Honolulu Mauka Trail System
Honolulu Mauka Trail SystemNote to Mountain Bikers: This trail system is currently closed to Mountain Bikes. Violators will be prosecuted.
|
1. Tantalus-Arboretum |
10. Pauoa
Flats Trail |
1. Tantalus-Arboretum (0.25 mi/0.4 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka (toward the mountain) on Tantalus drive, the Tantalus-Arboretum Trail takes off on the right, and will be the first trail encountered while proceeding up the road.
Route: A very short loop trail, ideal for children and novice hikers.
2. Kaneaole Trail (0.7 mi/1.1 km)
Getting There: From the intersection of Nehoa and Makiki Streets, proceed mauka and turn left on Makiki Heights Drive. Continue for approximately 0.5 mile until the road makes a sharp left turn (look for a row of mailboxes on the right hand side of the road). At the bend in the road, proceed straight ahead through a green iron gate. There is also a sign that says "Makiki Forest Recreation Area." Proceed mauka until you come to the Forestry and Wildlife Baseyard. There is a parking lot to the right of the Baseyard. You may park here.
Route: The trail begins behind the Baseyard and proceeds mauka up Makiki Valley.
Other: At 0.7 mi., the trail intersects Makiki Valley Trail. You may take the left route which takes you to Nahuina Trail or Tantalus Drive. Or you may take the right route and proceed east. You will come upon an intersection. Take the right fork - The Maunalaha Trail - and it will take you back to the Forestry and Wildlife Baseyard.
3. Maunalaha Trail (0.7 mi/1.1 km)
Getting There: From the intersection of Nehoa and Makiki Streets, proceed mauka and turn left on Makiki Heights Drive. Proceed for approximately 0.5 mile until the road makes a sharp left turn (look for a row of mailboxes on the right side of the road). Proceed straight ahead past the mailboxes through a green gate. There is sign that says, "Makiki Forest Recreation Area." Proceed mauka until you encounter the Forestry and Wildlife Baseyard. There is a parking lot to the right of the Baseyard. You may park here.
Route: The trail begins behind the second building below the parking lot. It crosses a bridge and proceeds left past several taro lots and climbs the east ridge of Makiki Valley.
Other: At 0.7 mi., the trail comes to a 4-way intersection. The extreme right route is the Ualakaa Trail and it takes you to the Ualakaa State Park. The mauka route takes you to the Moleka Trail head as well as Round Top Drive. The left route is the Makiki Valley Trail and it crosses the valley to Tantalus Drive. You can also take this route, cross the valley until you get to an intersection, turn left and proceed makai (toward the ocean) which will take you to the Forestry and Wildlife Baseyard, or you may continue on to Tantalus Drive.
4. Nahuina Trail (0.75 mi/1.2 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka (toward the mountain) on Tantalus Drive. When you get close to the top, look for the trail head sign behind the guardrail on the right hand side of the road. There is a small parking area on the corner prior to the Nahuina Trail head. You may park here.
Route: The trail traverses the east side of Makiki Valley. At 0.75 mi., the trail intersects the Makiki Valley Trail. The right route will take you to Tantalus Drive. The left route will take you to the Kanealole, Maunalaha, Ualakaa and Moleka Trails as well as Round Top Drive.
5. Makiki Valley Trail (1.1 mi/1.8 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka on Tantalus Drive. Approximately half way to the top, look for the trail head sign on the right hand side of the road. Prior to the Makiki Valley Trail head sign, there is small parking area on the corner. You may park here.
Route: The trail goes into Makiki Valley and contours it for approximately 1.1 miles to reach Round Top Drive on the east side.
Other: The trail intersects other trails including Nahuina, Kanealole, Maunalaha, Ualakaa and Mokela Trails.
6. Ualakaa Trail (0.5 mi/0.85 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka on Round Top Drive, past the Ualakaa State Park. Look for the Ualakaa Trail head sign on the left-hand side of the road. There is a small parking area on the opposite side of the road. You may park here.
Route: The trail proceeds west and goes into Makiki Valley. At approximately 0.3 mi., the trail forks. The left fork takes you to Ualakaa State Park. The right fork continues into Makiki Valley.
