Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Trail — Attraction in Oʻahu

Amazing trail!!! BUT you have to very careful when it has just recently rained or is raining because the start of the trail has lots of that red type mud clay. In fact there’s a rope to help you move around there because man is it steep! But also towards the very top you’ll have another rope to help you up because that one is even more steeper. I personally would not bring pets on this hike because how step and muddy but I did see some people with there dogs (not sure if that was challenging or not). Hike was about 2.5 miles back and forth. Bring water!!! It is so humid and hot my whole backpack was wet from my sweat. Also very important to follow the link ribbons through the trail because there is some areas you question if your going the right way but the pink ribbons mean your on the right trail. I did see one trial with orange but didn’t look safe to go so I immediately turned back and went the other way. Beautiful views from the very top but even on your way there you’ll see some cool views so make sure to look around as you go through the trail. Don’t get scared about the no trespassing sign that is for the private properties on the side once you enter. Park on the side of the road where the McDonalds and apartment complex are and walk to the left of the highway rail, you’ll see an opening and trespassing signs but just go up and that’s the trail. I would rate this hike intermediate, definitely not easy but also not the hardest. Just take breaks and drink water...

Nice trail, constant uphill but not too difficult. Took around 40 minutes up, and 45 down (slowly due to slippery parts). Bus 65 from Honolulu centre gets you there. Get off just after the turn at McDonalds and walk 5 mins to the trailhead on the main road/motorway on the left. View of the sandbars was nice but would be better on a sunny day.

A few steep parts. First 10 minutes is steep and muddy/slippy - there is a rope to grab onto but you still need good shoes. And the last 5 minutes is steep but not so muddy and there is also a rope. The end of the trail is marked on google maps with a tree sign, if you zoom in onto the mountain just north of McDonald’s, there is a geotag in Japanese. This is the summit. (See my screenshot photo attached)

There are lots of signs saying private property but we saw about 10 people also doing the trail… I think it means you can’t venture from the path onto the private land, but the path itself is fine (there is even an information point at...

K, here's The Concise Deal™:

40 minutes up with plenty of picture taking time; 30 minutes down. Times for a moderately fit late 30s individual.

Easy to moderate difficulty. Had to use hands on a rope only once, for about half a minute close to the top.

Plenty of canopy shade. Didn't notice bugs (mid-April).

Very few hikers on it. 15 max during the 2 hours I spent on it and at the top, on a Wednesday afternoon.

Trail starts by the freeway as seen on the map. Park in the mall around the McDonald's, cross Hui Iwa St, then hop over the freeway fence and walk ~2 minutes counter the traffic direction. The trail head will be obvious, though there was no sign.

The trail start was red mud, dry on a sunny day. I didn't get dirty at all.

There are several hike offshoots. None seemed promising. Just stick to the main trail and in ~40 minutes you'll reach the top.

The pillbox offers ~220-degree, stunning, views. See my Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Pillbox review on Google Maps...