The Hau’ula Loop Trail is a 4.4-mile loop path positioned on the northeastern coast of Oahu. The path takes hikers by means of a dense forest of Ironwood and Cook Pines, providing an opportunity to watch Hawaii’s distinctive wildlife alongside the way in which. One of the highlights of the Hau’ula Loop Trail is the panoramic view of the shoreline and the Hau’ula Beach Park from the summit. The path can be dotted with varied lookout factors, the place hikers can take a break and benefit from the breathtaking surroundings.
HAU’ULA LOOP TRAIL
In this weblog put up, I’ll share all the particulars concerning the Hau’ula Loop Trail together with instructions, what to anticipate, and my expertise.
BEST RENTAL CAR COMPANY IN HAWAII
When you e book your Hawaii Rental Car on-line, I personally suggest and all the time use Discover Cars. They seek for each native and worldwide corporations, so that you get one of the best deal!
HAU’ULA LOOP TRAIL DETAILS
- Hike Distance: The complete distance of the Hau’ula Loop Trail is 4.4 miles, which is roughly 7.65 kilometers.
- Hike Duration: The hike sometimes takes about 3-4 hours to finish, relying in your climbing pace and for those who add within the Waipilopilo Loop as we did.
- Hike Difficulty: The Hau’ula Loop Trail is a good hike for all ranges, with no actual risks or drop-offs. However, the path does have a little bit of a gentle incline, so it’s advisable that you simply be in first rate form. The path is rated as reasonably troublesome.
- Hike Incline: The complete incline for the Hau’ula Loop Trail hike is roughly 455 meters for those who add the Waipilopilo Loop or 268m for those who do the common brief loop.
- Strava Upload: Hau’ula Loop
TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY ON OAHU
- Ultimate Luxury: Lotus Honolulu – Diamond Head View, Great Waikiki Location
- My Favorite: Aston Waikiki Beach – Best worth in Waikiki & Great location
- Value Hotel Waikiki: Surfjack Hotel is well one of the best worth (luxurious) lodge in Waikiki
HOW TO GET TO THE HAU’ULA LOOP TRAIL
The Hau’ula Loop Trailhead is well accessible by automobile. To get there from Honolulu, take the LikeLike freeway east and proceed onto the Kahekili Highway till you attain Hau’ula. Look out for the Hau’ula Loop Trailhead indicators in your left-hand facet, simply after the 7-Eleven comfort retailer. There is a small parking zone close to the trailhead, however it may possibly replenish shortly on busy days. If the parking zone is full, there’s further parking out there alongside the close by streets. Once you park, search for the trailhead signal and begin following the path. The hike begins with a delicate incline that regularly turns into steeper as you climb larger up the hill.
THE FOUR MOST POPULAR OAHU TOURS
HAU’ULA LOOP TRAILHEAD MAP
On the map under, I’ve pinned the placement of the Hau’ula Trailhead so you’re sorted with instructions to the hike. It is signed effectively on the entrance and the route will be downloaded from many native climbing apps.
MY EXPERIENCE ON THE HAU’ULA LOOP TRAIL
The Hau’ula Loop Trail is an area favourite on the northeastern coast of Oahu. The common loop is simply over 4 kilometers with a reasonable incline. However, the addition of the Waipilopilo Loop is usually recommended and makes the route rather more thrilling and difficult with extra incline, extra distance, and higher views.
The path begins within the neighborhood of Hau’ula with a well-signed trailhead. There are numerous trails that shoot off from the Hau’ula Loop Trail so I recommend having the map route downloaded onto your cellphone if it’s your first time.
The first jiffy of the route are on a paved highway earlier than the path shoots off onto a collection of switchbacks by means of the forest.
While it appears shady and guarded, this route is extremely humid with nearly no breeze till you high out on the summit or the ridges. We hiked up early within the morning on an overcast day and had been sweating closely amidst the humidity after just some minutes.
