TRAILS Only trails on the island of Oahu are listed. Since I know most visitors will want to hit the trails immediately upon arrival, all directions are given starting at Honolulu International Airport.  Trails that are on private property require the owner's permission for use.  Be careful where you park and don't leave valuables in your car.   Please respect the Aina (land) and always follow IMBA's rules of the trails.

Click here   To view a map of the trail heads on Oahu.

     Mililani Trails

 

How to get there: Take H1 west to H2 north. Exit at the Waipio Uka off ramp, turn left and take the bridge back over the highway.  Take your first left and park on the side of the road.   Mililani is a trail network on private land with multiple trailheads.   To get to the multiple Millilani trailheads, ride your bike back over the bridge the way you came from the highway, and down the road about a half mile towards the Mililani Cemetery.   

 

One of the first trailheads is at the metal gate on your left about a quarter mile from the highway.  The next trailhead is on the right side of the road, just past the road that leads to the Waiawa prison. This trailhead is a popular place for paint ball warriors, so look for the paint on the trees and the "paint ball bunkers".  If you follow the road that leads to the prison, you will find another trailhead about a mile up the road on your left at the metal gate.  This is a good place to start if it has been raining and the trails are still be a little wet.   If you ride just past the metal gate and look on the other side of the road there is another trailhead that may be difficult to see because of the California grass.  This is the Mango Trail trailhead and can be located by looking for the two large mango trees about twenty-five yards off the road.  

 

There are many other ways to access the Mililani trails, but these trailheads are a good place to start.

 

A good first time ride is to start at the "paint ball" trail head.   Follow the singletrack thought the woods and continue across the first dirt road.   This will take you on "Babooze trail".   When you come to the second dirt road turn left and follow it for a couple of miles or so until you see a smaller dirt road with a berm on your right.  Follow this road, which will turn to single track near the top of the mountain near the "whoop-de-doos".  From there, continue to follow the single track back down the mountain.  This will take you to "Mango Trail" which eventually will exit at the mango trees near the road to the prison.   This ride is about eight miles and is a blast with beautiful scenic views of central Oahu near the top.

 

The trails at Mililani are numerous.  You will find everything from tight fast singletrack, to dirt roads.  The area is also popular with motorcycle riders, so be careful.  

 

 

 

     Wiliwilinui Trail

How to get there: Take H1 east. Once you pass Diamond Head, H1 will turn into Kalanianaole Hwy. (Hwy. 72).   Soon after passing Kahala Mall, turn right on Laukahi Street.  Drive to the top of the ridge stopping at the guard shack for a day pass.  Turn left on Okoa Street and head to the end of the paved road and park.  Here you will find the trail head.

 

The Wiliwilinui trail is an uphill jeep trail that gives way to a foot path.

Distance: 3.4 miles round trip.

 

     Makapu'u Lighthouse Road

How to get there: Take H1 east. Once you pass Diamond Head, H1 will turn into Kalanianaole Hwy. (Hwy. 72).   Follow Kalanianaole all the way to the eastern tip of the island.   About two miles past Sandy Beach Park and just past the golf course, you will see a metal gate on your right.  Park your car on the side of the road and ride your bike around the gate and follow the road to the top

 

Makapu'u Lighthouse Road is a short uphill ride on an old paved road with a spectacular panoramic view at the top from Diamond Head to Waimanalo, and a great view of the Makapuu lighthouse, Rabbit Island, Makapu'u beach park and on a clear day, even the island of Molokai.  A great place to spot a humpback whale between the months of  November and March. 

Distance: 3.0 miles round trip.

     Aiea Loop Trail

How to get there: Take H1 west to the Aiea off ramp. Stay in the right lane to Aiea. Take a right turn at the Stop light on Aiea Heights Drive (next to Aiea Shopping Center) and follow it all the way to the top to Keaiwa Heiau State Park. The trail head is at the top of the park's looped drive. There are rest rooms and public parking available and overnight camping is allowed.

