Kealia Trail
The Kealia Trail is on the remote northwestern side of Oahu. It is far off the beaten path and nowhere near Waikiki or Oahu’s most popular hiking trails along the Ko’olua Mountains. So the fact that most people have never heard of it is not too surprising! The trail climbs the north end of the Waianae Mountains behind Dillingham Airfield in Mokuleia and offers some of the most spectacular views of the North Shore that we have seen.
19 switchbacks take hikers up the cliffs to a covered picnic area marking the end of the trail. The trail is only about 1.5 miles long (3 miles roundtrip) but gains over 1,000 feet in elevation. The hike to the top is all uphill over some moderately rough terrain, it will take a little over an hour for most families to reach the crest. The trail is very rocky so wear sturdy hiking shoes and a large portion of the trail is fully exposed to the sun so bring sunscreen and lots of water!
With the proper preparations, the trail is doable for most families. We recommend smaller children be carried in a backpack carrier due to the terrain and potential fall hazards along the trail. Older children (5+) should do fine if they take their time and maybe a few rest breaks.
