Pu'u o Lokuana Trailhead — Attraction in Hawaii

On a sunny day, this trail is surreal. Imagine a plump hill lushly covered with the most vibrant green grass, swaying in the breeze against a shocking blue turquoise sky! The constant chirp of the crickets provides the soundtrack to this magical hike that makes you feel like you have been transported to Tele-Tubby land!

Then you cross the road and the scenery abruptly changes from lush to harsh. You walk down a glittering stretch of dirt road that has been dusted with olivine crystals. It then transitions into pahoehoe lava formations that include the best specimen of a lava tree mold that I...

Easy loop as long as you go DOWN the pu'u and not up it. The area where the red volcanic rocks were mined is a cool contrast against the green grass. It's also fascinating that this little area has a piece of WWII history, a radar tower base.

If you do the entire loop, the change in terrain keeps you on your toes through ohia forests, a lava field, and an old airport runway.

View from the top of the cinder cone...

Easy access from highway 11. Only open certain days. Short hike up ridge provides sweeping view of surrounding area and ocean. Also able to explore remnants of the cinder...