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Aiea Loop Trail
Located within the Central Region on Oahu
Guide Snapshot
A quick fit check before you commit to this trail.
Difficulty
Easy
Distance
Just under 5 miles
Estimated time
2-3 hours
Elevation & terrain
Rolling forest path
Family fit
Good for active kids
Highlights
Loop · Shade · Forest
Central Oahu Hike
Hiking Trails on Oahu
Aiea Loop Trail
This hike is the ideal hike for those who are not as active. Running just under five miles, you will be grateful for the shade and relatively flat pathways along most of the trail. Along the loop, you can explore the beauty of native trees, in a cool, shady, verdant forest with lemon eucalyptus groves, Norfolk pine, native koa, and ʻōhiʻa trees.
The trail is located on the west side of Hālawa Valley, where you can also take in some impressive views from the ridge, including Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and the Ko‘olau Mountains. The beauty of the trail is that you will find something new at every turn. Halfway along the trail, a lookout point offers a stunning view of the Hālawa Valley.
Trail day tools
Before you drive to the trailhead, check the trail and weather layer.
Hawaii hikes can change quickly with closures, rain, mud, heat, and daylight.
The loop is about 12 miles from Waikiki. There’s enough parking even during the busy season as well as respectable restrooms located at the Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area. This 384-acre park is where you’ll find the trailhead.
And let’s not forget the bonus – you can reward your workout with a slice of lemon-crunch cake at The Alley Restaurant three miles down the road.
Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Heavy rain from the past day is clearing out tonight. You'll see scattered showers Friday morning—lighter and less frequent than what came through—then dry trade winds move in and stick around through at least the middle of next week.
Windward and upland areas will still catch occasional brief showers even as things dry out, but leeward sides turn partly cloudy to mostly clear. Moderate surf holds on south, north, and west-facing beaches through the weekend, close to warning strength. Winds stay gusty through Friday as the system pulls away, then ease once the trades lock in.
Beach days and snorkeling on leeward shores start looking good Saturday. Summit trips and exposed hikes are best waited until winds ease this weekend.
0:000:55
Voice
Read the transcript
Heavy rain from the past 24 hours is ending tonight. You'll catch scattered showers through Friday morning—lighter and thinner than what just passed. Trade winds take over after Friday and hold steady through the middle of next week, bringing drier conditions and partly cloudy to mostly clear skies on the leeward side.
Windward areas will still see brief showers even as things dry out. Moderate surf hits south, north, and west-facing beaches through the weekend, close to warning levels on the south shore but not quite there. Gusty winds persist tonight and Friday, especially near mountains and exposed coasts, then ease once the trades settle.
Leeward beaches and snorkeling spots turn prime starting Saturday. Save the summit drive and ridge hikes for when winds ease this weekend.
0:000:49
Voice
Read the transcript
Heavy rain from the past 24 hours is ending tonight. You'll see scattered showers through Friday morning, but they're tapering off and becoming lighter. After Friday, dry trade winds settle in and hold through at least the middle of next week. Windward and upland areas will still catch occasional brief showers, but leeward sides turn partly cloudy to mostly clear. Moderate surf is on south, north, and west-facing beaches through the weekend—close to warning levels. Winds stay gusty through Friday as the system moves away, then ease once trades settle in. Plan leeward beach days and snorkeling for Saturday onward. Summit trips and exposed hikes are best waited until winds ease this weekend.
0:000:54
Voice
Read the transcript
Heavy rain from the past 24 hours is ending tonight. You'll catch scattered showers through Friday morning—lighter and brief—then trade winds move in and dry things out through at least the middle of next week.
Windward and upland spots will still see occasional showers even as conditions clear, but expect partly cloudy to mostly clear skies on leeward sides. Moderate surf holds on the south, north, and west-facing beaches through the weekend, close to warning levels but not quite there. Winds stay gusty tonight and Friday near the mountains and coast, then settle once the trades take hold.
If you're planning beach time, leeward shores are your best bet starting Saturday. Summit trips and exposed hikes are best waited until winds ease this weekend.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
