Hiking the Nuʻuanu Trail on Oʻahu

Distance: 5.6 miles / 9.0 km

The Nuʻuanu Trail on the Pali side of Tantalus is more or less a connector trail to the large network of trails found throughout Tantalus. Furthermore, the Nuʻuanu Trail is often thought of as the sister hike to the ʻAihualama Trail, located on the Mānoa Valley side of the mountain.

That being said, the Nuʻuanu Trail is seldomly hiked on it’s own, as it’s often joined with the Pauoa Flats Trail to the bench or Puʻu Kōnāhuanui via Lulumahu Ridge. Be that as it may, the distance above is only the roundtrip distance on the Nuʻuanu Trail and doesn’t not include anything further.

Puʻu Kōnāhuanui (K1)

If you’re trying to hike to the summit of Puʻu Kōnāhuanui from Nuʻuanu, the total distance is 5.5 miles (8.9 km) each way, with an additional 860 ft. (262 m) of elevation gain compared to 4.1 miles (6.6 km) each way from the traditional Puʻu ʻŌhiʻa Trailhead.

Read My Separate Post: Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Ridge Trail

Nuʻuanu Trailhead Parking

Parking for the Nuʻuanu Trail is located at Judd Trailhead, off the side of Nuʻuanu Pali Drive.

That being said, never park at this trailhead with an expired registration or a safety check. HPD and towing companies have been known to target this area for cars that they can legally tow if one of these is expired.

Furthermore, consider the Judd Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.

Google Maps Directions: Judd Trailhead

Judd Trailhead Parking

Judd Trailhead Parking

 

Hiking the Nuʻuanu Trail

The Nuʻuanu Trail begins at the Judd Trailhead and remains on the Judd Trail for the first 0.5 miles (0.8 km).

Judd Trailhead

Judd Trail

Judd Trail

Nuʻuanu Stream

Within the first 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Judd Trail crosses the Nuʻuanu Stream.

Unless the stream is running high, there is usually a way to cross on the rocks without getting your shoes wet.

Nuʻuanu Stream

Judd Loop Trail

On the far side of the stream, you can either go left (straight) around the upper side of the loop or right on the lower, but longer, side.

Personally, I recommend going left (straight) at the split, in order to take the fastest route to the Nuʻuanu Trail junction.

Read My Separate Post: Judd Trail

Go Left (Straight)

Upper Judd Loop Trail

Lower Judd Loop Trail

Upper Judd Loop Trail

Upper Judd Loop Trail

Upper Judd Loop Trail

These Cook Pines are some of the most beautiful sections on the entire hike, and they make for a great place to take photos when the late afternoon light is just right!

Upper Judd Loop Trail

Upper Judd Loop Trail

Nuʻuanu-Judd Loop Junction

After 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Nuʻuanu Trail will split to the left.

This is where all of the uphill begins for about 850 ft. (259 m) of elevation gain to the Pauoa Flats Trail on Tantalus.

If you are interested in learning more about the full Judd Trail Loop and the Jackass Ginger Pool, I encourage you to check out my separate article using the link below.

Read My Separate Post: Judd Trail

Go Left

Nuʻuanu Trail

Judd Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

After the first few small switchbacks in the beginning, the Nuʻuanu Trail will climb four major switchbacks to gain the upper ridge that leads up to the Pauoa Flats Trail.

The photo below is the first of four switchbacks.

First Switchback

Second Switchback

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Third Switchback

Nuʻuanu Trail

Fourth Switchback

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Upper Ridge

After walking under the beautiful Banyan Tree in the photo above, the Nuʻuanu Trail begins the upper ridge, which is where the best views on the entire hike can be found!

Nuʻuanu Trail

This ʻŌhiʻa-Koa forest is the only part of the entire Nuʻuanu Trail that passes through a predominately native forest.

ʻŌhiʻa Forest

ʻŌhiʻa Forest

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Nuʻuanu Trail

Pauoa Flats Trail

The end of the Nuʻuanu Trail is the Pauoa Flats Trail. That said, one of the popular destinations to hike to on Tantalus is the Pauoa Flats Bench, located to the left, less than a half-mile away from this junction.

If you have any interest in hiking some of the Tantalus Loop Trail or hiking to the beautiful Mānoa Cliff Restoration Area, I encourage you to use the map in the photo below or check out my separate article about the entire network of trails up on Tantalus.

Read My Separate Post: Tantalus Loop Trail

Pauoa Flats Bench (Left) / Tantalus Loop Trail (Right)

Pauoa Flats Trail

Tantalus Trail Map

Pauoa Flats Bench (Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Ridge Trail)

As the saying goes, all Tantalus trails lead to K1.

While this is true regarding the Nuʻuanu Trail, I highly recommend reading my separate post if you’d like to learn more about hiking to the top of the Koʻolau Mountain Range.

I say this because beginning from the bottom of Nuʻuanu Valley wouldn’t be ideal, but as previously mentioned, the Nuʻuanu Trail does make for a great return hike if you’re considering Lulumahu Ridge or the Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST) up the Pali Notches to K1.

Read My Separate Post: Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Ridge Trail

Pauoa Flats Bench

Native Plants on the Nuʻuanu Trail

For the most part, the Nuʻuanu Trail is a heavily-invaded Oʻahu hike, with little to no native species below the upper ridge.

Still, there are a few to look out for, such as ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Koa, Uluhe, and Palaʻā.

If you would like to learn more about tons of native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.

Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide

ʻŌhiʻa lehua - (Metrosideros polymorpha var. macrophylla)

@noahawaii

Hi,

Iʻm a self-taught adventure photographer living on the island of Oʻahu.

@noahawaii

https://noahlangphotography.com/
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Hiking the Lulumahu Ridge Trail to Puʻu Kōnāhuanui on Oʻahu

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Hiking the Mokulēʻia Forest Reserve Access Road on Oʻahu