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'I cried a bit the first time I hiked it': Hawaiʻi hikes

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- On Wednesday, June 12, KHON2.com's Unfit Adventurer embarked on the ʻAiea Loop Trail. This trail really clarified what it means to be either a hike or a trail hike...

The ʻAiea Loop Trail, located in the Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area on Oʻahu, Hawaii, is a 4.8-mile loop offering moderate hiking conditions. The trail is known for its lush forest scenery, including Native Hawaiian plants such as koa and ʻōhiʻa trees, as well as invasive species such as eucalyptus and strawberry guava.

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Hikers are treated to stunning views of the Hālawa Valley and Pearl Harbor. The trail is well-marked and primarily shaded, making it a comfortable hike even on sunny days.

Wildlife, including native birds, can often be spotted along the path.

The trail begins at an elevation of about 1,000 feet, with gentle inclines that are accessible to most hikers. ʻAiea Loop Trail also passes near historical site which adds an educational aspect to the hike. Suitable for families and avid hikers alike, it offers a peaceful retreat into nature while providing slightly elevated moderate exercise.

For our adventure, it was raining most of the way through our hike which made it cool and comfortable but muddy and slippery.

It is ranked as an easy to moderate hike; however, for an unfit person, this may be a bit of a challenge.

As we set off to begin our hike, we met Koa. He was ending his hike and had run around the loop three times.

"I love this hike, and I do it nearly every day," said Koa. "It has different elevations, varied terrain and trail textures. It's just a solid, fun way to stay fit. "

Inspired, we set out.

We ran into a local family of four who said they'd done the hike backwards; we'll explain about that a bit later.

"This was so much fun," said Tyson. "Like, it's safe enough for my siblings but interesting enough to make me want to soak it all in. It is, like, really slippery, though."

Jillian walked by saying, "I cried a bit the first time I hiked it; it's definitely worth considering hiking it backwards." Again, we'll talk about this later.

When we asked what she meant, this is what she had to say.

"I'd heard about this trail being super easy; so, I came out to do it," explained Jillian. "It was all great until I got near the end of it and realized that it's all uphill from there. Now, I do it backwards, too."

This made us a bit nervous, but we continued.

Making our way through the trail, we were met with gorgeous views the whole way. From deep in the valley to out toward the ocean, the scenery is incredibly diverse.

We met several folks who refused to talk to us, making this trail very different from the ones we've hiked thus far. Folks seemed much more paranoid and afraid on this hike.

Jason said it's because locals don't want to have to talk to visitors.

"I don't know; it gets tiring seeing so many people out here who are carving into trees or leaving litter," explained Jason. "Sometimes, I wonder if they would mind if I were to follow them home to throw trash in their homes if they would even understand."

Randy lives down the street from ʻAiea Loop Trail. He said he hikes every day to stay fit.

"I'm 78 [we couldn't tell]," said Randy. "This trail is perfect. There are all sorts of native birds to watch, and it's often not too populated with hikers. Don't get me wrong; it does get busy. But not like some of the other popular hikes. Today, it is a bit muddy and slippery."

He said some health issues a few years ago pushed him to take on this hike as a daily routine. He said there is absolutely nothing he'd change about this trail.

He did offer some advice on navigating the muddy terrain.

"You can get micro spikes that fit right onto the treads of your shoes. It helps with gripping the mud and slipperiness," added Randy as he dashed off to finish his daily hike.

Kawika was running the trail when he happened to see him in a clearing where he was fixing his shoe.

"Yeah, I run this trail every day a couple of times," said Kawika. "It's easy enough and just absolutely beautiful. It's muddy and slippery, though."

David and Samantha said they were hiking the trail for the first time. They recently moved to Pearl City and were looking for a hike easier than the pillbox hike they'd take a few days earlier.

"This is close to home, and it's gorgeous," said David. "It has been really slippery, today. We had a bit of trouble on the other side; but overall, we really like this hike."

The hike was a fun one until we got to the end. This is when we realized that it's not actually loop. When we ended the trail, we found ourselves down the road from where we'd begun.

The hike back to our car was up a steep asphalt road with no sidewalks and lined with slippery red dirt and tiny, broken trees. Vehicles traveling through the area were speeding, making the hike back to the beginning a really scary. No matter what side of the road you are walking on at this point, you have your back to traffic the whole way.

So, if you are hiking ʻAiea Loop Trail, it will be worth your consideration to begin your adventure at the trailhead located at the first bathroom. This way you will end at the second bathroom when you're done, giving you a downhill hike back to your vehicle.

The Unfit Adventurer Rating for this hiking trail is: (ratings are out of a possible five hiking boots.)

Ease of hike for unfit folks

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2 hiking boots.

Views offered

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4 hiking boots.

Friendliness of fellow hikers

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1 hiking boot.

Worth the struggle

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3 hiking boots.

Feeling of accomplishment

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3 hiking boots.

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So, if you decide to hike ʻAiea Loop 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.


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