Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 142

and meanders through the forest reserve past guavas, mountain apples, and wild
ginger. The forest is moist and humid and is inhabited by giant bloodthirsty
mosquitoes, so bring repellent. If it has rained recently, stay on the trail and step
carefully, as it can be very slippery (and it's a long way down if you slide off the
side). Before you venture out, call & 808/587-0300 to check if the trail is open.
East Oahu Hikes
MAKAPUU LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL For kids 12 and older, this is a great
coastal trail hike, but a little too dangerous for youngsters. Your goal at the end
of this precipitous cliff trail is the old lighthouse where the views are down the
windward coast, and out to sea—Manana (Rabbit) Island and the azure Pacific.
It's about a 45-minute, mile-long hike from Kalanianaole Highway (Hwy. 72),
along a paved road that begins across from Hawaii Kai Executive Golf Course
and winds around the 646-foot-high sea bluff to the lighthouse lookout.
To get to the trail head from Waikiki, take Kalanianaole Highway (Hwy. 72)
past Hanauma Bay and Sandy Beach to Makapuu Head, the southeastern tip of
the island; you can also take TheBus no. 57 or 58. Look for a sign that says NO
VEHICLES ALLOWED on a gate to the right, a few hundred yards past the entrance
to the golf course. The trail isn't marked, but it's fairly obvious: Just follow the
abandoned road that leads gradually uphill to a trail that wraps around Makapuu
Point. It's a little precarious, but anyone in reasonably good shape can handle it.
Blowhole alert: When the south swell is running, usually in summer, a cou-
ple of blowholes on the south side of Makapuu Head put the famous Halona
blowhole to shame.
Windward Oahu Hikes
HAUULA LOOP If your clan is in fairly good shape and used to hiking, fol-
low the Hauula Loop Trail on the windward side of the island for one of the best
views of the coast and the ocean. It's an easy, 2.5-mile loop on a well-maintained
path that passes through a whispering ironwood forest and a grove of tall Nor-
folk pines. The trip takes about 3 hours and gains some 600 feet in elevation.
To get to the trail, take TheBus no. 55 or follow Highway 83 to Hauula Beach
Park. Turn toward the mountains on Hauula Homestead Road; when it forks to
the left at Maakua Road, park on the side of the road. Walk along Maakua Road
to the wide, grassy trail that begins the hike into the mountains. The climb is
fairly steep for about 300 yards but turns into easier-on-the-calves switchbacks
as you go up the ridge. Look down as you climb: You'll spot wildflowers and
mushrooms among the matted needles. The trail continues up, crossing Waipi-
lopilo Gulch, where you'll see 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 and in the dense forest growth. There are a few places
along the ridge, however, that are wide enough for a tent. Contact the Division
of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813 ( & 808/
587-0166 ), for information on camping permits.
North Shore Hikes
WAIMEA VALLEY AUDUBON CENTER For a trip back into Old Hawaii,
with lush tropical vegetation and a series of trails designed to accommodate the
entire family, from small kids to hardy teenagers, take a walk into Waimea Valley.
For nearly 3 decades, the 1,875 acres (home to some 6,000 species of plants and
trees) and activity center (from cliff diving and hula performances to kayaking
and ATV tours) was known as Waimea Falls Park. In 2003, the City and County