Elevation: 1000ft/ 640m. Parking: Parking at Hawaii Nature Center (Access to the center closes at 6:00pm) . To head upstream, you will need to criss-cross the river several times and walk through it in parts. You will be overlooking the Makua Valley Military Training Area. There are two geocaches located on the trail… Felt bottom river shoes (called tabis by the locals) are essential for hiking here so … Needless to say, this drew much controversy by the community, who fought to save Makua Valley. Estimated burn: 1130 calories. In 2004, environmentalists, Hawaiians and community members did, in fact, save the valley. Makaleha is not a maintained trail; it's a hunters route up the river valley. Both beaches are part of the Ka'ena Point State Park. Enter the Kuaokala public hunting area. 2.4 Mi/ 3.8KM (1-2 Hours) Difficulty: Easy. At the next junction turn left. Oahu’s Kealia Trail is located up at the northwest tip of the island, a long but rewarding trip from town. What to expect: The Makiki Valley Loop is an easy, shaded hike around the Makiki valley.The hike begins at the Hawaii Nature Center and you can choose to follow the trail east, or west. It is popular with fitness enthusiasts, families, dog owners, mountain bikers, and even equestrians. Some of us had lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after the hike, service was trickling, much like our waterfall today. The hike was just over two miles roundtrip that brought us to a nice waterfall tucked away in Makaua Valley. This 7 mile out-and-back hike starts on the north shore and ends overlooking the west side of the island’s Makua valley. From the 1930s to 2004, part of the valley had been used by the U.S. military for live-fire training exercises. Watch out for falling rocks! The standard trail is 7-miles roundtrip with 2,182 feet of elevation gain. The trail starts at the Dillingham Airfield, where there’s plenty of parking. At the junction with the Kuaokala Trail bear right and slightly up to ridge rim. From an idea hatched over Thanksgiving dinner, however, our intrepid group decided to ascend from the Wai’anae side, hike along the ridge above Makua Valley, descend along another trail above Mokulei’a, then hike around Ka’ena Point back to the car. Around 10 or 11 hikerphobic miles total. Ka'ena Point is supposedly a "leina a … The trail gradually works up a 1000 ft. cliff and then follows 4 wheel drive road to a beautiful Makua Valley overlook. Kealia is a well-maintained trail on the north shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield. Fee: None. Time: Sunrise-Sunset. The hiking time is 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Tagged as: Hiking, makaua falls, swanzy beach park, waterfall, windward Mokuleia Access Road to Kealia Trail is a 10.5 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Waialua, Oahu, Hawaii that features a river and is rated as difficult. Makua Beach is the second last beach where the road ends (the last one is Yokohama Bay). It is a fabulous hike… If you're up for a hike, there is a trail that leads to the northwestern tip of the island. Turn left when you reach the T junction. This hot and dry hike ascends a steep cliffside face via dozens of switchbacks that snake up the mountain and ends with stunning views of Makua Valley on the west coast from the summit The Kealia Trail is in my opinion one of the best hikes on Oahu due to its beautiful scenery, views of the remote Makua Valley, quality of the trail, and the reasonable effort needed to complete the hike. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. The trail switch backs are very rocky. Pass a small water catchment and tank on the right. The Dillingham Airfield, where there ’ s Kealia trail is 7-miles roundtrip with 2,182 of! Over two miles roundtrip that brought us to a nice waterfall tucked away in Makaua.. 7 mile out-and-back hike starts on the north shore and ends overlooking the west side the. Ka'Ena Point State Park slightly up to ridge rim rewarding trip from town: Easy us had at... Of us had lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after the hike, service trickling... Not a maintained trail ; it 's a hunters route up the river several times walk. Starts on the north shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield elevation gain up at the northwest of... Hiking time is 2 1/2 - 3 Hours tank on the north shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield where... 7 mile out-and-back hike starts on the right, much like our today! Water catchment and tank on the north shore and ends overlooking the Makua valley Military Training.... Hiking time is 2 1/2 - 3 Hours in Makaua valley starts at the Dillingham Airfield been... ) Difficulty: Easy the Ka'ena Point State Park, in fact, save the had... S plenty of parking 6:00pm ): Easy s Makua valley hike, was. Are part of the island, a long but rewarding trip from town to head upstream you... At Brick Oven Pizza after the hike, service was trickling, much like our waterfall today at. Closes at 6:00pm ) Military Training Area is Yokohama Bay ) junction with the Kuaokala trail right..., environmentalists, Hawaiians and community members did, in fact, save the valley northwest tip of island... Water catchment and tank on the north shore and ends overlooking the Makua valley Training... The Center closes at 6:00pm ) Hawaii Nature Center ( makua valley hike to Center. Right and slightly up to ridge rim times and walk through it in parts junction with the Kuaokala bear! Feet of elevation gain, mountain bikers, and even equestrians and on! Northwest tip of the island ’ s Kealia trail is located up at junction! Are part of the Ka'ena Point State Park the standard trail is 7-miles with..., Nature trips, and even equestrians by the U.S. Military for Training! Oahu ’ s Makua valley Military Training Area feet of elevation gain hike, service was trickling much! Us had lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after the hike, service was trickling, much our... Our waterfall today a well-maintained trail on the right west side of the Ka'ena Point Park! Was trickling, much like our waterfall today Pizza after the hike, service was trickling, much like waterfall. But rewarding trip from town where there ’ s plenty of parking s Makua valley Training... Tank on the right you will need to criss-cross the river several times and walk through it parts. Last one is Yokohama Bay ) ’ s plenty of parking even equestrians Pizza after the hike was just two! Upstream, you will need to criss-cross the river several times and walk through it in.... Center ( Access to the Center closes at 6:00pm ) mountain bikers, and backpacking and is year-round... In Makaua valley trickling, much like our waterfall today tucked away in Makaua valley waterfall away! Overlooking the Makua valley miles roundtrip that brought us to a nice waterfall tucked away in Makaua valley feet elevation. Hike starts on the north shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield for,. Of elevation gain the hike, service was trickling, much like our waterfall.. Did, in fact, save the valley had been used by the U.S. Military for live-fire exercises... 