Hau'ula Loop Trail

Great trail for the family. However; trail is full of roots and does have some rock climbs. But we really did enjoy it. Mostly shaded, not a lot of views but good hike. Loved the different trees and flowers. Bring the bug spray!!! And be patient with parking, locals do. Or want you parking in front of their house so you do have to park kinda far.

First time on this hike on the Windward side.Parked across from the beach park, since other reviewer on Alltrails said there wasn't much parking near trailhead. The walk was pretty easy to the beginning of the hike through residential area. The beginning of trail leads to 2 different trails, we chose this one. The first third of the trail is an up hill climb and once you are at the ridge level there is some up, down and level. The elevation gain according to Alltrails is 853 ft. We clocked more miles than what was listed on site which included the walk to trailhead.The trail itself is in rainforest and varying foliage and terrain. Trail was damp in some spots and there are a few areas that you will cross a stream, where if there is hard rain that would cause fast flowing water it may not be safe to cross. We had a little rain on hike which did not cause a problem.There a few areas where the trail is narrow which is common here on the island. Once you make the ridge there are there are steps mostly going down the trail. We did it cclock wise which other hikers suggested. Although I think we would have been comfortable either way. There are views of the ocean and canyon once you make it to ridge. We all enjoyed views and the foliage on this hike. Note: we used poles and crampons on for the muddy areas. Must keep eyes on the rooted areas if you don't want to trip.There are mosquitos and it can be humid in some areas of the hike. It is mainly shaded and there are nice breezes on the ridge area of the hike.Alltrades gives it a Moderate rating which is accurate. We are all over 65 and are active and know what to expect from island trails.

Love this trail. Once you hit a certain part(pine trees) I feel like I'm in a another world(in a good way). The trail is mostly covered which is awesome because it'll keep you cool for the most part. Sometimes I've experienced mosquito's especially near stream area but it is a beautiful hike.

Quick little hike that's easy to get to and has a few good views along the way. Nice walk through the forest. Only reason for the modest review is that there are much better hikes on Oahu, but still I'm glad I went.

Lovely hike. Just the right length to fit in between other activities. Not too challenging but still good exercise with the elevation gain. We really enjoyed the diverse array of plants and trees. It was pretty muddy in one area so I recommend considering that when you pick your shoes.

Really nice short trail. Not too technical. It had some great valley views bit no clear view of the beach and ocean. It took us about 1 3/4 hours and we parked at the beach park. Would suggest that as there is no parking at the trail entrance. Its a good workout and an potentially cool waterfall but sadly it wasn't flowing during our visit. Enjoy this ine.

This is a quick and easy trail! I know a lot of people that run this, but even us normal hikers don't take too long. Personally I like to hike for the view so this one is hard for me since it's a loop. It's also mostly green and I want to overlook the ocean, but that's only because I'm picky. This is a nice trail, super green, and super pretty! I do think there are better hikes out there though

I was searching the webs for an easy and fun hike to explore and came upon this hike at http://www.explorationhawaii.com/2011/10/06/hauula-loop-trail-a-short-jungle-like-hike-perfect-for-beginners/ . I always use explorationhawaii.com for research on hikes. They always tell you where to park, what to expect, update their website for "Closed" hikes, and post A LOT of pictures. While they are seasoned hikers, the levels that they rate the hikes are pretty spot on. To get to this hike, my friends and I parked at Hauula Beach Park and walked in from there. You walk through a residential neighborhood, so please respect the properties and do not litter or antagonize the dogs - there are quite a few houses with dogs along your way to the trail head. You will go around two yellow gates before starting the trail.The beginning is all paved, once you reach the trail head marker that's where the fun begins! If you decide not to go on this trail, you can continue on the paved road past the pretty awesome graffiti'd wall up to the 7 Waterfalls hike - which I plan to try another day.As you go up this trail, this is really a beginner hike. There is an incline, but it is steady and not strenuous. It was a little humid the day we went, but there is a lot of tree cover so at least the sun wasn't beaming down on us. As we approached a trail marker, we went to the right. We went up a lot of switchbacks and crossed two streams. If there are heavy rains, I would not recommend doing this hike as those two streams will probably be running.Parts of this hike was reminiscent of Kuliou'ou - pine needles all over the ground and cool, but most of all it reminded my friends and I of Aiea Loop Trail except shorter. There is a "summit" but the view was not that awe inspiring. As we continued on the trail we came to a break in the trees where there was a much better view of the valley we were hiking in. There are A LOT of strawberry guava trees on this hike and if we could have found ripe fruit closer to the trail we would have sampled some. There are a few places with man made stairs to assist you as you walk through this forest. To be prepared for this hike I would bring:Bug spray - we used OFF active before starting the hike and were not bothered - there are A LOT of fruit flies that get disturbed as you walk around.Water - at least 1 liter - a camel pack is not necessary unless you drink a lot of water normallyHiking Shoes - the better tread will help you with the moist ground, crossing the streambeds and keep your feet dry if it is muddyCamera - There are a lot of interesting views through the tress as you walk.I will be back to do this hike again and maybe try the 7 Waterfalls hike as well.

The Hau'ula Loop Trail is the sister trail to the Ma'akua Ridge Trail whose point of entry sits a bit past that of Hau'ula Loop. That might explain why this is the more popular trail but it's all relative. In this 1 hour 45 minute hike I saw about 5 people total; on the other trail I saw zero. Susanne Swedy's excellent book, "Hiking the Hawaiian Islands", features both hikes. She describes both as easy, 2.5 miles, and having an 800-foot elevation but I'd beg to differ. This hike is easy but the other is more difficult, takes longer, and has a couple perilous spots. Locals tell me those who hike it sometimes require rescue. Nobody will require rescue on the Hau'ula Loop. After reaching its elevation the trail is mostly flat and easy to follow. When in doubt, check for the pink/orange tape/ribbon in the trees. Both trails have this feature and it (as well as the book) works well to guide you. Somebody mentioned a waterfall but I saw no sign of one here. A couple nice vistas are featured but mostly this trail is about just getting outside and moving. It's not in a must-see area and certainly not on the tourist track. In fact, the area has a reputation for being a little dicey so be sure to sign in and out on the sheet at the mailbox just before entering the trail. Additional stuff:* Dogs allowed.* This is hike #51 in the above referenced book. * There's a small parking area at the entrance to the hiking area but a sign announces it as a high theft area. Consider parking down the street or even out at Hau'ula Beach Park, and walking from there. * Take the Kamehameha Highway to Hau'ula and turn mauka (toward the mountain) at Hau'ula Homesteads Road (just across from Hau'ula Beach Park). This road winds around and back out to the highway but you should not. Take it only to where the road turns (about 1/2 mile from the beach), and park. The well-marked path leading to the trailhead begins there.

Great hike! The perfect balance of being a good challenge and not too challenging. And there are awesome views along the way! We took our 10 month old baby in a carrier and mother in law, and we all made it just fine! Took about 3 hours total for us. Take mosquito repellant and good shoes!