 

Aiea Loop Trail circles the ridges from Aiea to Halawa and back. The trail It is one of the most popular trails on the island, so be careful of hikers.  There are many steep cliffs, and roots that become slippery when wet.  This trail is unsuitable for riding when wet, but when dry is a blast.

Distance: 4.5 miles

 

     Manana Trail

How to get there: Take H1 west to the Waimalu off ramp, turn left at Moanalua Road and follow it to Waimano Home Road. Follow Waimano Home Road drive uphill about a quarter mile and take a right at Komo Mai Drive.  Follow Komo Mai Drive all the way to the end and park on the side of  the road at the top of Pacific Palisades. Here you find the trailhead.

 

Manana Trail is a ridge line trial that starts off as a paved road that gives way to a rooty trail, through a guava and pine forest, before opening out onto the ridge line. Beautiful views of pristine valleys surround you as you work your way towards the top of the Koolau Mountains. However, the last mile or so before the top of the ridge the trail becomes steep and is unsuitable for riding.

 

Distance: 6 miles round trip

 

     Kaena Point

 

How to get there: Take H1 west to H2 north. When H2 ends, veer left to Wilikena Drive. After crossing the bridge, continue straight. The road is now called Kaukonahua which turns into Farrington Hwy. Follow Farrington through Waialua to Mokuleia past Dillingham airfield. Where the road ends, the trail begins. You may want to drive back towards camp Erdman to find a safer place to park.

 

The trail follows along the coastline through a wildlife sanctuary from where the road ends on the Mokuleia side to where the road ends on the Makaha side. It is the only part of the island perimeter  inaccessible by car.  It is important to stay on the trail since there are many fragile native plants and animals in the area. A beautiful ride that completes any "Around the Island Drive".

 

Distance: 10 miles round trip

 

     Maunawili Trail

How to get there: Take H1 east and exit North at the Pali Hwy. (Hwy. 61) heading towards Kailua. Once you pass through the Pali tunnels, pull off at the first scenic lookout.   Here you will find the trail head.

 

One of the most scenic rides on Oahu.  A great trail to have someone waiting for you at the end of the trail in Waimanalo, since it is mostly uphill on the way back.  

Distance: 11 miles one way.

 

     Kahuku

 

How to get there: Take H1 west to H2 north. Go through Wahiawa following Kamehameha Hwy. to Haleiwa. Go past Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach to Wailee. Turn right at the sign to Kahuku Motor cross Track.  Or, continue on to the Old Kahuku Sugar Mill which is now a tourist spot, and park in the convenience store parking lot.

 

Kahuku is a great place to ride with miles of endless singletrack.  Some of the trails at Kahuku are privately owned by the Kahuku Motorcross Track other areas are on government property.

 

If you choose to enter at the Kahuku Motorcross track there is a small fee.   Although mountain bikes are not allowed on the motocross track itself, there are plenty of excellent trails in the area.  Beware of motorcycle. 

If you park at the Sugar Mill, you can access the trails by one of two ways.  You can  ride back down Kamehameha Hwy. towards Haleiwa about a mile and enter through "Charley" gate near the US Army sign, or you can cross the highway and follow the roads to the rear of the housing area.  There is a gate though the fence behind the house that can be accessed. 

Once you get on the trails, just follow the single track and "explore".   There are some many trails in the area, it is difficult to give direction. 

 

     Peacock Flats

 

How to get there: Take H1 west to H2 north. When H2 ends, veer left to Wilikena Drive. After crossing the bridge, continue straight. The road is now called Kaukonahua which turns into Farrington Hwy. Follow Farrington through Waialua toward Mokuleia. The road to the trail head is a private road that is right before and next to a palm tree farm. You follow this road and park at the gate. This is the trail head.

 

Peacock Flats is at the top of the Waianae Mountains. The road leading up is paved and steep. There are trails at top.