The path reaches a break up the place you’ll be able to go full the whole Waipilopilo Loop in both path. I selected to remain on the left facet of the loop first so as to have the ability to full the Hau’ula Loop part on the way in which again the place it rejoins.
This weblog put up is concerning the Hau’ula Loop however the actuality is that the Waipilopilo Loop was my favourite a part of this route. It’s the place the ridges, lookouts, and attention-grabbing sections of the path had been discovered.
After about thirty minutes, we reached our first lookout over the northeastern coast. Unfortunately, regardless of our dawn wake-up name, the skies had been overcast and never offering us with a lot gentle. Nevertheless, the views down the ridge and throughout to the adjoining ridges had been beginning to get higher and higher as we continued our climb up towards the summit. Below, you’ll be able to see the 2 ridges we took up and down on the Waipilopilo Loop above the Hau’ula Loop Trail.
There had been about 5 or 6 small plateau viewpoints alongside the journey to the summit. Each gave a barely higher view again right down to the coast.
After about 1.5 hours, we reached the summit. It was a leisurely tempo with a lot of images and time loved at viewpoints however the 450m of incline additionally added to that point. At the summit, we took within the panoramic view of the Kaipapu Forest Reserve, Pu’uka’inapua’a, Hau’ula Forest reserve, and the wind generators within the distance. The ridges behind us caught a bit of bit of sunshine and seemed unimaginable.
HAWAII HIKING PACKING LIST
Many folks come unprepared for climbing on Oahu and that’s why there are such a lot of rescues. Make certain you at the least have the fundamentals and you’ll be ready for unhealthy climate or any mishaps on the path. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good climbing boots or sneakers are the three important items of drugs you want.
What are my favourite items of climbing gear?
There are 4 items of drugs that I merely always remember once I go on a hike. These are 4 gadgets that I utilizing proper now and this listing will get up to date yearly! Here are my climbing necessities.
- Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s tremendous gentle, folds down right into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one by no means leaves my backpack.
- Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots: For one of the best ankle help, waterproofing, and sturdy exterior I’m a fan of powerful however gentle climbing boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
- Black Diamond Head Torch: I can’t let you know what number of occasions, I’ve arrived again from a hike unexpectedly late. I all the time preserve this light-weight however robust headtorch in my bag for the sudden.
- Darn Tough Socks: These are essentially the most snug climbing socks I’ve ever worn and final for years. They even have a lifetime guarantee and also you simply ship them in with a gap and so they exchange it no questions requested.
The route down the north ridge of the Waipilopilo Loop, heading again to the Hau’ula Loop was fairly lovely. The path started with some minor rope sections as a consequence of a little bit of muddy terrain. This was essentially the most ‘technical’ a part of the path however the few ropes put in made these sections fairly protected.
I discovered this northern ridge to be the luxurious facet of the route with tropical vegetation spilling over onto the path round every nook.
The path then merges again from the tropical ridge again into the forest. The tender dust path accommodates the knees with shock absorption, making the descent a tender one. We got here throughout numerous lovely, previous bushes on this hike however some had been extra outstanding than others.
Finally, the tree reconnects with the Hau’ula Loop Trail and winds by means of the towering Cook Pines. This part of path is a good way to finish with tender pine needles underfoot, bushes capturing as much as the sky, and vibrant inexperienced undergrowth finishing the scene.
We joined again up with the preliminary part of the Hau’ula Loop and made it again to the trailhead in slightly below 4 hours regardless of our gradual tempo all through the route. It may very well be simply performed in underneath three hours however I’d permit 3-4 hours for this route for those who embrace Waipilopilo Loop. If you simply do the Hau’ula Loop Trail, I’d permit 1.5 to 2 hours at a leisurely tempo.
I hope you loved this information to the Hau’ula Loop Trail and Waipilopilo Loop Trail on Oahu, Hawaii. There are a number of different nice hikes on Oahu, particularly on this area comparable to: