Kaunala

Travel up Pupukea way to get to this wondrous walk in the woods. Our coordinator will take us clockwise on this well-developed, well-graded and popular trail.  Enjoy the lush vegetation with lots of ti plants.  There is a slight uphill to reach the road that we follow back down to our cars. There is an option to hike both the Kaunala and Kaunala East Trails for a 7.5 mile hike.

A $5 donation is requested for each non-member, age 18 or over.

Elevation Gain: 930 ft.

Trail Conditions: Muddy and slippery when wet.

Trail Features: Paper bark forest, views of the ocean, the North Shore, and Ka’ena Point.

Trail Route: Loop.

Native Plants: ‘Ohi’a lehua, Kopiko, ‘Ahakea, ‘Iliahi, Uluhe, and Maile.

Moku & Ahupua’a: Waialua & Pupukea, Paumalu

Hawaiian Name Meaning: The plait, weave, knit or braid.

Historic Information: Somewhat confusingly, the current routing of the trail crosses the Pupukea and Paumalu ahupua’a, but not the Kaunala ahupua’a. The Territorial Forestry Division built the trail in 1933 to access the Pupukea section of the Forest Reserve to perform reforestation. Many paperbark trees and cook pines attest to the reforestation efforts.

*The club takes no responsibility and disclaims any liability for the contents of hike descriptions including any inaccuracies, omissions, errors, misleading statements, incompleteness, or incorrect information (click here to read our full disclaimer).