Hawaii Loa Ridge Trail
Hawaii Loa Ridge trail is a 3.5 mile hike, easy to intermediate in difficulty, that will take an estimated 3 ½ to 4 hours roundtrip to complete. The trail leads you though strawberry guava groves and through other common flora such as uluhe, ‘ilima, and ohia. Towards the top of this trail, visitors will hike though the ohi’a-koa-akia forest. The Hawaii Loa Ridge trail, though strenuous in some places, rewards hikers with incredible views of the Oahu’s leeward coast.
The Hawaii Loa Ridge trail is located just above the premier Hawaii Loa Ridge subdivision. To access this hiking trail, you have to obtain permission from the guard at the guard shack, have some form of Hawaii ID or have someone in your hiking party that has one if you do not. Prior to hiking the Hawaii Loa Ridge trail, every member of your party has to sign a liability waver, which protects the community from lawsuits in the event that you are injured on the trail. Once permission is granted and wavers signed, you can begin the hike.
This trail is part of the Na Ala Hele trail system, which begins at 1000 feet in elevation, and will summit the breathtaking Ko’olau Mountain range at 1700 feet. At the entrance of the trail, there is a boot scrubber put in place to help prevent the growth of foreign plants in the area.
When hiking the Hawaii Loa Ridge, always stick to the trail. The trail borders private property and some of the surrounding areas are used for hunting during hunting season. In efforts to prevent erosion and provide safety for hikers there are plastic footholds, made from recyclable materials, and ropes to aid in hiking the trail. When conditions permit, at the summit of this trail hikers will behold the spectacular views of Kailua, Kaneohe, Waimanalo, Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and the three-peaked Mount Olomana.
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