Other: The trail comes to a 4-way intersection. The extreme left is the Maunalaha Trail and it takes you makai to the Forestry and Wildlife Baseyard. The route that goes straight ahead is the Makiki Valley Trail and it takes you to the Kanealole and Nahuina Trails as well as Tantalus Drive. The right route takes you to the Moleka Trail and Round Top Drive.
7. Moleka Trail (0.75 mi/1.2 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka on Round Top Drive to the vicinity of 4005 Round Top Drive. Look for the trail head sign and a small parking lot on the left hand side of the road. You may park here. You will also be at the Manoa Cliff Trailhead, which is on the mauka side of the road. Route: The trail takes you along the upper east edge of Makiki Valley. It traverses along a bamboo grove and also offers a panoramic view of Honolulu.
Other: At 0.75 mi., the trail intersects the Makiki Valley Trail. If you proceed left, it takes you to Round Top Drive. If you go right, it takes you to Ualakaa, Maunalaha, Kanealole and Nahuina Trails as well as Tantalus Drive.
8. Manoa Cliff Trail (3.4 mi./5.5 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka on Round Top Drive to the parking lot on the opposite side of the road directly adjacent the Moleka Trail.
Route: The trail contours Manoa Valley and goes around Tantalus Crater to Pauoa Valley and exits at Tantalus Drive. Of course, you may take the opposite route and start from Tantalus Drive.
Other: The trail will intersect other trails at two places. The first intersection will come from the left side. This is the Puu Ohia Trail. The second intersection will come from the right side and is the Pauoa Flats Trail.
9. Puu Ohia Trail (0.75 mi./1.2 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka on Tantalus Drive until you get to the very top of the Drive. Look for the trail head sign on the left-hand side of the road. There is a parking lot on the opposite side of the road. You may park here.
Route: The trail winds up through guava and bamboo groves. At approximately 0.5 miles the trail comes to the top of Tantalus where there is a Hawaiian Telephone service road. Proceed mauka on this road until you get to the end. The trail begins again behind the left side of the building. Proceed down the trail until you come to an intersection. This is the Manoa Cliff Trail.
Other: In Pauoa Flats you will come upon two more intersections. The left intersection is the Nuuanu Trail. The next intersection, on the right, is the Aihualama Trail which descends into Manoa Valley.
10. Pauoa Flats Trail (0.75 mi./1.2 km)
Getting There: Proceed along the Manoa Cliff Trail from Round Top Drive. The first intersection will be the Puu Ohia Trail on the left. The second intersection on the right is the Pauoa Flats Trail.
Other: You may also take the Puu Ohia Trail to the Manoa Cliff Trail and proceed left until you reach the Pauoa Flats Trail intersection on the right. If you hike along the Manoa Cliff Trail from Tantalus Drive, there will be a short connector trail that proceeds directly ahead at the bottom of the first switchback on this portion of the Manoa Cliff Trail, or you may also continue along on Manoa Cliff Trail until you reach the Pauoa Flats Trail on the left.
11. Nuuanu Trail (1.5 mi./ 2.4 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka on Tantalus Drive, past the Nahuina Trail head sign. At this point, the road narrows. Look for the Manoa Cliff Trail head sign on the left-hand side of the road. There is a road that proceeds straight up a hill. The Manoa Cliff Trail is directly to the left. Proceed on foot on the Manoa Cliff Trail. Just below the first switchback there will be a connector trail that proceeds ahead and ties in with the Pauoa Flats Trail. The Nuuanu Trail intersection is on the left almost immediately after you reach the Pauoa Flats Trail.
Route: The trail traverses the west side of upper Pauoa Valley, Pauoa Flats, and then descends into Nuuanu Valley where it intersects the Judd Trail.
Other: The trail offers panoramic views of Honolulu, the Waianae Range and the airport area. The lower section of this trail may be difficult for novice hikers.
12. Judd Trail (0.75 mi./1.2 km)
Getting There: Proceed mauka (toward the mountain) along Nuuanu Pali Drive until you reach a concrete bridge. Immediately to your right is a dirt parking area. This is the trail head for the Judd Trail.
