Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on-the-calves switchbacks as you go up the ridge. Look where you are stepping as you climb:
You'll spot wildflowers and mushrooms among the matted needles. The trail continues up,
crossing Waipilopilo Gulch, full of several forms of native plant life. Eventually, you reach the
top of the ridge, where the views are spectacular.
Camping is permitted along the trail, but it's difficult to find a place to pitch a tent on
the steep slopes or in the dense forest growth. A few places along the ridge, however, are
wide enough for a tent. Contact the
DivisionofForestryandWildlife,
1151 Punchbowl St.,
KAHANA VALLEY
Spectacular views of this verdant valley and some clear swimming holes are the rewards of
this 4.5-mile-loop trail. The downsides to this 2- to 3-hour, somewhat ardent adventure are
mosquitoes (clouds of them) and some thrashing about in dense forest with a bit of navigation
along the not-always-marked trail.
The trail starts behind the Visitor's Center at Kahana Valley State Park. To get there, take
H-1 to the Pali Highway over to the windward side of Kailua-Kaneohe. Turn left onto High-
way 83 (Kamehameha Hwy.) to Kahana Valley State Park. You can also take TheBus no. 55
and get off at the park entrance. Check in at the Visitor's Center for the latest trail conditions,
warnings about stream flooding, and directions for the trail.
PALI (MAUNAWILI) TRAIL
★
For a million-dollar view of the Windward Coast, take this easy 11-mile (one-way) foothill
trail. The trail head is about 6 miles from downtown Honolulu, on the windward side of the
Nuuanu Pali Tunnel, at the scenic lookout just beyond the hairpin turn of the Pali Highway
(Hwy. 61). Just as you begin the turn, look for the scenic overlook sign, slow down, and pull
off the highway into the parking lot (sorry, no bus service available).
The mostly flat, well-marked, easy-to-moderate trail goes through the forest on the lower
slopes of the 3,000-foot Koolau Mountain range and ends up in the backyard of the coastal
Hawaiian village of Waimanalo. Go halfway to get the view and return to your car, or have
someone meet you in 'Nalo.
North Shore Hikes
WAIMEA VALLEY
For nearly 3 decades, the 1,875-acre Waimea Valley park has lured visitors with activities from
cliff diving and hula performances to kayaking and ATV tours. In 2008, the Office of Hawaii-
an Affairs took over and formed a new nonprofit corporation,
Hiipaka,
59-864 Kamehameha
Admission is $13 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 4 to 12. Open daily 9am to 5pm. The
current emphasis is now on perpetuating and sharing the “living Hawaiian culture.” A visit
here offers a lush walk into the past. The valley is packed with archaeological sites, includ-
ing the 600-year-old Hale O Lono, a heiau dedicated to the Hawaiian god Lono, which you'll
find to the left of the entrance. The botanical collection has 35 different gardens, including
super-rare Hawaiian species such as the endangered Kokia cookei hibiscus. The valley is also
