Hiking Trails on Oahu

Kealia (just to the picnic bench) – March 11, 2012 After doing Kealia in January of this year, I knew it would be a perfect family hike. What I look for in a family hike are three things; 1) a reward at the end (waterfall or summit view), 2) short - less than 3 miles RT 3) fun. The word fun is relative because my demented idea of fun is hiking for 14 miles in the Ko’olaus for 8 hours and doing it like it has been done before, which it has. Most peoples idea of fun hiking are the bird singing, native plants, and interesting terrain. I spread the word the day before, but no one took the bait, so it was just us and Jared’s friend Keito. I set the meeting place at Wahiawa McDonalds at 10a-10:15 am just in case. We ate at McDonald’s and by 10:15 am no one else came, so we drove to Mokuleia. We pulled into Dillingham airfield passing the runway. After getting ready, we started the Kealia trail. Kealia offers a good beginners trail. There are switchbacks to aid the knees, which means a gradua...

  Kealia – January 8, 2012 I had a chance to meet Stuart Ball today. Stuart Ball was the guy who wrote the book  Hiking on Oahu . This book has influenced many people to become avid hikers. It gave them a reason to get into shape and enjoy Oahu trails. For me the book did not entertain, but opened up my imagination about what the most remote places on Oahu would look and feel like. I would have dreams about hiking to the summits of Oahu mountains and experiencing world class views. As I checked off the hikes one by one, I realized that hiking was for me. I too got a chance to experience the descriptions of the book first hand. Stuart Ball The hike today was Kealia, located in back of Dillingham Airfield in Mokuleia. The HTMC created a 9 mile loop. The goal today was to hike on the Kealia trail and work our way up great switchbacks eventually overlooking a quarry and the entire North Shore. We would then meander through the mountains via dirt roads, also known as a foothil...