaena Point
This hike is kind of hard to write about, since I did it so long ago when I was very much more opposed to hiking than I am now. So it might have been less arduous than I remember.
What I like about this hike:
a) It is perfectly flat.
b) There are some cool rock formations, like the below arc (that's my sister and me on top).
c) You can watch whales cavorting in the ocean alongside the trail if it's the right season.
d) When you get to the actual point, it is pretty damn cool.
- This is a great place to see endangered Monk seals. -- Do NOT approach!
- It is a nesting ground for Albatross.
- You can see the North and West coasts of the island, which is kinda unique.
e) There is a good chance there is going to be no one else on this hike, due to its distance from Waikiki (and everywhere else for that matter). It's less than an hour from where we live.
What I disliked:
a) It is perfectly flat.
b) The scenery out to the point is kinda boring. Waves crashing on the rocks. The End.
The 'hike' is basically a dirt road that is not open to vehicle traffic. It's actually the old abandoned railroad that carried sugar cane around the tip off the island way back in the day. You can occasionally get glimpses of the old railroad ties in the dirt along the trail. It is flat and mildly boring, since it runs right along the unvarying shoreline. You Texans will feel right at home, because someone brought over Mesquite trees (known as Kiawe here), and they love it here. On the flip side, David seemed to enjoy it, and it is a good hike for talking with friends, since you aren't all out of breath like you are on other hikes (or like I am, anyway). Also, it is a great place to see the sun set if you are out late enough. All in all, a pleasant hike with a unique, rewarding finish. It is 5 miles long, and I can't remember how long it took us to finish it - probably around 4 hours, because you'll spend time exploring the beach and tidepools once you reach the trail's end.
Makapuu Hike
This is a hike I'd only recommend if you are here from late Nov - March. The whole point of this hike is that there is a great lookout of an area of the ocean where whales frequently play. It is paved the whole way and scattered with interesting views of the island that allow you to see several bays on different areas of the island. There are concrete viewing pads at the top of the hike, and the view is awesome. It was cloudy the day we went, so I can only imagine how great it must look when the weather's good. Great high views of the cliffs of the windward side, with a few small offshore islands (Rabbit and Turtle Islands) and a working lighthouse.
This hike will be fairly crowded with locals and tourists alike. It has a steady incline that is moderately steep. However, since it is paved, you hardly notice. This hike is 2 1/2 miles roundtrip, and took us around 1 1/2 hours.
(There were no whales this time)
Makiki mass
I don't remember much about this hike, except that I was frickin tired for most of it. It is pretty steep, in my memory. I'll have Courtney write a better review.
Pali Lookout
This is an easy drive-up-and-park lookout that shows you a great view of the windward side of the island.
Nuuanu Trail/ Jackass Ginger Pool
We did this one very recently, and while I think it is a great hike, and Courtney crowned it with her 'favorite hike on the island yet' award, I will never do it again. I strongly urge those of you who are visiting to go do it with David, who didn't get to go with me.
This hike has it all - a wide, forested area with an amazing grove of Cook pines, a rocky climb with small waterfalls, a ridge hike with great views of downtown Honolulu emerging out of the (forest? jungle? I never know what to call it), a bamboo forest, and a great final view of a windward valley and ocean.
Be warned, it is mildly strenuous. I certainly had a bit of a heinous time - both my feet got blisters in the first 45 minutes, causing me to wrap my feet in ti leaves and gimp the other 4 miles. Later on the way down, my knees got trashed. The fact that I still think this is a great hike must mean it was stupendous, because I certainly paid for it. I couldn't walk for a week.
Right after the initial forest, there is a series of steep switchbacks - 25 of them, to be exact. If you look at the pic above, you can see the forest I was in from the second picture - it's basically straight up from there. It's a steep climb, and it will get your heart pumping. Most of the remainder of the trail isn't as bad, but if you have bad knees/hips/whatever you might want to pass on this one - my knees couldn't take the climb down. Just a quick note of caution.
When you are about a mile away from the viewpoint, the fauna switches to a bamboo forest.
At the base of the hike there is a mile loop which will lead you past the Jackass-Ginger Pool. I personally did not get to see it but from above, as we ran out of time, but it is supposed to be where Royalty used to play, going down a natural mud slide into the pool. I hear there is a rope to swing into the pool as well, but it might not be in the best of condition, so be careful. Basically, a fun place to splash around after a long hike.
All in all, a mildly strenuous hike with great variety, good views, and a waterfall pool to visit afterward. It was around 4 1/2 miles long, and took us around 4 hours to complete, so I recommend taking some snacks and lots of water to sustain you.
Haiku Stairs
I had to put this one in - it never fails to astound me when I pass a portion of this trail on the highway. Basically this trail is just one huge staircase - all 3,922 stairs of it. I think I read somewhere it was equivalent of climbing the staircases of both of the twin towers. Even Courtney hasn't done this one, and I think it might actually be illegal to climb the staircase right now - but people do it anyway. As I've never been, I have no real input, but I'll let these pictures speak for themselves.
I sincerely hope you can blow this picture up on your computer, so you can see the trail craziness going straight up the mountian. It might be hard to make out, but the trail goes vertically up the spine - you're viewing it from the very top.
(Although I think this is an old picture - they have re-vamped it since them with a much sturdier staircase.)
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