HONOLULU (KHON2) -- It’s that time again. KHON2.com’s Unfit Adventurer set out to explore and experience the Kalāwahine Trail.
The Kalāwahine Trail is a popular hiking trail located in Honolulu. This trail is known for its beautiful views of the lush, green forest and the stunning scenery of Honolulu from above.
It is a moderate hike, making it a good choice for people who enjoy being outdoors but might not be ready for a very difficult climb.
The trail is about 2.5 miles long and takes around 2 to 3 hours to complete, depending on how fast you go and how often you stop to enjoy the views. Along the way, hikers walk through a mix of indigenous plants and trees along with gorgeous, tall trees that provide shade.
The bird population is quite active in this area, especially the chickens with their wee baby chicks.
One of the highlights of the Kalāwahine Trail is that it connects to other trails, like the Pauoa Flats and Nuʻuanu trails, allowing hikers to explore even more of the island's natural beauty.
It’s a great way to experience Hawaiʻi’s lush landscape, get a bit of exercise and take in the peaceful surroundings. As always, remember to bring water, wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for some muddy sections if it has rained recently.
As we set out on the trail, we noticed that not many people seem to be hiking this trail.
We finally ran into a Trinity and her son Henry who hike this trail several times a week.
"Henry just loves this hike," explained Trinity. "He loves structures and radio towers; so, we come out here to hike up to the towers."
She explained that the hike is a perfect adventure for keiki since it has different terrains and so many different plants to explore.
"I love this hike; it's fun," echoed Henry as he made his way up the steps to the radio tower. "I get to see the radio towers when we come up here," he jubilantly exclaimed.
With that, we left Henry to explore and experience the wonders of his passion.
When we made it to the wooded part of the hike, we ran into Jess and James. They've recently moved to Honolulu from Connecticut and decided to take a hike.
"We found this one online," said Jess. "It seemed to be a little less populated than some of the other hikes; so, we decided to come out here. I'm not all that fit; so, the asphalt part of the hike was a bit difficult. But it's just gorgeous out here."
We agreed with that assessment. The asphalt part was not too much fun. But once we made it to the dirt path, the whole experience transformed.
As we made our way through the gullies and paths, we met Josh and David who live in Mānoa. They run this trail a few times a week.
"We love how diverse and safe this hike is," explained David. "There aren't usually a lot of people out here, and the path itself is really easy to navigate. It's just a great way to stay fit while also being in nature."
"I've been doing this trail run for about eight years, now," revealed Josh. "David started running it with me a few years to see what it was like, and we've been doing it ever since."
Inspired we moved on.
As we got closer to the end of the hike, we met Mary. She's a retired geologist who lives in Makiki.
"All the sounds -- the birds, the winds, the trees and bamboo, the cool temperatures, the rain -- it's just so beautiful," Mary said as she soaked in the world around her. "This hike is like a mele, and you get to be a part of it. Everything comes together to create this wonderful poem, this mele."
Mary said she hikes this trail several times a week because "it's not a long hike, but I feel accomplished. And the hikers out here are always so friendly. I know that if I fell, there would be someone who would come along and help me."
She explained that you can find quite a bit of indigenous plant life on this hike, like ʻōhiʻa and liverwart.
"I love to look at the pāhoehoe lava flows from when the lava cooled, there's just so much beautiful plant life out here, and it feels safe." she concluded as she made her way to outrunning the mosquitoes.
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 Kalāwahine 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.