HONOLULU (KHON2) -- It's that time again. KHON2.com's Unfit Adventurer made their way out to the ʻUalakaʻa Trail to explore this little-known hike on Oʻahu.
It's part of a larger trail system known as the Makiki Valley Trail System. It is a true loop, unlike the ʻAiea Loop Trail; and there are so many things to be seen and experienced on this hike.
It's also part of Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park and offers a peaceful walk through the forest.
The trail is about one mile long and is great for beginners and families. As you hike, you'll see beautiful trees and plants, and there are spots where you can stop and enjoy amazing views of Honolulu and the ocean.
The trail is shaded and cool, making it a nice escape from the sun. It’s a perfect place to enjoy nature and get some exercise!
We met many locals on this hike but allow me to qualify "many". This is a fairly little traversed hike from what we experienced. We met a few people but nothing like some of the other trails on Oʻahu where there are lots and lots of people.
It is a bit confusing to find. There are two entry points, and each of these entry points provide you with the loop where you end up where you began. So, if you don't find the main entrance, like we didn't, you can easily hop onto the trail at the entrance farther down Round Top Road.
One of the things that struck us most was the amount of rubbish, trash and litter that lines Round Top Road. Honestly, we felt like we were on a highway in Germany there was so much trash strewn.
And there a lot of chickens who have made their home in the area. As usual, they were as adorable and transfixed by their own existence as usual.
When we found our way through the mini hike that leads back to the main entrance on Round Top Drive, we met Shawn and Liz Coffey who live in the Mōʻiliʻili area. Liz and Shawn moved to Honolulu a few years ago from the East Coast when Liz got a job teaching at ʻIolani School.
"I love this hike a lot because I'm more of a walker than a hiker," revealed Liz. "The scenery is gorgeous, and there aren't a lot of points of steep elevation. It's just a good, reliable hike."
Shawn said he owns a painting business; so, he's in the area all the time for both work and recreation.
"We take this hike pretty regularly," said Shawn. "I come up here a lot for business, but I also come out here when it's time to help the County reduce the boar population."
Shawn explained that he is a bow hunter who has a permit to participate in hunting boar in order to help protect Hawaiʻi's flora.
With that, we began our trek.
As we made our way across Round Top Road, the second time, we encountered Ariana and Brad who live in Kalihi Valley.
"I used to hike this trail all the time when I was a kid," said Brad. "So, we came out today because I wanted to Ariana."
Although Brad hadn't been on the tail in years, he said it's pretty much the same.
"It's easy and accessible and really gorgeous." added Brad.
"I think this is a great hike for anyone who needs an easier experience on a trail hike," explained Ariana. "There's not a whole lot of elevation, and it's not too muddy. Overall, it's a great hiking experience."
As we turned onto the loop, we met Marg and Katie, two moms out for hikes with their keiki.
"This is such a great hike for kids," said Marg. "It's easy enough for them, and it's cool enough for us."
"Yeah, the kids love this hike because they don't have to worry about us worrying," explained Katie. "It's short, so we're not out here all day; but it's rigorous enough that the kids sleep really well."
We will have to agree. The tree canopies on this hike are extraordinary. At every turn there are tree arches to go through, edible mushrooms growing and extremely diverse plants. We really like this hike.
As we got the Moleka arm of the hike, we David and his wife. They live in town and take a different hike every day. We think we met them when we did the Makiki Valley Loop a few weeks ago.
"We do these hikes for our health," explained David. "We're getting older; so, it's important that we get out and keep our bodies active."
They were on their way to a doctor's appointment; so, we kept our chat quick.
Not long after we met David, we came to the end of our hike; so, we walked over to the Tantalus Lookout to see who we could meet.
We met Ken. He is on a pitstop in Honolulu as he moves his family from Saipan to Houston, Texas for his career.
"We found this place on TikTok and just had to see it," said Ken. "The views of Honolulu and the Pacific are simply unbelievable."
Konnie had an entourage of about 15 people when we ran into her. She likes to bring friends and family who visit up the lookout.
"It is the best way to give them an aerial overview of Honolulu," explained Konnie. "You can see all the way out beyond Pearl Harbor; and of course, we can see back out towards Kahala and Hawaii Kai. This way, we don't have to spend an entire day on a muddy or dangerous trail to see how gorgeous every place is."
The Unfit Adventurer Rating for this hiking trail is: (ratings are out of a possible five hiking boots.)
Ease of hike for unfit folks
Views offered
Friendliness of fellow hikers
Worth the struggle
Feeling of accomplishment
So, if you decide to hike the ʻUalakaʻa Trail, then be aware that the experience for everyone who does it is different. You’ll need to rely on your own physical skills to determine whether this is the right hike for you.
And as always, never hike alone.