- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Aiea Loop Trail
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Aiea Loop Trail
Aiea Loop Trail is a 4.5 mile hike. I've done it twice. The first time, there was a bunch of us. So basically, it took us almost 3.5 hours. HAHA. that was due to the "smoke" breaks that was oh so needed. It was a chill trail. I think the "hard-core" part of this hike was hiking THE DEADLY HILL back to the parking lot. We were smart this second time around.
We actually hiked this trail today. Smart thing is we parked at the lower hill in which once we are complete with the trail...we can go straight to the car instead of again hiking THE DEADLY TRAIL. THE DEADLY TRAIL was hiked at the beginning to get to the start. it took us 2.5 hours.
Best part is the view of H3 and of course acting like a "Lady VS. WILD kinda action of having to climb over HUGE tree barks. :)
I recommend this hike...and a GREASY lunch afterwards. ... i had a LARGE Whopper Jr. from Burger King. way to get most of the work out huh.
Easy 4 and a half miles.
I love to park a car by the exit(?) then go up the hill. (I call it "killer hill!")
Then start a trail.
That way, you don't have to go up the steep hill in the end.
I love this trail because you get a best view of this island.
Diamond head, Kaneohe, Ewa, H-3, Airport, Pearl harbor and Koolau Mountains.
Such a great hike!
You go up Aiea Heights Drive, until you reach the state park, go up to the top of the state park, then park your vehicle, and get ready to begin the hike.
The trail is wonderful. Good for beginner hikers, or inexperienced ones. But very nice for the hard core hikers too. Pretty much flat throughout except for a few minor areas. There are areas with roots (so watch your step - I got my shoe caught twice, which led me to emit a high-pitched squeak, much to the alarm of my friends.) There was also a few damp/muddy areas, not too bad, but be careful again. Last thing, there are fallen trees on the path in some areas which you may have to go over, or under.
The trial takes you past tons of strawberry guava trees. Which are ripe right now. We took some people from the states and they got a chance to sample some. I seriously haven't seen a strawberry guava tree in so long, and I live here. But there were tons of them lining the trail, so we were just picking them and throwing them at each other, munching them, etc. Just don't eat too much - diarrhea.
So in addition to the plants and beautiful trees all around you can see the H3 freeway. It's pretty gnarly. We were climbing the trees to get even higher to take some pictures. Plus the breeze is crazy up there, so it's nice and cool.
Also towards the last mile and a half of the hike the wreckage of a WWII plane is still there. History at your fingertips. Though it is tragic since the plane crashed there.
The final mile of the hike is downhill/uphill but not too bad at all, just pace yourself. If you get tired, stop and take a breather. Seriously this has to be one of the most enjoyable hikes on this island. Easy to walk through, breathtaking views, pretty nature, fun!
There are bathrooms located throughout the state park. Though I didn't go inside to see how user-friendly they were. There is ample parking. People even camp out there. Lots of trees for shade too.
Dogs must be leashed while hiking, and I think the dogs would enjoy the hike. Just pick up the poop, dog owners, because while hiking a few times there were areas where we could smell the poo. Yuck! I know it's "natural" and you're in nature, but who wants to smell it, or worse, step into it. I know it sucks having to cart poop with you, just bring seal-able baggies and a tote to store it in so you don't have to smell or look at it. Be responsible! And with that, don't leave your litter behind. We picked up at least one plastic bottle, one soda can, and a plastic chip bag while on the hike. These things don't belong out on the trail, so take them back to "civilization" with you and throw them where they belong. If possible recycle, but if you're too lazy to do that, then the trash can is very appropriate. But don't litter the trail. It ruins the hike.
Well have fun on this one! It's awesome!
The 'Aiea Loop Trail, which marks one of the most accessible entrances to the mighty Ko'olau Mountains, is actually composed of three major features that make this place worth visiting.
Kea'iwa Hei'au: An old, sacred Hawaiian ground that was used for healing. The stone platforms--set in the original pattern by the ancients--sit silently near the gates of the park. Passing the hei'au, especially at dusk, gives you the chills. Here, the spirits of ancestors still roam.
Park/Camp Grounds: Sheltered bench areas are found at different sites throughout the forested park. Used frequently by 'Aiea families for picnics and gatherings. Some patrons claim to hear the faint thumping of pahu hula (dance drums), coming from somewhere in the park.
Loop Trail: A pleasant, walker-friendly trail that takes you through 4.8 miles of the lovely Ko'olau Mountains. Native trees stand imposingly, like ancient warrior-guards, and along the path eucalyptus trees and berry bushes kiss the air with a calming fragrance.
