After doing countless hikes in Oahu, we want to share our favorite one. This hike is a DIY’d loop made up of various trails in the Tantalus trail network that we’ve chosen to name the Maikiki Valley Extended Loop (this is not an official name). Why is it so great?

• A hard and satisfying workout without being too hard (~7.1 miles, 1800 feet of elevation). You won’t feel guilty getting takeout from Rainbow drive in and taking a nap afterwards.
• Located close to the city, just 2 miles north of Ala Moana, where you can easily Uber to and from the beginning
• 90+% shaded
• Well marked and just popular enough that you’ll see some people but not too many
• Part of an extensive trail network, so you can modify this in many ways!

We recommend bringing at least 1.5L of water per person, bug spray, and a rain jacket if it’s rainy season. When it’s rainy, prepare to get muddy. There’s a shoe washing station at the start and end of the loop. This trail takes us around 3-4 hours.

For more details and photos to help you follow the path, keep reading

• Start/End – There’s a small parking lot and a green gate. To the left of the gate, there’s a short 0.25 mile trail. This is the start.
  • Not pictured – this initial trail will lead you to a bathroom area with a shoe wash area. After this, you’ll see a sign with the whole network of trails
• A – You’ll read a sign for the smaller (and official) Maikiki Valley Loop. Turn right here. The first section from A to B is the steepest and most physically challenging, but it’s also very pretty!
• B – a flat clearing where you can rest. There are 3 options for paths, take the middle one
  • B2 (Forgot to take picture) – a short walk after B, take the first left turn option you see with a few stairs
• C – after a section that ends with a beautiful bamboo grove, you’ll reach the road. Cross it and keep going on the Manoa Cliff trails
  • C2 (Forgot to take picture) – you’ll reach the highest elevation point between C and C2 and eventually see a small metal gate. Go through it. There’s a path that leads upward in elevation and one that stays lower. Take the one that stays lower.
• D – pass through a second small metal gate and go forwards (down the path where you see people standing in the photo)
• E – after maybe 100 feet on a plank covered section, turn left
• F – the path from E to F is nicely shaded and mostly downhill. You’ll reach the road again, where you should turn right and walk along it for a few hundred feet
• G – Get off the road on the left, taking the Nahuina Trail
  • G2 (Forgot to take picture) – this section is all downhill with a few switchbacks. At one point, you’ll have to climb down a rock to reach a perpendicular path. Turn left to continue (turning right will take you to the road)
• From G2 to the end is all downhill and can get bumpy, so watch your footing. You’ll end up back at the bathroom/shoe wash area.

And that’s it! We love rewarding ourselves with a shower and some Rainbow Drive-in delivery after this hike.