The Pu’u Ma’eli’eli trail has now become one of my favorite hikes to do on Oahu. Every time I go to Hawaii, I always try to fit in at least one hike. Since our last trip was really short, I needed to find a hike that didn’t take too long but was a good workout at least. The Diamond Head hike would have been an easy choice but I’ve already done it a bunch of times and I wanted to try something new. Since we had a car, we had more hiking choices and in the end, decided on the Pu’u Ma’eli’eli trail mainly due to its amazing view at the top.
Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail Details
NAME: Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail
FEE: Free
DISTANCE: Approximately 2.3 miles roundtrip
ELEVATION: 600 ft
TYPE: Out and Back
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
TIME: 1.5 Hours
Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail Notes
I would say this hike is amazing if you want a trail that is 95% in the shade and that has a jaw-dropping view of the island. I thought the trail was relatively easy and had no problems hiking the whole way up. Regarding the actual trail conditions, I’ve read from other reviews that it’s super muddy and I can definitely see why people would say that. Luckily, we went on a day when it hadn’t rained in a couple of days so a lot of the mud had dried up. If you go on a super muddy day though, there are ropes for you to hold on to and I highly recommend you use them.
Where to Park
Parking is a little confusing since there’s no dedicated parking lot. You’ll have to park in the neighborhood and walk down to “trailhead”. We parked on Hui Iwa Street right across from the McDonald’s and everything worked out.
Finding the Trailhead
Getting to the trailhead is a little tricky. It’s not a clearly defined trailhead and to be honest, we got lost. To get to the trailhead, you will have to walk alongside the highway with traffic coming in the opposite direction of you on your right-hand side. Do not walk on the actual highway though. Jump over the railing and there should be a skinny dirt path for you to walk on. I know it sounds weird and sketchy but trust me, you want to walk on that dirt path. Walking on the road is scary since all the cars are right next to you.
What to Wear/Bring on the Hike
Your typical gym or hiking clothes will do just fine. Depending on if it recently rained or not will determine the type of shoes you should wear.
Hiking Checklist
- Top: I wore a typical sports bra and tank top. I wished I wore a loose long-sleeve top though because I got a few bug bites.
- Bottoms: I wore Lululemon leggings. They are my favorite for hiking because they have tight side pockets for my phone. They were also long enough to keep the bugs from biting me too much.
- Hiking Shoes: The day we went was relatively dry and hadn’t rained in a couple of days so I wore my black Nike trainers and they were fine. If you go during the wet season or it just recently rained, I would definitely recommend hiking boots.
- Sunglasses: The hike is shaded but once you get to the top, it will be super bright so sunglasses will be useful then.
- Small Backpack: I had a small backpack to carry my DSLR camera, water bottle, and snacks.
- Bug Spray: You will DEFINITELY need this. I didn’t have any and I probably got bit at minimum four times! If you also wear long pants and long sleeves, that would be best because I seriously got eaten.
- Water: We filled up our Hydroflask with ice and water and it was perfect. I know you’re probably not supposed to drink ice water when you’re exercising but I love it.
- Snacks: We got spam musubis at Got’z Grindz. A great place to get spam musubis before your hike.
Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail Pictures
