Aiea Loop Trail | A Big Hike in Honolulu for Little Kids

About the Hike

The Aiea Loop trail meanders past tall trees and fallen logs with peeks of the Waianae mountains, Pearl Harbor, and Halawa Valley. At 4.8 miles it’s a bit on the long side for a family hike.  Still, it’s worth considering. It lacks crazy drops offs, steep ascents, bouldering, it’s well-marked, mostly shaded, and, really, who doesn’t love a loop hike?

Over the winter months, the Aiea Loop trail gets muddy and you have to slog through parts, but overall it’s a mellow, family-friendly hike. There are some native plants along the trail along with the rare native Hawaiian bird. If you’re feeling spunky, you can detour to the Aiea Ridge trail which is not kid-friendly but has more native flora and fauna and even better views.

Is it Really a Kid-Friendly Hike?

Overall, it depends on the kid … and the day. On this particular day, six-year-old Micah managed it with minimal complaints. There are many geocaches along the trail and those kept him moving ahead excitedly. Still, the last hour was a bit rough because we didn’t bring enough food (that kid can eat!) and his stomach was rumbling. Four-year-old Mila isn’t much of a hiker. She used the trek as an opportunity for an extended nap in her carrier.

Getting There

The Aiea Loop trailhead starts in Keaiwa Heiau State Park. The park itself is a nice place to hang out. While you’re there, you may want to have a picnic or make a weekend out of it and go camping. I shot our fun New Year’s video there last year.

Still Have Energy Left after the Aiea Loop Trail?

Trade your muddy shoes for swimsuits and dive into the protected lagoon at the tip of Magic Island in Waikiki to end your day with a gorgeous Honolulu sunset.

If you’re looking for more family-friendly hikes on Oahu you can check out this roundup of favorite hikes near Waikiki and this roundup of hikes in windward Oahu.