Aiea Loop Trail

Great place to get away from the hustle/​bustle of the city. Bring shoes, sunblock, water, snacks and misquote repellent. Enjoy!

Normally I prefer ridge hikes but Aiea Loop is great for an array of reasons:
1) It’s close. Most of my favorite hikes are near the Hawaii Kai area so going there is an ordeal sometimes;
2) It’s easy and good for my dogs, especially since one of them isn’t exactly a doggy athlete;
3) It’s green and lush, providing a fair amount of shade throughout the hike.
The biggest flaw is probably that it’s a little boring at times… sometimes you just want to propel down a steep rock or walk a ridge barely wide enough to comfortably walk on. Aiea totally isn’t one of those hikes, but it’s a great place for dogs and for little kids. It also gets crowded very quickly, so be sure to get there early!

Aiea Loop Trail is a much easier hike compared to all the others that I’ve done on Oahu.
The full hike took the 5 of us about 2.5 hours, which for me was considered a success since we stopped and took lots of pictures and stopped to rest and what not.
My son actually enjoyed the hike more than any of us. He’s a very energetic kid.
I love the fact that there are a lot of trees because I need the shade to keep away from the sun. Yep, I am one of those Asian girls who’s afraid of a tan.
It started drizzling in the middle of our hike so we had to find a tree to keep from getting soaked, but thank goodness the rain passed pretty quickly. I’m also one of those girls who’s afraid of getting soaked before going back into the car.

Just did this trail for the first time to break in the new hiking carrier we got for our son for Christmas. It took us just under 3 hours (2 adults, one carrying a 30lb toddler). Few things:
1. Someone logged this as a 7k… our Garmin watches said just over a 10k or 6.4 miles. The Hurt Series trail run that runs through here is a 7mile run.
2. We did the hike during winter so the middle part of the hike was SUPER muddy. Be prepared.
3. It’s doable with a pack carrier but there are some obstacles. My 6’6″ husband was able to navigate them slowly.
Only reason I gave 3 stars is because I’m a nervous hiker so the mud along steep drop offs made me a bit nervous. There aren’t many lookouts but the trail is constantly changing which kept it interesting enough for me!

This was my First hike and I loved it. Muddy at some parts. I would also take my dogs with me one of these days.

This was a great mid-​difficulty hike!
I logged the hike at 7.6 km and it took us about 2 hours and 15 min with a short water or photo stop here and there. The hike itself is relatively easy but during wet conditions can get very muddy and slippery so not so good for older folks who might be a bit more fragile or less agile.
Definitely bring an extra pair of shoes or flip-​flops for the drive back so you don’t track mud in the car.
There are several parking options. You can either park in a lower lot and then climb up the very steep hill along the road to the trailhead first when you’re still fresh or park at the upper lot and have to climb up the hill along the road to the car after your hike when you come off of the trail at the end of the loop.
This would also be a great place to trail run during drier conditions :)

Fun, Easy trail. Pretty good to take dogs to! Very muddy make sure you have correct footwear.

Enjoyed this hike and would do it again. Able to see the H-​3 and an open view of Pearl Harbor. Approximately 3 hours all the way around.
Lots of parking if you go early. Look for the wing of a plane that’s been there forever. Beautiful hike but no water.

My wife and I looked for the downed aircraft but couldn’t find it. Definitely muddy at times so bring a pair of sandals or flippers for the car ride home.
It takes about 3 ½ hours to do the trail loop. We stopped and looked out over H3 and had lunch. There are lots of edible guava fruit and mini guavas all over the trail.
It was windy when we went which was nice. Parking is available at the base of the trail along with water and bathrooms. It’s not an intense hike and kids may like it if they’re able to walk a few miles.
Bring water and a snack and enjoy the views of H3 and the trees.

Great easy to moderate hike. I have not done a lot of hiking in Oahu so it’s hard for me to compare to other hikes on island. Compared to hikes on other islands this one is only so so. Great thing about this hike is you feel secluded and if your they’re early it’s not super busy. It’s mostly shaded with breaks ibn the tree live for a view vistas, nothing spectacular for vistas.
Parking can be tight if your not there early. It’s a loop with several tiered parking lots to park at so don’t pick the first one you see.
When we went it had rained the night before and to say the trail was muddy is an understatement. Make sure you have good shoes or no shoes lol. There is a large water spiket for you to rinse off with afterwards. All in all nice morning hike!

This trail is very easy. We did it in 2 hours without stopping.
Parking: After you pull into the Kaleaiwa State Park drive all the way up until you see the sign for the loop and park there.
There is no fee to get into the park.

This was a challenging and somewhat hard trail. Not because it was tiring and included a lot of physical strength. But because when came to the middle of the loop, it was very muddy, and the areas that were muddy on the side would be a cliff. I wouldn’t recommend this hike for kids in elementary, more so teenagers and above. Warning very muddy and slippery, having a walking stick at hand will be super helpful while hiking through the mud. Also bring mosquito repellent, 2 – 3 bottles of water, and a hat or sunnies. You’ll be hiking for a couple hours. This hike isn’t meant for the view, but more so exercise. Be sure to check the weather that day, can be a safety hazard, when I was hiking through the muddy part of the trail I almost fell off the side of the cliff because it started to rain.

