Hiking the Tantalus Arboretum Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
The Tantalus Arboretum Trail in the southern Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu is a short, isolated trail, away from the vast network of trails that span across Tantalus, from the Makiki Valley State Recreation Area at the bottom to the Pauoa Bench at the top.
This is because the entirety of the Tantalus Arboretum Trail is located just off Tantalus Drive, where it circles the base of the next switchback in the road and then returns upon completing the short loop.
This is all to say that the Tantalus Arboretum Trail is, without a doubt, the easiest day hike on Tantalus, which largely has to do with how short the hike is compared to others that make up the Tantalus Loop Trail.
Tantalus Arboretum Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Tantalus Arboretum Trail is located in one of a few different roadside spots off Tantalus Drive near the trailhead.
Out of caution, consider the Tantalus Arboretum 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: Tantalus Arboretum 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 Tantalus Arboretum Trail
Of all the trails on Tantalus, the Tantalus Arboretum Trail is the least-trafficked day hike, and the lack of traffic, as well as the maintenance on the trail, makes the hike a little more confusing than it may initially appear.
By comparison, the Tantalus Loop Trail is hiked by residents daily. However, being that the Tantalus Arboretum Trail is not connected to the larger trail network, it doesn’t see near the same amount of visitors.
Tantalus Arboretum Loop Trail
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Tantalus Arboretum Trail splits into both an upper and lower loop.
Personally, I typically hike the upper (left) trail first because I like to hike through the tree tunnel in this direction.
This tree tunnel and the subsequent right turn may be the most confusing part of the Tantalus Arboretum Trail.
Here, the trail passes through a close grouping of trees, dropping down a steep step before leaving the little tunnel on the other side.
On the far side of the tunnel, the trails begins the lower 'half' of the Tantalus Arboretum Loop.
This part of the trail may not be as obvious as it should be on account of the overgrowth, but you can find the trail curving sharply to the right through these vines before continuing on a more obvious path that immediately follows.
This is one of the nicer and more accessible Ficus trees on Oʻahu.
Tantalus Loop Junction
This is where the short Tantalus Arboretum Loop meets back up with the beginning of the trail.
If you plan on doing this short walk without stopping, then shorts and a short-sleeved shirt are perfect. However, if you want to slow down and take any photos in the tree tunnel or other locations, I recommend hiking in long pants and long sleeves because of the mosquitoes.
I say this because all of the fallen leaf litter is essentially a perfect mosquito habitat, and being the case, the mosquitoes are horrible on essentially every inch of the Tantalus Arboretum Trail, even during the warmest parts of the day.
That being said, the hiking pants linked below are what I personally recommend for hiking across in Hawaiʻi, as the are not only are they useful here on Tantalus, but they’re also great for countless other adventures across Oʻahu—especially those that are overgrown!
Below are my two recommendations that hold up the best with the overgrowth here in Hawaiʻi, but with any hiking pants that need to be durable, make sure that they are at or near 100% nylon. This is really the most important factor!
Native Plants on Tantalus Arboretum
The Tantalus Arboretum Trail is a heavily-invaded trail covered in non-native species, like Golden Pothos, Ginger, and various invasive trees.
For this reason, I highly recommend hiking elsewhere on the Tantalus Loop Trail to see native Hawaiian plants, as the Tantalus Arboretum Trail is easily one of the worst places to appreciate Hawaiʻi for its beautiful native biodiversity.
All being said, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below if you would like to learn about 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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