Hiking the Puʻu Pia Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
Tucked away in the back of Mānoa Valley, the Puʻu Pia Trail is truly an Oʻahu hidden gem, as it’s one of the best short, easy, and most of all, scenic trails near Waikīkī.
On top of this, the Puʻu Pia Trail sees a fraction of the visitors compared to the nearby Mānoa Falls Trail, with views, in my opinion, that are far more beautiful!
Puʻu Pia Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Puʻu Pia Trail is located on Alani Drive in the very back of Mānoa Valley.
That being said, be aware that parking is only allowed on the valley side (right side) of the road when facing the ocean, so as to allow for traffic to pass, like the city bus.
Google Maps Directions: Puʻu Pia Trailhead
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 Puʻu Pia Trail
From the parking area, the Puʻu Pia Trailhead is located a bit further up Alani Drive, but parking is not allowed any closer than where it is shown above.
Once on the Puʻu Pia Trail, be sure to watch out for this chain across the path in the beginning, especially if you’re trail running.
Puʻu Pia-Kolowalu Junction
At about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) into the trail, the Puʻu Pia Trail splits with the Kolowalu Trail that leads up to Waʻahila Ridge.
In any case, go left to stay on the Puʻu Pia Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Kolowalu Trail
After the Kolowalu Trail split, the Puʻu Pia Trail will climb gradually, as it gains the ridge up to the summit.
I think it’s important to mention that even though these photos were taken on a beautiful sunny day, the back of Mānoa Valley, where Puʻu Pia is located, can be particularly rainy, which can make the hike a very muddy adventure.
Puʻu Pia-Waiakeakua Junction
Located a short distance below the summit, you may notice this split in the trail that descends off the ridge.
This is the split for both Waiakeakua Falls, as well as the Mānoa Middle Trail. However, both are far more confusing and involved hikes than Puʻu Pia, and to add to this, the connector trail that splits off of Puʻu Pia is not the best and most straightforward route to hike either.
Read My Separate Post: Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail
Puʻu Pia
After gaining roughly 450 ft. (137 m) of elevation in about 1.0 miles (1.6 km), you will have reached the summit of Puʻu Pia.
On a clear day, you can see great views of Waikīkī, Mt. Olympus, Kōnāhuanui, and the best views of Mānoa Middle Ridge, located almost directly up the mountains from the viewpoint.
Furthermore, the Puʻu Pia Trail is one of my favorite quick and easy sunset hikes because of how the mountains across the back of Mānoa Valley light up on a clear night, which is especially true when the sun sets further to the south during the winter!
Read My Separate Post: Best Sunset Hikes on Oʻahu
Past the viewpoint, the Puʻu Trail officially ends at the bench just up the trail.
That being said, the path does continue a bit further, but it fades quickly and is likely of no interest to most people.
Native Plants on the Puʻu Pia Trail
Since Puʻu Pia is a relatively low-elevation trail for Hawaiʻi, it’s inevitably one of the harder hikes to see native species, as the trail is dominated with non-native/ invasive ginger, Strawberry Guava, and Shoebutton throughout the lower forest.
However, toward the upper elevations, you can still find Koa, Uluhe, and ʻŌhiʻa lehua surviving among all these non-native species trying to choke them out.
All said, I encourage you to check out my separate post if you’re interested in learning more about these, as well as tons of other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands.
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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