 

Distance: 3

     Kealia Trial

 

How to get there: Take H1 west to H2 north. When H2 ends, veer left to Wilikena Drive. After crossing the bridge, continue straight. The road is now called Kaukonahua which turns into Farrington Hwy. Follow Farrington through Waialua toward Mokuleia and Dillingham airfield.

 

This trail is best accessed from the top via Peacock Flats since it is difficult to ride uphill.  It is a very technical trail with many "hike-a-bike" sections.

Distance: 2.9 one way.

 

     Kuliouou

How to get there: Take H1 east. Once you pass Diamond Head, H1 will turn into Kalanianaole Hwy. (Hwy. 72).   Follow Kalanianaole east-bound towards Hawaii Kai. Turn right at Kuliouou Road and right again at Kalaau Place where you can park at the end of the road.  Cross the cable and go right at the fork.

 

There are actually two trails here.  The first trail runs through the valley.   It is a short challenging  ride that starts out along side a stream bed for the first 3/4 of a mile that then becomes a rocky foot path. Plenty of roots and rocks which can be slippery when wet.  This trail is short and only goes in less than a mile

 

The second trail is the ridge trail, which is a challenging ride with multiple switch backs up the right side of the valley .  When you reach the picnic table at the top, the trail becomes suitable only for hiking.  After playing around on the small hills near the picnic table, you can either go back the way you came, or take the trail that is behind the picnic tables.  The trail behind the picnic tables is a fun, fast, technical rock spewn trail that ends at the next valley over from where you parked.   Make sure to veer to the left at each fork. You will have to ride back on the streets to get to your car, but it is well worth it. 

 

     Pupukea

 

How to get there: Take H1 west to H2 north. Go through Wahiawa following Kamehameha Hwy. to Haleiwa. Go past Waimea Bay and turn right just before the  Food Land supermarket.   Follow Pupukea Road all the way to the top and park at the end of  the road.   The trail head is at the gate straight ahead next to the Boy Scout camp.

 

Right after passing through the first gate, you will see a second gate to your Right.   This is the start of the down hill trail into Waimea Valley.  This is a private trail and there is a usage fee. You must register for access at Waimea Falls Park before riding on this trail. The Hawaii Mountain Bike Adventures at Waimea Falls Park runs a shuttle from Waimea Falls Park to the top of Pupukea Road on Sundays.

The main trail is the Kaunala (Cambodia) trail.  To find this trail, follow the dirt road from the Boy Scout camp about a half mile until you find the single track to your left.  This trail connects back to the dirt road where you will be able to find your way back, or continue on towards Kahuku.  This is an awesome trail about 5 miles. 

Another good ride is park your car at the park across from the Pupukea Foodland and ride up Pupukea Road to the trail head. You can ride this dirt road all the way to Kahuku by veering left at the first fork about a quarter mile past the Boy Scout camp (If you turn right at the gate, it is another entrance into Waimea Falls Park).  Follow the road all the way to Kahuku.   From Kahuku, you can follow Kamehameha highway back to the Pupukea Foodland where you began. A total distance of about twenty miles.

        St. Louis Heights

How to get there:  Take H1 east and exit at the University Blvd. exit.   Follow University Blvd. uphill towards UH and take your first right at Dole Street.   Follow Dole Street past the UH dorms until you see a small park on your right.   Park in this area.   From here, you can either shuttle riders to the top, ride your bike to the top, or take the city bus. To get to the bus stop, ride your bike in the same direction that you were driving and when you get to St. Louis Heights Drive, turn right and you will see the bus stop.  For a dollar, TheBus will take you to the top of St. Louis Heights and you can pedal the remaining few hundred feet to the park.  TheBus comes every hour, which is just enough time to get to the top, ride back down, and get ready for the next bus.  Check TheBus schedule for times.

The trail begins next to the picnic tables to your left as you ride in the park.   The trail is downhill the whole way,  is less than three miles and only takes about twenty minutes to ride.  But it's a blast.  If you like downhilling, it will be the best dollar you've ever spent. 

If you would like me to include your favorite trail, email me: mailto:sdbarre@aloha.net