My year of running on Oahu comes to a close this weekend. I’ve been back from Iraq for a year, and I’m about to get on a plane to head back there for another year. It’s time, though, to talk about the year.
I really did average ~40 miles per week of running. That does kinda blow my mind. I’ve only taken to running because a) I’m in the Army, and b) someone told me a while ago that I could run but just not very far. 40 miles in a week seems like a lot, but 40 miles on average per week, for an entire year, seems bonkers.
I really did do a 300 mile month. July as crazy. Averaging 10 miles per day was tough. I’m very glad I did it.
Yes, on a whim, I went and did an Olympic-class Tri. On a whim. In my surf shorts, with my waterproof camera in my hand while I swam. And yes, riding a 20-year old Trek mountain bike that sports mud tires.
I am very pleased with how this blog turned out. It doesn’t have the number of runs I wish it would have, but it sure has the depth. I do love the consistent range of things that I covered. I do love the inclusion of the photos. I do love that I made Garmin and Google Earth files for the routes, even when it meant I had to go back to do it again. This is the blog I wish I had found when I had moved to the island.
My favorite runs from the year are:
The 50km run I did up Kolekole Pass. i did not blog this one, I just quietly did it one night. I’ve done marathons, but never anything farther. I did not train for it, I did not prep for it, and in fact, I really didn’t decide to do it until that afternoon (I ran into the night). Of the runs I did this year, it is the one I will likely brag about the most, only because of the distance and randomness of the decision to do it.
The running story I have told the most this year is the long and sordid tale of my near-fatal run in Tucson in May. I was doing a 1/2 marathon-distanced run across Catalina State Park and out onto the 50 Year Trail, and I was chased and almost killed by a HUGE bull. I wrote it up as a pretty funny email that I titled, “How I was almost raped by an angry adult bull” and sent it to friends along with some photos of said bull, as proof. I’ve also told the story in person to a lot of people, maybe because it’s damn funny but also because there are a lot of good lessons to be learned from it. The story has changed some with different tellings, to support the key points I want to make, but the humor is probably more of what people remember about it. I will never forget that run.
If I could go run right now, I’d go run the Poamoho Ridge Trail. If I were to take you on a run, I’d ask you if you’re ready to try the Poamoho Ridge Trail. The best trail I ran this year, the best run I had this year, the most fun I had this year, was on the Poamoho Ridge Trail.
The Old Pali Highway. I tell people that there’s nothing flat about this island, that everything here involves elevation change. Running the Old Pali Highway demonstrates this well. But it also shows well the hidden treasures that litter this island, if you’re willing to explore some. I love the old road surface. I love the trees and the canopy cover they offer. I love the cool air and the gentle breezes. And I love the views it offers.
My other go-to run is a 10km out-and-back on the Manana Trail. If bacon is the gateway drug that brings vegetarians back to eating meat, the lower Manana Trail run is the one that brings runners back out to the trail. It’s a long, slow climb, but it’s gradual and on a good trail, and offers some kick ass views. It’s a good run on a sunny day or in the rain.
My run is the Big Schofield Loop. Let’s face it — I’m a Soldier, I’m assigned to Schofield, and I’ve also spent the the year running around Schofield. A ~16 mile loop is a good, good run distance, and to see the old post, and all her best sides, and to also blaze up the KoleKole Pass is as big part of my memories of the year. I still remember clearly making my first ascent up the pass, and thinking I was likely going to die. I did it again this morning, and it felt as comfortable to me as running down the street to the store. It’s not a run for everyone, and it’s certainly not a run you’d go out of your way to run. It just happens to be my run.
The Tiki Trail run up Wai`anae Kai is the run I never thought I’d do. And a year ago, if someone had suggested that I add it to the list, I’d have laughed. It’s a psychotic run — 2.25 mile straight up. It’s inhuman. It’s not even a pleasant hike — it’s a mean-spirited hike. But I sure loved it .
And it’s not Oahu, but I loved the Thumb Butte run I did in Prescott. They dropped me off at a lake, and I ran across the desert to the butte, zigzagging my way through the Prescott National Forrest on their awesome hiking trails. It was just a half-marathon, but the trails were great, the views stunning, the distance spot-on, and the solitude remarkable.
I have mixed feelings putting the Kamananui Valley Road run on this list. I loved the trail. I loved the isolation. I loved the quiet beauty of the run. I hate, hate, hate that the valley was, for far too long, the private property for an estate that dated back to the plantation days. Making it publicly accessible land represents all of te hard work that has had to be done, and continued to be needed, to right some of the tragic wrongs that befell the people of these islands. It is a guilty run, but it’s also the place I tell everyone about in the hopes that they’ll go there (it’s only been open to the public for a couple of years now).
And last, but certainly not least, is the small trail that runs from the parking lot out to Pele’s Chair. It isn’t very long, but for some reason, it always makes me smile.