I had been here a few times before, but only walked in for a small portion at each entry before turning around for various reasons. But finally… I/​we did it… the entire enchilada!
I read just about every review on this place prior to this past trip. So here’s my review and let me save you some trouble when it comes to finding that plane…
First and foremost… it’s no joke when people say it’s a muddy trail. We actually did this hike a few days ago on 5 Aug. It started raining before we left our home, which is also close to Aiea… but decided to go there anyway. After all, in Hawaii you never know what the weather may do. When we got there it was sprinkling, but the trail looked dry, so we decided we were crazy enough to proceed. If it started pouring in the first mile then we’d retreat! We took a big chance, but it has also been fairly dry recently so we thought we’d be ok. However, I can clearly see how it can get really bad after a rainstorm for a few days or more… I’d avoid it. Since about 90% of the trail is under tree cover it can take a while to dry out. We felt we couldn’t have picked a better day since the sprinkles were enough to take the heat away and had the cloud and tree cover to avoid the heat. Plus, the trees in our case kept us from getting too wet.
There is a lot to see for the person who loves the beauty of Mother Nature. It’s true, there is not a waterfall or the great overlook of the ocean… so what? There are other things in Hawaii. The trees, flowers, and vegetation in general on this trail are amazing and forever changing. There are roots and downed trees that you must navigate for most of the trail as well. We thought the entire trail was a work of Mother Nature’s art. The only thing you need to be prepared for is that it’s long and it’s not a «loop» or a circle. You begin in one area and end in another. If you park at the entrance then you’ll have to go up the steep road to get to your car when you end at the campground. Or you can park at the campground near the exit to enter there instead and then end at the official entrance… then you’ll walk downhill to get your vehicle.
On a side note: I have read a lot of reviews where people say the last portion and/​or last mile of the hike is the worst. This is truly a matter of opinion. We actually thought the last portion was the best. But all of it has a different view to offer. The first portion is nice, but the middle is where the mud and/​or water puddles are and the last portion is sort of more enclosed by a tighter trail and lower trees.
*My son really wanted to see the downed WWII plane, so I read through almost all of the reviews to try to «puzzle» it together for the best game plan. There isn’t one, so don’t bother… I’ll save you some time. The best idea we got of where the plane is located was from Wendall H. He stated in his review that the plane is located 400 meters after the H-​3 lookout on the right. By golly keep your eyes peeled and that is exactly where it is. Thanks Wendall!!! Ignore every last piece of marking tape you see on a tree because they are for something else. Plus, it is not located next to the Bamboo trees. It is probably impossible to give you a landmark since it’s trees, logs, grass & a dirt trail. But once you get to the area… keep your focus down low. Good Luck!
Why the 4 stars? It’s long and there are little to no benches or just a place to pull over to take a break. You need to get creative. The trail is not well marked other than the well-​worn main trail and there are a lot of side trails. That said, be careful going off on the little side trails… this is one trail you don’t want to get lost on. Plus, it sort of bites that the trail doesn’t begin & end in the same area.
Don’t forget your water, snacks, bug spray and your phone (just in case). You may also need sunscreen. We saw a lot of people hiking alone… don’t do that if you aren’t familiar with it. A lot of people run this trail too, so be respectful and make way for them. This is a great family trail that even little kids and dogs can do as well. Just be cognizant of the sheer drops here and there.

I will openly admit that I am not the biggest fan of the outdoors. I don’t like camping, I’m not into dirt, and I most certainly don’t like bugs. But if my family wants to go hiking I will begrudgingly give in because I want my children to enjoy everything that I as an adult have an aversion towards. They spend so much time playing video games, watching TV and texting on the phone that I think time outdoors is more important than ever.
If you’re not into hiking or aren’t athletic, Aiea Loop Trail is the hike for you! It’s so easy that you can take kids of varying ages and adults at different fitness levels. We hiked for about an hour and thirty minutes with our family and had a wonderful workout. Not only did we get a decent cardiovascular workout but we enjoyed so many great moments together. Beautiful scenic views, laughing together about silly memories, and sweating our way down the dirt trail. I remember doing the same activity with my family when I was just a little girl and I hope my children will look back on these times as the moments that built the comfort of their childhood. Will I be a perfect parent? Probably not. Will I love my children as much as possible? Absolutely. Hopefully these times when we go hiking will help to cloud away all those imperfections and help them to know how truly loved and important they are to me…

I like this trail because its relatively easy since there are no intense climbs, and its a great place to bring a dog. I haven’t had any issues parking, and the majority of the trail is shaded, which is nice. I recommend going counter clockwise on the trail so you get the lower, often muddier, section of the trail out early.
Not as nice of ocean views as many of the other hikes on the island, but for a easy hike, there’s nothing to complain about!