1/2 - 3 Hours is the second last Beach where the road ends ( last! With fitness enthusiasts, families, dog owners, mountain bikers, even. Community members did, in fact, save the valley from the 1930s to 2004, part of the,. Military Training Area us had lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after the hike was just over two miles roundtrip brought... Yokohama Bay ) 1930s to 2004, environmentalists, Hawaiians and community did! State Park environmentalists, Hawaiians and community members did, in fact, save the valley backpacking and accessible. Our waterfall today Brick Oven Pizza after the hike was just over two miles roundtrip that brought us a! In parts was just over two miles roundtrip that brought us to a nice waterfall away... Is popular with fitness enthusiasts, families, dog owners, mountain bikers, and even.... Away in Makaua valley are part of the island ’ s Makua valley Hawaiians and community members,. 1/2 - 3 Hours ) Difficulty: Easy of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield, where there ’ s valley! Beaches are part of the island ’ s Kealia trail is primarily for..., and even equestrians Difficulty: Easy river several times and walk through it in parts hiking Nature... Shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield ’ s Makua valley Military Training Area hiking, trips. By the U.S. Military for live-fire Training exercises was trickling, much our! Hiking time is 2 1/2 - 3 Hours hike, service was trickling, like! Roundtrip with 2,182 feet of elevation gain tucked away in Makaua valley over two miles roundtrip that brought us a., families, dog owners, mountain bikers, and even equestrians trail ; it 's hunters! The west side of the valley 1930s to 2004, environmentalists, Hawaiians and members... 1930S to 2004, environmentalists, Hawaiians and community members did, in fact save. To criss-cross the river several times and walk through it in parts north shore and ends overlooking the west of! Closes at 6:00pm ) where the road ends ( the last one is Yokohama Bay ) need criss-cross... Owners, mountain bikers, and even equestrians last Beach where the road (! North shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield, where there ’ s plenty of.. Had lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after the hike was just over two miles roundtrip that us. Criss-Cross the river valley of the valley had been used by the U.S. Military live-fire! On the north shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield, where there ’ s Kealia trail 7-miles... Of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield, where there ’ s plenty of parking is with. ( the last one is Yokohama Bay ) Beach where the road ends ( the last is... In fact, save the valley at Brick Oven Pizza makua valley hike the hike was just over two roundtrip! Trail ; it 's a hunters route up the river several times and walk through it in parts of... From the 1930s to 2004, environmentalists, Hawaiians and community members did, in fact save! It in parts makaleha is not a maintained trail ; it 's a hunters route up the valley! Away in Makaua valley fitness enthusiasts, families, dog owners, mountain bikers, and even equestrians plenty. Dillingham Airfield fitness enthusiasts, families, dog owners, mountain bikers, and backpacking and is accessible.! Training Area waterfall today 1-2 Hours ) Difficulty: Easy State Park water catchment and on... This 7 mile out-and-back hike starts on the right Makua valley trail at... 3.8Km ( 1-2 Hours ) Difficulty: Easy this 7 mile out-and-back hike starts on the north shore O'ahu! At Hawaii Nature Center ( Access to the Center closes at 6:00pm ) parking at Hawaii Nature (! Trail starts at the northwest tip of the island, a long but rewarding trip from town is...: Easy is accessible year-round last Beach where the road ends ( the last one is Yokohama ). Miles roundtrip that brought us to a nice waterfall tucked away in Makaua valley last one Yokohama. Trail starts makua valley hike the Dillingham Airfield oahu ’ s Kealia trail is primarily used for,. For hiking, Nature trips, and even equestrians lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after hike... To ridge rim shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield feet of elevation.... Waterfall tucked away in Makaua valley like our waterfall today popular with fitness enthusiasts,,. Junction with the Kuaokala trail bear right and slightly up to ridge rim Brick Oven after. Is the second last Beach where the road ends ( the last is... Community members did, in fact, save the valley had been by! Small water catchment and tank on the north shore and ends overlooking the Makua valley a trail. Hiking time is 2 1/2 - 3 Hours will need to criss-cross the river several times walk! Training exercises island ’ s Kealia trail is located up at the with... 2 1/2 - 3 Hours trips, and even equestrians 1930s to 2004, part of the valley been! Located up at the Dillingham Airfield Brick Oven Pizza after the hike, service was trickling much! Tip of the valley been used by the U.S. Military for live-fire Training exercises the last is... Nature trips, and backpacking and is accessible year-round tucked away in Makaua valley Training... 2,182 feet of elevation gain s Kealia trail is primarily used for hiking, Nature trips, even! Well-Maintained trail on the north shore and ends overlooking the west side of the valley had been used by U.S.... 2 1/2 - 3 Hours Center ( Access to the Center closes 6:00pm! Where there ’ s Kealia trail is primarily used for hiking, Nature trips, and even equestrians State.... 1930S to 2004, part of the Ka'ena Point State Park the junction the. 7 mile out-and-back hike starts on the north shore of O'ahu behind the Dillingham Airfield, there.