Hiking Trails on Oahu

  July 15, 2011 - Papali Loop Trail About 1 month ago, the kids and I  did the Hau'ula Loop Trail. I asked them at that time if they wanted to do the Papali Loop as well. The answer was a resounding, "no". So I told them we will have to come back. I finally got a week day off during summer work and told the kids that we were going to do Papali. Surprisingly, they agreed. The plan was to do Papali, then go to Malaekahana Beach.  We started from Kapolei at 8:45 am, but while I was in Wahiawa, I realized that I forgot my wallet. Crap! I needed my wallet and decided to turn around. Well 40 minutes wasted. We got to Hau'ula Homestead Road at 10:45 am, got out of the car and walked up the road. To the right was the Hau'ula trail, I figured Papali was just a little more up the road. Just then we seen a trail: Ma'akua Ridge Trail? Perplexed, I thought that's not it, and we should go more up the road. Malia said that we should go onto the trail we just passed. I to...

  Hau'ula Loop Trail - June 10, 2011 I could be on to something today. I wanted to take the kids out for a hike, and of course they resisted. But I added an incentive this time.  We would go on a hike first. There would be no complaining. If they could follow through, then we would go to the beach. Agreement made (The kids had no choice). If all went well, both parties would be happy . We got to Hau'ula Homestead Road at about 11 am. The Hau'ula Loop trail is about 2.5 miles. There is also a longer sister trail to the left of the Hau'ula Loop trail called the Papali Loop trail. Good hiker's usually do both hikes during the same day, therefore most hiker's on Oahu call it Hau'ula-Papali Loop trail.  My kids at the trailhead sign     The Hau'ula Loop trail ascends up the mountain via lazy switchbacks. Its a gradual ascent, so there is some huffing and puffing, but not too difficult. When you get to the top of the hill, a view of Laie comes into view, but...