Route: The trail starts just below the parking area and proceeds across the stream. Exercise caution while crossing the stream, the rocks are unstable and slippery. Once across the stream, the Judd Trail forms a loop, so you may proceed in either direction.
Other: Along the mauka section of the loop, you will encounter the Nuuanu Trail leading up to the Pauoa Flats Trail.
13. Aihualama Trail (1.3 mi./2.1 km)
Getting There: There are two ways to get there: 1. Proceed on Pauoa Flats Trail past the Nuuanu Trail head. The next trail on the right is Aihualama. 2. Go past Paradise Park in Manoa Valley until you get to the entrance of Lyon Arboretum (at the sharp left bend in the road). Proceed straight ahead. This is the Manoa Falls Trail head. Approximately 150 feet from the Falls, there is a trail that proceeds left. This is the Aihualama Trail.
Route: The trail traverses through bamboo and other foliage. It skirts the upper west side of Manoa Valley.
14. Manoa Falls Trail (0.8 mi./1.3 km)
Getting There: Proceed past Paradise Park in Manoa Valley until you get to the entrance of Lyon Arboretum (at the sharp left bend in the road). Proceed straight ahead on this dirt road. Park along this thoroughfare, making sure not to block anybody in. The trail begins straight ahead, and the first portion is covered with gravel.
Route: The beginning of the trail crosses over a footbridge and then crosses a small stream through a grove of Eucalyptus robusta trees. This is a good trail for novice hikers The trail ends at the base of Manoa Falls.
Other: Exercise caution when you reach the Falls and pool area. There may be falling rocks that are dislodged from above the Falls. DO NOT GO ABOVE OR BEYOND THE CHAIN LINK FENCE. This is a restricted Watershed Area.
15. Kolowalu Trail (1.0 mi./1.6 km)
Getting There: Proceed on East Manoa Road in Manoa Valley until you get to the intersection with Woodlawn Drive. Turn left on Woodlawn Drive and proceed for about 0.75 mi., where Woodlawn Drive takes a sharp right. Proceed straight ahead on foot on Alani Lane, past a cable gate until you get to a Forestry and Wildlife picnic shelter. The trail starts to climb up the ridge on the right side of the shelter.
Route: The trail follows a finger ridge up to Waahila Ridge. This is a very steep trail and may not be suitable for novice hikers.
Other: You may also access this trail by hiking along Waahila Trail, and then proceeding left and down Kolowalu. Do not go beyond the Kolowalu/Waahila Trail junction. This is a restricted Watershed Area.
16. Waahila Trail (2.4 mi./0.6 km)
Getting There: From Waialae Avenue, proceed mauka on St. Louis Drive to Ruth Place, at end of which an access road enters the Waahila State Park and ends in a parking lot. Proceed mauka on foot through the park and onto a jeep road which leads to a power line. The trailhead is just below and to the left of the power line.
Route: The trail passes beneath the power line and follows the Waahila Ridge above Manoa and Palolo Valleys. At 2.4 miles, a trail leads downhill on the Manoa side. This is the Kolowalu Trail.
Other: Some sections of this trail may be difficult for novice hikers. Do not go beyond the Kolowalu/Waahila junction. This is a restricted Watershed Area.
17. Puu Pia Trail (0.75 mi./1.2 km)
Getting There: Proceed on East Manoa Road in Manoa Valley until you get to the intersection of Woodlawn Drive. Turn left on Woodlawn for about 0.75 mi. Where Woodlawn Drive takes a sharp right. Proceed straight ahead on foot on Alani Lane, past a cable gate until you get to a Forestry and Wildlife picnic shelter. The trail starts to climb up the valley on the left side of the shelter.
Route: The trail proceeds up the valley to a ridge. Continue up the ridge to the left until you reach the summit of Puu Pia.
Other: The summit of Puu Pia provides sweeping views of Manoa Valley and glimpses of Honolulu and Waikiki. Future plans for this trail include connecting it to the Manoa Falls Trails on the other side of the valley.