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Hiking The Pu’u Pia Trail On Oahu, Hawaii

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated:

Categories HAWAII, HIKING

Hiking The Pu’u Pia Trail On Oahu, Hawaii

Pu’u Pia Trail is a stunning hiking trail located in Oahu, Hawaii, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the island. This easy-to-moderate hike winds through a lush forest, providing picturesque views of the Ko’olau mountain range. While relatively undiscovered by tourists, this trail is a popular destination for locals seeking a peaceful and scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

a woman walking through a lush green forest.

PU’U PIA TRAIL GUIDE

In this blog post, I’ll share all the details about the Pu’u Pia Trail such as how to get there, the distance, elevation, and what type of views to expect on this route.

a woman walking down a dirt path through a forest.
a woman standing on top of a lush green hillside.

PU’U PIA TRAIL DETAILS

Pu’u Pia Trail offers a scenic hiking experience with a total distance of approximately 3.6 miles or 5.8 kilometers. The trail typically takes around 2 hours to complete, depending on your hiking speed and how often you stop to take in the stunning views. This easy-to-moderate hike is suitable for all levels of hikers, with no real dangers or steep drop-offs to worry about. The trail features a steady incline, making it a great workout for those in decent shape. The total incline for the Pu’u Pia Trail is approximately 205 meters, showcasing breathtaking panoramic views of the Ko’olau mountain range.

  • Hike Distance: 3.6 miles, or 5.8 kilometers.
  • Hike Duration: 2 hours
  • Hike Difficulty: Pu’u Pia Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike, suitable for all levels of hikers. The trail features a steady incline, making it a great workout for those in decent shape. There are no real dangers or steep drop-offs to worry about.
  • Hike Incline: 205 meters
a dirt path in the middle of a forest.

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HOW TO GET TO THE PU’U PIA TRAIL

The trailhead is located at the end of Alani Drive, near the intersection of Alani Drive and Round Top Drive. If you’re using Google Maps, the pin provided below should lead you directly to the trailhead. There is parking available on the residential streets above and below the trailhead that is signed on the roadside.

a red sign sitting on the side of a road.
a street with a lot of trees and signs.
a line of cars parked on the side of a road.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE PU’U PIA TRAIL

The Pu’u Pia Trail is a perfect little out-and-back route for a morning hike on Oahu. Nestled at the top of Manoa Valley, it’s frequented by locals but few tourists venture this way, with preference placed on Manoa Falls as the premier hiking trail in the region.

The trail has no dedicated parking lot but you’ll find a park on the steep, winding roads nearby. The trail is well-signed throughout, including the trailhead that has an official trailhead sign for Pu’u Pia Trail and the Kolowalu Trail. These two trails both begin at the same spot but there is a split in the trails after about one kilometer.

This trail is not friendly to white shoes and is commonly in a muddy state. Right from the start of the route, we found ourselves squelching through the mud on the trail.

a dirt path in the middle of a forest.

It’s quite remarkable to be on this trail as it becomes a dense forest after just a few minutes on the path. The suburb is left behind as vines and ferns hang over the path. Intertwined roots help to provide some stability amidst the slippery clay path.

a person walking on a dirt path in the woods.
a fern is growing in the middle of a forest.

After about one kilometer, you will reach the fork in the trail. It’s pretty clear to stick to the left for the Pu’u Pia Trail and to the right for the Kolowalu Trail.

a sign pointing to a trail in the jungle.

The trail by this point is already immensely wild and incredibly beautiful. However, as the trail progresses it only becomes intensifies with the stunning, lush greens creating a majestic forest scene.

a dirt path in the middle of a forest.
a dirt path in the middle of a forest.
a woman walking through a lush green forest.

The AllTrails map actually has this listed as an out-and-back 3.1km trail. However, it is a 3.1km one-way track so a total of about 6km. At about the 2km mark, there’s a stunning little bridge leading over a stream.

a woman walking down a dirt path through a forest.

You are now close to the summit ridge after crossing the bridge. The summit ridge gives you some fresh views as the trail emerges from the forest to provide views of the Koolau Mountain Ridge.

a dirt path in the middle of a lush green forest.
a woman walking through a lush green forest.

On a clear day, hikers can catch a glimpse of Mount Olympus, Konahuanui, Waikiki, and the Manoa suburbs below.

a woman standing on top of a lush green hillside.
a view of a small town in the mountains.

The trail has a few summit clearings but I thought the first one, facing the Koolau Mountain Range, was the best. The second clearing had a random bench with very minimal views due to the height of the shrubs and trees.

a woman sitting on a bench in the middle of a forest.

The final viewpoint looks out over Honolulu and Waikiki. There is a clear ‘End of Trail’ sign here, so you know this is the time to turn back and retrace your steps through the forest back to the trailhead.

a woman pointing at a sign on a hill.

That basically wraps up the review of this short and sweet route, the Pu’u Pia Trail. I hope you enjoy your time on Oahu and have a great hiking experience.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY ON OAHU

a couple of people sitting in a swimming pool.
a view of a beach with palm trees and a swimming pool.
  • Ultimate Luxury: Lotus Honolulu – Diamond Head View, Great Waikiki Location
  • My Favorite: Aston Waikiki Beach – Best value in Waikiki & Great location
  • Value Hotel Waikiki: Surfjack Hotel is easily the best value (luxury) hotel in Waikiki

WHERE TO STAY ON OAHU

  • Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort (Overall Favorite): In the heart of Waikiki, this high-end resort is right on the beach with a private lagoon.
  • Sheraton Waikiki (Luxury): A luxury resort with the most amazing infinity pool on the island, which overlooks the beach.
  • Ewa Hotel Waikiki: (Value): Ewa Hotel is just one block back from the beach and is just over $150 USD.
  • Waikiki Beachside Hostel (Budget Choice): A budget alternative, which is still in an amazing location.
  • Disney Aulani Resort (Family Choice): This is a resort your kids will never forget. It honestly feels like you are living in a theme park.

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I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip!