Aiea Loop Trail: A Forest Escape in the Heart of Oʻahu

One of the more maintained trails on Oʻahu, the Aiea Loop is a great, beginner-friendly wooded escape. Admire the lush greenery, listen to birdsong, and maybe even catch a glimpse of an old WWII-era plane wreck nestled in the forest. It’s the kind of trail that lets you forget you're just minutes away from civilization.

Trail Info

Trailhead Name	Aiea Loop Trail
Distance	4.8 miles / 7.7 km (loop)
Estimated time	2-3 hours
Elevation gain	900 ft / 275 m
Highest point	1,700 ft / 518 m (Along trail)
Permits / fees	None
Parking	Paved lot
Toilets?	Yes
Dog friendly?	Yes

Know before you go

This trail can get muddy. It is Hawaiʻi after all and a few lower sections of the loop tend to hold onto that rain. Old shoes recommended.
This is a popular hike. While it's nothing like the crowds at Diamond Head, it’s more trafficked than your average Hawaiian trail.
You can do this hike either direction. I typically go clockwise, but counterclockwise offers a more balanced climb (and no steep road walk to finish it off).

Other routes leaving from Aiea Loop Trailhead

Aiea Ridge Trail

Distance: 9 miles (14.5 km) out and back

Elevation gain: 2,800 ft (850 m) gain

Details: A challenging ridge hike climbing to the Koʻolau crest with epic views of both sides of the island

Kalauao Falls

Distance: 4 miles (6.4 km) out and back

Elevation gain: 700 ft (210 m) gain

Details: A tough trail featuring a steep descent into the valley and multiple stream crossings, ending at a beautiful, secluded waterfall.

The Trail

There are a few parking areas in the park, but the most common spot is the upper lot, marked by this trailhead sign. I chose to hike this clockwise, but you can do the entire loop in reverse if you’d like.

And so the hike begins. You’ll see a lot of this—large trees lining a meandering, mellow path.

There are a couple of viewpoints, though nothing fully panoramic. But even the partially shrouded glimpses of the surrounding ridges are a treat.

One of the things I love about this hike is its flow. The trail gently winds through a sea of green, with a lush ridge wall on one side and the dense forested valley on the other.

✈️ Note: In the valley below are remnants of a B-24 bomber that crashed during World War II in 1944. The wreckage can reportedly be spotted near mile 2.5 of the loop, though it’s hidden well in the undergrowth. Here's a helpful link with more info. I’ve never seen it myself—probably because I was either trail running or lost in thought.

One of my favorite spots on the trail is this tight hairpin turn, marked by a beautiful leafless tree. It's not only a striking landmark, it also offers a great spot to pause and take in the view.

If you explore a little here, you can often find a break in the trees revealing the crest of the Koʻolau Range. That ribbon of road you see? That’s the H3 Highway, one of the most expensive highways in the U.S. per mile to build.

Different angle, same vibe—this time courtesy of some drone magic. That tree makes the perfect perch for a quick aerial shot.

Back to the trail, here’s another look at that winding, tree-covered path.

And one of my favorite types of trees on Oʻahu, the Cook pine. These are the ones with all the little notches spiraling up the trunk, used back in the day as climbing footholds.

This low-lying section of the trail is where the mud tends to collect. But if you've hiked in Hawaiʻi before, you know this is par for the course.

After this stretch, you’ll tackle the most physically demanding part of the hike: a sustained ascent that eventually pops you out near the campground.

Then comes the only awkward part of the loop: a steep paved road back up to the parking lot. This is why I recommend the counterclockwise route. You’ll hit this section at the start instead of at the end.

Regardless of which way you go, if you’re looking for a dose of forest and fresh air, this trail delivers.

SS Reflections

I’ve always heard about forest bathing—the idea that walking slowly and mindfully through the woods can lower stress, improve mood, and boost creativity.

That’s what Aiea Loop does for me. It may not offer jaw-dropping views like a Koʻolau summit hike, but there’s something restorative about being surrounded by green, wrapped in birdsong and eucalyptus air.

Other helpful resources

The official DNLR page that describes the trail and any park updates and closures