Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Outdoor Etiquette
Carry out what you carry in. Find a trash can for all your litter (including cigarette butts—it's
very bad form to throw them out your car window). Observe kapu (forbidden) and no tres-
passing signs. And don't climb on ancient Hawaiian heiau walls or carry home rocks, all of
which belong to the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele. Some say it's just a silly superstition or
coincidence, but each year the U.S. Park Service gets boxes of lava rocks sent back to
Hawaii by visitors who've experienced unusually bad luck.
PUU OHIA TRAIL TO NUUANU VALLEY VIEW
★
This moderate hike takes you through a rainforest, up to the top of Tantalus (Puu Ohia) cinder
cone, and down through Pauoa Flats to view Nuuanu Valley. Plan about 2 hours for this
3.5-mile round-trip hike, which gains about 1,200 feet in altitude.
To get there, follow the directions for the Kanealole Trail, above, but turn to the right at the
park fork in Makiki Street. The fork to the right is Round Top Drive. Drive to the top and park
in the turnout on the ocean side of the street. Unfortunately, bus service is not available.
The Puu Ohia trail head is across the street from where you parked. As you head up (a
series of switchbacks and, at the steepest part, hand-cut stairs in the dirt), you'll pass night-
blooming jasmine, ginger, Christmas berry, and avocado trees. After dense guava trees and
bamboo, the vegetation parts for a magnificent view of Honolulu and Diamond Head. Just
as quickly, as you continue along the trail, the bamboo once again obstructs the view. At the
next junction, stay on the main trail by bearing to the left; you'll pass through ginger, koa, and
bamboo. At the next junction, bear left again, and climb up the steps around the trunk of an
old koa tree. At the top is a paved road; turn right and walk downhill. The road leads to an
old telephone relay station and then turns into a footpath. You'll pass through bamboo, koa,
ti, and strawberry guava, and turn left onto the Manoa Cliffs Trail. At the next junction, turn
right on the Puu Ohia Trail, which leads to Pauoa Flats and the view of the Nuuanu Valley.
Retrace your steps for your return.
