Illustrated scene. Not a photograph of this place.
A 4.8-mile loop in Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area. State Parks rates it easy to moderate, with 900 feet of gain, a steep switchback, and a stream crossing. A trailhead geocode did not return, so there is no pin.
- Access
- Published route or place
- Cost
- Confirm the cost
- Difficulty
- Easy to moderate
- Effort
- Steady
- Audience tags
- Visitors, Adults, Locals
Effort follows the agency difficulty when one was published: easy is gentle, moderate and easy-to-moderate are steady, and moderate-to-difficult or an agency description of a strenuous climb is strenuous. It is a sorting aid, not a safety rating.
Access and permission
Managed by State Parks. A Nov. 2, 2026 notice still showing on the State Parks site on Nov. 7 said all three restrooms at Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area would be closed for construction through Nov. 25, 2026. That notice did not say the trail itself was closed.
The trail page reviewed did not list an entrance fee. Confirm on site rather than assuming it is free.
Conditions, separate from permission
State Parks says the hike is not strenuous but can be muddy, with exposed roots, a steep switchback, and a stream crossing. Mountain biking is no longer allowed. Dogs on the trail must be leashed. This is not a safety clearance.
Figures copied from the source
- Distance: 4.8-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 900 feet
- Agency difficulty: Easy to moderate
What to bring
- Closed shoes you can use on roots and mud. The page does not name a brand.
- Water. No product is required by the park.
Logistics
- State Parks suggests 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Directions on the trail page: H-1 to Moanalua Highway (Route 78), ʻAiea cutoff, right on ʻAiea Heights Drive, about 3 miles to the park, then the one-way park road.
- The trail starts at the upper end of the park and comes out at the lower campgrounds.
- Pack out trash. No open fires.
- No map pin. A reliable geocode was not returned for this entry.
Related gear
These are exact Amazon listings checked on 2026-11-07. They are optional. As an Amazon Associate, purchases through these links can earn a commission. The tag is toa03-20. Stock and formulas change. Affiliate disclosure.
- Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+, 3 fl oz
For exposed walks and shoreline time. The Amazon listing checked on Nov 7, 2026 is titled Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ Zinc Oxide, 3 fl oz. That listing text says the formula uses zinc oxide (it states 24.25%) and lists oxybenzone among ingredients it does not contain. It did not explicitly say octinoxate in the text reviewed. Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §342D-21 makes it unlawful to sell or distribute sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate in the state without a prescription. Read the current tube before you buy. Listing text changes.
- Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle, Cadet, 32 oz
For trails whose managing agency says there is no drinking water, or that stream water should not be drunk. The Amazon listing checked on Nov 7, 2026 is titled Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle, Cadet with Cadet cap, 32 oz. The listing describes a BPA-free Tritan bottle. This is one colorway, not a claim that every Nalgene bottle is the same product.
Sources and verification
Checked 2026-11-07. If a source disagrees with this page, use the source.