What to Do in Hawaii: Hike the Nu'uanu Trail

One of the memories I have while hiking is watching a group of wild baby pigs go trotting by while I stood watching mesmerized no more than 20 feet away.

This was on the Nu'uanu Trail, located 4 miles from downtown Honolulu in Hawaii and 7 miles from tourist-center Waikiki.

How to Get There

If you drive, (let's say from Waikiki), get on the H-1 freeway, heading westbound. Exit H-1 at the Pali Highway (HI 61 North). Head up the Pali Highway, bound for the mountains for about three miles. At the last stop light, turn right at Nu'uanu Pali Drive. Follow Nu'uanu Pali Drive for a mile. Pass Poli Hiwa Place on your left. Just past Poli Hiwa on the right is the starting point for the Nu'uanu Trail. Note that this is an isolated area, so vehicles left here are subject to break-in, espeically those from car rental places. Yes, crime happens, even in the paradise and beauty of Hawaii. I recommend parking in view of a residence in the area and then walking to the trailhead.

By bus from downtown Honolulu, get on any Kaneohe or Kailua bound bus. Exit at Pali Highway and Nu'uanu Pali Drive. Walk 15 minutes up the Nu'uanu Pali Drive to the trailhead. Or you can get on Route #4 (Nu'uanu). Exit at Kimo Drive. The walk is shorter from this point.

Trail Description

From the trailhead, descend to Nu'uanu Stream. Cross the stream. Rockhop if you like. I usually choose to wade across the ankle deep water rather than risk slipping and falling while trying to beebop across.

By the way, the usual apparel I wear on hikes on Oahu are shorts, trail runningshoes (I favor New Balance), and a shirt made of quick-dry fabric. Some trails can get overgrown and brushy, so long pants are a better bet, but the Nu'uanu Trail is not a long pants trail, for it is generally wide open and easy to follow.

Once across the stream, look for the trail, which heads away from the stream and to the right, passing thru a peaceful forest of tall pines.

Eventually the footpath will begin to switchback up the mountainside (18 switchbacks all told, says hike author Stuart Ball) the destination being the ridgecrest. It was, by the way, on one of the upper switchbacks that I had my pass-by by the piglets, so keep a look out.

Once you reach the ridgetop, bear left. Stop and make a visual reckoning at this spot for the return trip, for it is possible to miss it and head down another trail on the main ridge and get lost.

Follow the now-wide Nu'uanu trail upridge. Reach the end of the Nu'uanu Trail at a signed junction. Turn left there. You are now on the Pauoa Flats Trail.

Pass another signed junction. Continue straight ahead on the Flats Trail. The trail heading to the right leads down to Manoa Falls (if you have time and energy, take the trail down to the Falls and have a good time. Remember, what goes down must come back up).

Continue along the Flats trail until you reach a spot overlooking upper Nu'uanu Valley and a large reservoir. Plop down and eat lunch here.

After lunch and your break, retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Or for those who travel by bus and want an alternate exit point, hike down the trail to the well-used trail to Manoa Falls, exit at the Manoa Falls trailhead, and catch the city bus in Manoa Valley by Kumuone Streets and Loulu Streets (off of Manoa Road). This bus (Route 5) will take you back to the main bus line in Honolulu.

And watch out for pigs along the trail. Please note that where there are piglets, there are mama pigs, who don't take kindly to folks messing with their young.