This is a great hike for beginners and to bring your pets.
Its an easy hike and goes in a complete loop. Its a clearly marked trail, so you don’t have to worry too much about getting lost. The day I went, it was a bit cloudy and rained on us a little bit. However the trail was not muddy at all.
Great view of the H3
I do have to admit, there’s not much exciting things on this hike, so don’t be surprised if you get a little bored and think in your head ‘are we done yet?’

Lace up them hiking shoes and get your a$$ moving, it’s time to experience a different part of Hawaii!
Just over 4 miles roundtrip, this hike has some tame uphills and easy-​to-​conquer obstacles that will satisfy every hiker, from the amateur to the professional looking for a breezy 2 hour or so hike. The trail is wide enough to accommodate the clumsiest of hikers and docile enough to traverse without inducing a heart attack.
Fair warning though; the hike can get quite muddy and slippery at times after heavy rains but if you go on an average Hawaii day with at least 2 – 3 days of sunshine, it’s easy going and a great way to view some different looking countryside.
From elevated views of the H3 as it climbs to the Southern entrance of the Tetsuo Harano Tunnel to strangely placed pines and eucalyptus trees, this hike offers a vastly different experience than your traditional palm trees and ocean breeze. Instead, you get a distant view of Pearl Harbor and a lemony-​eucalyptus laced breeze of the mountain winds.
It’s not as technically challenging as Olomana or Koko Head, but it is equally as rewarding.
I did this with a 1.5 year old on my back and I didn’t have a problem.
Words of wisdom:
–Don’t park in the first parking area you see; go up the one way park entrance until you see a wooden structure resembling a public restroom… this is where the hike comes out
–Park near the hike exit or you risk going uphill at the end to find your car… it sucks
–the actual trail entrance is at the top of the hill where the road turns to go downhill, start at the exit for an easier finish.

Start it from the top or the bottom, this 4.8 mile hike can be completed in two and a half to three hours. If you’re looking for a nice stroll through a shaded forest, Aiea Loop Trail is the hike for you. It’s best to avoid days after the rain because the certain areas get muddy & form goopy puddles.
As I’ve mentioned, you can start from the top at the trail head or from the bottom in the campgrounds because you’ll end up at either end. It’d be a good idea to think of where you want to park based on where you’ll be ending the hike. Hoards of stray cats, roosters & wild boars can be seen around the parking lots if you’re into animals.
It’s a relatively easy hike, but my only complaint is that it’s long. It just seems to drag on with no real challenge except for having long-​standing stamina to keep walking on. Climb a few rocks here, under the fallen trees there & watch your step for exposed branches, but that’s about it. Nature really took its toll on the trail, especially since the little stream is no longer there, disappearing under runoff. The view is essentially peekaboo sights of the H3 freeway & the mountainous backgrounds. I’m curious about the fallen WWII plane, but to no avail have I found the trail markers leading to this piece of history… I’ve been told that its now hidden under fallen trees.
This hike seems to be of the likes for unleashed dogs, babies on parent’s backs, joggers & families with kids. It’s the perfect excursion for long conversations in the walk of nature.

Grew up in Aiea and yesterday was the first time I hiked this trail. I’m an amateur hiker in ok shape, and it took us 2 hrs to finish it. The hike itself was not hard… there are a few uphill sections that worked up a little sweat. The ground is not level, so be careful of the dips and protruding tree roots. It was also muddy at times, so wear old shoes.
I liked this trail bc it’s mostly covered and cool, and the day I went was really hot. There are lots of greenery… trees, flowers, etc. One can even catch a glimpse of the H-​3 freeway from certain parts. We started at the above parking lot by the restrooms and finished at the middle picnic area. Just follow the trail… it will loop around and take you into the forests. We didn’t see directional signs, so just stay on the trail.
Easy hike, nice scenery, some cardio, and fun times. Hope to make it back there again!

Perfect family hiking trail that’s also dog friendly.
We went with our church group after it rained the week before. Some parts of the trail was REALLY muddy. It made the hike slightly challenging for some and more fun for the kids. My dog LOVED getting muddy.
The loop isn’t my cup of tea, but overall it had nice views and is really great for beginners. There are campsites with restrooms to use if you need to wash off the mud afterwards.
I didn’t see/​feel any mosquitoes. Sometimes after a rainy day, because they trail is moist, you may get bit by mosquitoes. Luckily, the day I went, there were none.
The trail is covered with lots of trees so it stays pretty cool most of the time. If you want more of a challenge, there’s a cut off that goes along the ridge line and along side of the h3 freeway… look up Aiea Ridge Trail. That trail is for intermediate hikers and would not recommend bringing your kid or dog on that one. Although, if you do end up going on it, you will end up on the top of the Koolau mountains with a breathtaking view overlooking Kaneohe.