I’ll still be around, virtually that is. By all means, drop me a note or leave a comment if you have questions about what you find here. I hope you enjoy the site and the information as much as I had collecting and posting it.
Summary: We all have our Moby Dick. For me, it’s been two trails, the Poamoho Ridge Trail and the Schofield-Waikane Trail. Both caught my eye early this year, when I saw on the State of Hawaii Trail and Access Program website Na Ala hele that each required special permits (one permit from the State for Poamoho, but one from the US Army at Schofield and then one from the State for access to the Schofield-Waikane Trail). Special permits to go on a trail? They must be special trails. Six weeks ago, with a couple of Army buddies, I had the good fortune of heading up the Poamoho Ridge Trail, but I had to wait until today before I could take a stab at Schofield-Waikane Trail.
When I contacted the Na Ala Hele crew about the status of the trail, I asked if anyone had been up there recently. With the dual permit requirement, I wondered just how often people ventured up there, but I also wondered just how often any of the volunteer s had been up there in order to do trail maintenance. I was hoping to glean some good intel ahead of time, so we’d better understand what we were getting into. Their answer? Honest, and worth it’s weight in gold. The key nugget was this: “it’s a complicated permit, a long hot walk to an overgrown trail. In other words, it’s currently not the Poamoho experience you may be looking for…but you can legally hike it.” I’ve been up Poamoho, ladies and gentlemen, and let me tell you — this is no Poamoho.
The Good: It’s dead quiet on this trail. Running through the Army training areas is a bit uneventful, but even that boring ol’ tank trail has some awesome views. And once you get to the trail itself, the views may well knock you over the edge. They are awesome. I could plant a chair along this trail, and stay a week. And I am guessing that the low numbers of visitors has something to do with the fantastic foliage being matched with a wonderful lack of human presence; we came across just one piece of trash on this trip, when we’ve damn near filled our packs with trash on other trails. Also, this is a wet trail; be ready for ferns, and be ready to be soaked, as you’re going to bust brush on the way. I loved it; the sun was out, but between the moisture, the occasional drops from the sky, and the sections of trail in the shade, we kept cool and kept moving.
The Bad: OMG, you have to actually plan to go up this trail. You can’t just wake up one morning and decided to head up there. It’s something you have to think of a few weeks ago; the Army permit can take a day or two, and the State permit has to be submitted a week or ten days in advance of when you want to go (and after you have the paperwork from the Army). Granted, the permit process is amazingly easy, and moved along by the nicest of people, but I am sure that there is someone who will read this who will actually think to themselves that this is a bad thing, having to apply for a permit. For me, I see it as just part of the process. Permits in hand, you also have to call in to the US Army’s Range Control before you start your trip (and have to take a cell phone with you), as well as call back in when you get in off of the trail.
The Ugly: The trail does indeed go to pot maybe 3.5 miles in. I think Schofield-Waikane Trail would be a great trail to hike. Notice that I didn’t say that it’s a great hiking trail, or that it’d be a great hike. It would be a great trail to hike. The route, with its long stretch of tank trail, has only a relatively short section of perhaps a mile and a half that is run-able trail; before that is the tank trail, and after that is trail with tough footing. This is not a trail for running to the top of the Ko`olau range, but it certainly is a rail for putting in a quiet 10km run on a nice weekend morning. If you’re going to hike it, wear pants; raspberry plants can be mean to people.
Type of route: Tank trail, then trail running Good to run in the rain? It’d be OK to run in the rain.
Length: Probably 14 miles to the summit and back. We did about 9.5 miles round trip, but if you’re going to run, plan on doing a 10km.
Options for the route: Um…. keep going father than we did? No, there are no other side trails from this one.
Elevation change on the run: Starts at around 1300 feet, summits closer to 2800 I think. We stopped at ~2000 feet. Water used: ~2 liters.
Where to start: California Ave at Nonohe St, in Wahiawa. I asked about parking at the NCO Academy, and running through the training areas (I am, after all, an Army guy). The answer? A resounding NO! Where to park: Same Point your car’s GPS towards: 21.508306° -157.986457° 2568 Nonohe St, Wahiawa, HI 96786
Facilities Water? Nope Toilets? Nope Medical care? Nope Ranger / park folks? Range control. But you won’t see them, you’ll just talk to them on the phone. If you actually see them…. yeah, that probably wouldn’t be good, because they’d probably have MP’s with them. Picnic areas? Nope A place to change afterwards? Nope. Deck change, in front of someone’s house.
Rewards in the area: There’s a porn store in Wahiawa, if that counts.
You’d run this route when? You’ve run everything else and you can plan a weekend to do it. When you’ve raced a half-marathon the day before.
My rating: 8
Music: None. Don’t spoil this run with headphones.
Weather / Trail warnings (here) / Permits (here) I ended up mailing in the request to the US Army, and they scanned and emailed back to me their approval. I faxed that to the State, who mailed me a lovely, embossed permit package to take along on the trip.