Leaving the Park: I've always imagined the long drive down from the park summit like a descent from the sky and a return to earth. On the way, I gaze at the panoramic view of the militarized zone (i.e., Pearl Harbor) at the foot of the valley, and the bustling activity and movement of 'Aiea Town.
And then I turn my head back towards the summit, as if to bid farewell to nature.
Aiea Loop Trail is a lovely place to visit. The park is well kept. There are no overflowing trash containers, there is a minimal amount of tagging, the picnic tables and other amenities are in reasonable shape. The bathrooms are kept pretty well and are clean.
The trail itself is nice because it is a loop. One can start on either the bottom entrance or the top entrance. I always find myself starting at the top but it only makes a minor difference which way you take.
One thing that was added since the last long time ago visit is a couple of benches strategically located at two very nice viewing vistas. I thought it was great to be able to just sit on a bench in the woods and look from Aiea to Mt. Kaala or down on to H3, whichever stirs your soup.
The trail is about 5 miles so if you are a Kenyan you'll finish it in 25 minutes but I took about 2 1/2 hours. Not terribly muddy even after some rain.
Overall, well kept, easy trail that has a good length with a few nice vistas that is easy to access.
I love this trail. I Like the idea of getting away from everything so close to town. Then again every trail is really close by town. But this trail is really a nice for beginners. You can walk, run, skip...no, don't skip, NO skipping! :-) I even saw once a guy riding a unicycle on the path, passing me twice. And making my way down the path there was a bench to sit and relax for a while as well as soak in the view or take some great sunset photos.
There are bathrooms near by so you don't have to squat in the trees. The park areas have tables and nice open areas to play. I just love it because its just a nice walk.
The park is a destination in itself, the Kea'iwa Heiau is pretty fascinating and the park has great areas to enjoy the views if hiking isn't your thing.
The trail isn't too hard, but can be pretty difficult after a rain.The mud is nasty and even if it hasn't rained the red dirt and dust will stain anything white, be prepared. Part of the trail is lined with guava, which is a perk! It is well worth the trip.
This is a wonderful beginner's trail located atop the Aiea Heights subdivision. It is a loop trail that runs along the ridges overlooking Central Oahu with breathtaking views of Halawa Valley and Pearl Harbor. Other than a few spots where you catch the sounds of the cars whizzing below on the H-3 freeway, you are mostly accompanied by birds chirping, rustling leaves, and occasional whiffs of fresh eucalyptus.
This was a good hike and not strenuous at all. This is a great hike to enjoy a good workout. I will definitely return!
Ambiance: *****
Value: *****
A hike I remember from childhood (I'd been going since I learned how to grab my dads head tightly while he ran, then again with the bro) with plenty of fruit growing slightly off the path. Nothings changed, with the exception of the fairly recent unfortunate event ( http://starbulletin.co... ).
Good for older children who are up to the challenge, unless you don't mind carrying your little one.
This is a clean four and a half mile trail with beautiful foliage and a few very scenic lookouts (partial views of the H-3 Freeway and Pearl Harbor). When we hiked here (in December), there had been some heavy rains, so the ground was still damp and muddy; this made the hike a bit more challenging. At a leisurely pace (including water and photo breaks), it took us just under three hours. Around the middle of the loop, there were two fallen trees that we had to climb over; cut-ins in the tree trunks were very helpful. There was also a narrow stream we had to cross, though I am not sure if the stream is there in drier months. A good workout and very picturesque trail.
good hike, easy grade. highlights are the Koa (? I think) stand at the begining and the plane wreckage. The WWII plane wreckage is towards the end of the hike (if you start at the top). Look to your right in the steeper switchback section; there is a huge tree that has fallen over most of the wreckage, but there is still some metal visable from the trail. Scramble down for a closer look at some sheet metal and a wheel section. Nothing too spectacular, but still interesting
4.5 Mile Hike. A low level intermediate hike. Approximately 2 hours to complete. Bathroom at the beginning and end of hike. It was a nice hike that wasn't too hard. There were a lot of trees and some scenery to look at - which means shady areas to protect you from the sun. If you are afraid of heights, narrow paths, climbing over a few fallen trees, and mud, this is not the right hike for you. While you won't experience the above stated throughout the entire hike, there are a number of areas that might prove difficult. Otherwise, this is a relatively easy trail for experienced hikers. Okay, so I didn't want to pack too many shoes in my luggage and only brought a pair of white sneakers for all the outdoor activities. There were definitely some very gooey muddy parts of the hike and after some scrubbing my shoes are nearly clean. Don't be stupid like me, wear some gray, old, or hiking shoes. =) Happy Trails!!!
