Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park

Let me first point out that depending on the season and how well you are condition, this might not be the State Park for you. There are two trails. One that leads to scenic point at Kilo Keaniani. And the other leads to Nākoa Loop Trail, which is also a public hunting grounds. I chose the loop trail.The Nākoa isn't for tourist. This spot is in the country side of Hawaii, local only kinda spot. To get there you walk through a small local neighborhood who's home is in the center of the ultimate Hawaiian backdrop dream. If you are a novice hiker, this trail might be too much. It's roughly 2.5 miles but you have to traverse over water 4 times during the loop, walk through mud, and deal with mosquitoes. Total fun. Hard but total fun. There's something real about hiking on Public Hunting Area. It's not crowded. You here the sounds of wildlife, birds, insects, and sometimes boar, rumbling through the jungle forest. There's something real about hiking on a trail that suggest non-hunters to wear bright colors to ensure safety. There's something real about hiking on a trail that has side trails created by the wild boars that uproot the vegetation through out the jungle.There's something real about hiking local territory, local country side of O'ahu, local rules, and local vibe.I recommend this adventure to those who want to test how much adventure they can handle.

I chose to go here because it was more of a local hangout, rainforest/jungle, mountain/beach view and not a tourist trap. With that being said, we were pre-warned by the friendly docent that the brush is thick, slippery in some areas and there are a LOT of mosquitos. Also, there is a rinse off area for our shoes upon our return (not showers). I knew what I was going into when I got here and was willing to take the chance. I took the necessary precautions: closed toe shoes, 3 layers of bug spray (One of the layers before the drive), sunscreen, hat. However, with the precautions, it did not prepare me for the feast that the mosquitoes were going to have on my arms and legs! If mosquitoes like you, you might want to pass on this. Luckily, we did this on the last day of our trip.We decided to take the short trail and only go half the route and then go back as recommended. The short trail has some slippery and narrow spots thanks to the rain. To get past the first part, my husband had to lift a branch, so I could pass through. On the way back, the docent asked us about our hike. My husband noted the slippery areas to look for and the heavy brush in some areas to watch out for.Overall, it was pretty cool to go through the jungle. The view at the top is absolutely beautiful (I love the mountain view). I wished I could have been better prepared, so we could venture on the longer trail. The mosquitoes were here before me and always will be, so hike at your own risk!

This place is somewhat of a disappointment - there's a hiking trail with thick vegetation coverage but for some reason it's chained off. The area has some random community around it with some dilapidated houses but two public restrooms, which doesn't make a lot of sense? The only thing it had going for it is the Huilua Pond across the street, which has a nice quiet shoreline.

On the website it states they have showers, upon our arrival we find out the showers don't have running water. They are just cubicles... with no water spout?!? Other than that this beach is great ! It's clean and free of trash. The bathrooms across the street are immaculate! Which is surprising considering less than a block away the public bathrooms don't even have stalls or doors.. the weather can be quite sporadic so be prepared for high winds or heavy rain. When the bay is calm you can SUP. I wouldn't recommend this beach for snorkeling the water isn't very clear.

Dear tourists: if you want to explore Hawaii, 1) there will be locals (sorry that you're leaving your Waikiki bubble and running into the most amazing people you will ever meet), and 2) there will definitely be mosquitos if you're hiking through a jungley (yeah, made that word up) type area. Just because you didn't want to go outside of your comfort zone (or have common sense and bring bug spray) it doesn't mean that you should give such a beautiful place bad reviews. No aloha for you!

Yes, it will be humid, windy and full of insects, but you're in Hawaii, away from the crowds.

Arrived at around 10am with my family of fairly experienced hikers (Grand Canyon and Pike's Peak), to simply take the "easier" trail, enjoy the scenery, and move on with our day. I researched quite a bit beforehand so we were prepared with water, bug spray, sunscreen, hats, and proper footwear. But we were not prepared for a trail that was significantly more difficult to navigate and harder to follow than advertised. The scenery was stunning and was breathtaking but I can't recommend the trails.

Skip it. Mosquitoes!!! Mosquitoes!! Mosquitoes!!! Horrible. We were traumatized!! Go get margaritas instead! Or another hike. Full of bugs!