The Little-Known Ulupaina Trail In Hawaii Offers Unparalleled Views From Mauka To Makai

There are few things more synonymous with the Hawaiian Islands than breathtaking ocean views, towering mountaintops, and phenomenal hiking trails. If you love all these things and more, you’ll want to check out the little-known Ulupaina Trail. Nestled on Oahu’s windward coast in one of the state’s most underrated state park, you’ll enjoy expansive, panoramic views on this epic hike — from mauka to makai.

Found near He’eia State Park on Oahu’s windward coast, you’ll find the trailhead for this hike within the Valley of The Temples Memorial Park, and from the very beginning, you’ll recognize that this isn’t your average forest trail.

Measuring in at 3.6 miles, the Ulupaina Trail takes explorers on a jaw-dropping adventure alongside hibiscus bushes, through forests of ironwood trees, past several marked beehives — be careful — an up some pretty steep slopes.

When you reach the fork in the trail, you can go either direction, but we suggest heading right: you’ll endure an uphill climb at the beginning of your hike, but it’s much easier to go up than down here.

The clearly marked trail may be steep, but it leads to some spectacular views. From the lush, verdant Ko’olau Mountains…

...to Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman’s Hat, and the vast Pacific Ocean, the views along the Ulupaina trail are unparalleled, to say the least.

The picnic area at the summit is particularly gorgeous and you’ll want to make sure you have a camera or fully-charged cell phone to snap some photographs!

The trail can, at times, get muddy, so we suggest hiking shoes with good traction as well as plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, and snacks. The entire trail will take anywhere from two to three hours depending on your speed and how much you stop to admire the views.

Click here to check out the AllTrails listing for this trail. Have you ever embarked on the beautiful Ulupaina Trail? Are you planning to add it to your Oahu hiking bucket list? Be sure to share your opinions and experiences in the comments below before checking out the nearby hike that leads adventurers to a long-forgotten secret of World War II.