Hiking the Hauʻula Loop Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
When it comes to hiking on the North Shore, Oʻahu doesn’t have a ton of trails to choose from.
However, the Hauʻula Loop Trail is easily the most scenic North Shore hike, and it’s one of the best kid-friendly day hikes on Oʻahu. I say this because the Hauʻula Loop is not too long, there’s not too much uphill, and compared to other nearby trails, it’s not very muddy.
The same can’t be said about the nearby ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail, which can be very muddy if it has recently rained.
Hauʻula Loop vs. Maʻakua Ridge
If you’re trying to decide between the Hauʻula Loop Trail or the Maʻakua Ridge Trail, I personally recommend the Hauʻula Loop.
The Hauʻula Loop is, by far, the better choice, and that’s mainly because it’s a much more beautiful trail, with views such as one shown below.
Read My Separate Post: Maʻakua Ridge Trail
Hauʻula Loop Trailhead Parking
Since parking is limited in the neighborhood leading up to the Hauʻula Loop Trail, it is best to park at the Hauʻula Beach Park, located directly across the street from where the trail begins on Hauʻula Homestead Road.
Note that the distance above is not the distance from the Hauʻula Beach Park, but rather, from the start of the first trail sign on Maʻakua Road.
Google Maps Directions: Hauʻula Beach Park
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Hauʻula Loop Trail
The Hauʻula Loop Trail begins at the end of Hauʻula Homestead/ Maʻakua Road, which is marked by a Nā Ala Hele trail sign for both the Hauʻula Loop and Maʻakua Ridge Trail.
Shortly after passing the sign in the photo above, the road will lead through two sets of gates before reaching the true trailhead, located about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away on the right-hand side of the road.
Hauʻula Loop-Maʻakua Ridge Trailhead
After 0.1 miles (0.2 km), go right to being the Hauʻula Loop Trail, as the trail to the left begins Maʻakua Ridge Trail, along with Papali Ridge and the Castle Trail.
Read My Separate Posts: Maʻakua Ridge Trail / Papali Ridge Trail / Castle Trail
The Hauʻula Loop Trail starts off on a relatively flat trail before coming to a stream crossing within the first 0.1 miles (0.2 km) of the trailhead.
Depending on how recently it has rained, this stream may or may not be flowing.
After the stream crossing, the trail climbs a number of switchbacks until the split for the Hauʻula Loop.
Hauʻula Loop Trail
In my opinion, the north side of the loop (right) is the more beautiful half, and the south side of the loop (left) is the less beautiful half.
That being said, I personally prefer to go left through the less-scenic half first because I think it makes the loop more enjoyable, which is exactly the direction this article is written.
From the Hauʻula Loop split, the trail gradually climbs about 430 ft. (131 m) until both sides of the loop meet at the second Waipilopilo junction.
East Waipilopilo Junction
The path leading up the ridge to the left is for the longer Hauʻula-Waipilopilo Loop Trail.
However, go right if you weren’t planning on hiking further than the Hauʻula Loop, as the less-trafficked Waipilopilo Trail is a bit more confusing and adds an additional 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to the hike.
After the first Waipilopilo junction, the trail descends down to a small stream crossing.
West Waipilopilo Junction
Shortly past the stream, the second Waipilopilo junction meets with the Hauʻula Loop Trail at the first Kaipapaʻu Gulch viewpoint.
In my opinion, the Cook Pine forest is the best part of the Hauʻula Loop, which is why I like to save it for the end.
Toward the end of the Hauʻula Loop, the trail descends back down to the original split from the beginning.
Hauʻula Loop Junction
At the end of the loop, go left to head back down to the trailhead.
Native Plants on the Hauʻula Loop Trail
Since the Hauʻula Loop Trail is relatively low-elevation adventure, there isn’t a ton of diversity when it comes to native plants. Furthermore, many of the plants that you will come across are non-native/ invasive species, like Christmas berry.
However, toward the upper elevations of the trail, you can see native species, like ʻĀkia, Uluhe, Koa, Palaʻā, Kōlea, and some ʻŌhiʻa lehua trees.
If you’d like to learn more about these and tons other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to read more in my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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