Summary: Set along the low hills of the North Shore, the Gunstock Ranch hosted its first half marathon and 5K run this weekend. The trail had runners circling and then crossing the working ranch, as well as through lush jungle and a well-flowing river. It was a well laid out course, and for a first time effort, the event went off without any major hitches. I had found out about it through the HURT blog, and with that, there were a lot of endurance runners that showed for this inaugural event; if I had to guess, I’d say that there were about 200 runners this year.
The Good: It was a good, good trail run. I loved the route. I loved the most that they got the cattle off the course, but that’s just me and my bull issues. I didn’t even mind the still-fresh cow pies along the way — it added a little somethin-somethin to it all. And did I mention the creek? I loved the creek — but then again, I am a Labrador. Others, I am sure, will lodge their protest over the wide creek and delicate rocks they they chose to carefully try to cross; me, I loved seeing the creek coming, and plowing right through it.
The Bad: While there were water points along the way, more would have helped. I hate saying that — they have three on this course, two of which you pass twice (and did not run out). That should be enough – but one more, especially in the second half of the run, would be a big boost. Also, for an event called a trail run, there sure was a lot of time spent on pavement. I understand — it can be hard to line up a 13.1 mile (or 13.7+ miles, in this case) route that is all trail, but I hope they work to find an even better route for next year that will be all trail or ranch road (which was fine, too).
The Ugly: Only one thing: their mileage was off. That half marathon we ran was a bit more than a half marathon. Well organized event, for their first time putting it on; well run, all the moreso for the same reasons; and a lot of fun to run.
Type of route: A little bit of everything. A trail road, an off-road run, a paved road run. Good to run in the rain? Yes. That would be an awesome run.
Length: 13.7+ miles. The course this year was a wee bit long.
Options for the route: They did have a 5k version.
Elevation change on the run: From around 50 feet up to around 300 feet, doing that several times, too. Water used: 3 liters.
Where to start: Gunstock Ranch Where to park: Same Point your carís GPS towards: 56 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, Hawaii 96762
Facilities Water? Yes, at the water points (3 points along the route, five chances to get water). Water, and fancy water. Toilets? A couple of points along the way. Nice and clean, too; well stocked. Medical care? Did not see any. Saw people with cell phones. Ranger / park folks? Nope. Private land, for the most part. Picnic areas? Nope, unless you went across the Kam Highway. A place to change afterwards? Nope. Deck change, in the parking lot.
Rewards in the area: Malaekahana State Recreation Area is on the other side of the Kam Highway from the ranch; it’s a great place to go and chill, or have a picnic, or take a dip in the deep blue sea. We chose to stop off at Shark’s Cove, in hopes of finding more jellyfish and / or reason to buy more Maui Brewing Company beer. No jellyfish, so we settled for some HD video of the shore break pounding some really big boulders.
You’d run this route when… you’re getting ready for the Honolulu Marathon in December. When you want to run some otherwise off-limits areas. When your buddy has just come back into the Army and you want to help him push himself in getting back into fighting shape.
My rating: 7
Music: Something loud, and something booming. This is the place to fire up some old school AC/DC, or some old Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden.
Summary: Nursing a sore Achille’s tendon, I made a rare daytime run around Schofield Battacks, Oahu, HI, on what I lovingly refer to as The Big Loop. Starting at Richardson Pool, adjacent to the Division Headquarters for the 25th Infantry Division, I ran past the Nehelani Club to Lyman Road. From there, I ran to the Lyman Gate, then the main / Foote gate, before heading to the McNair / back gate. From there, it’s over to McMahon Road and out for a loop near Area X / the ranges. After that, it’s back towards the Shoppette, and the long climb up Timble Road to Kolekole Pass. Coming back down, I peeled off of Timble and back onto Lyman, ran past the cemetery, before making the left to return by the Nehelani Club to Richardson pool. At 15.85 miles, it’s about as long as I’ve been able to stretch running a loop on Schofield Barracks.
The Good: Schofield Barracks, rich in history and spectacularly beautiful, is a wonder place to run, and this route covers just about everything on the base except the main drag leading to the PX, Commissary, and headquarters for the 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning). It also includes a run up Kolekole pass, a staple for just about any runner on Schofield Barracks. Much of the route is on paved roads that are in good shape, especially the climb up Kolekole pass. There are a few stores on base and along the route, allowing for easy resupply of food or drink — a critical requirement given the length of the run, the elevation change and climb up Kolekole, and the role the sun can play when away from the canopy shape afforded on long stretches of this run.
The Bad: The sun can be brutal. While this is a fine run to do on a moon-lit night, it can be rough if not dangerous to try this when the tropic sun is beating down upon you. Long stretches, especially out towards Area X, can leave you drained of fluids and at risk for heat related injuries. Also, some stretches of the road are cracked, scarred with potholes or their repair, or offer little to no shoulder before dropping off to uneven ground; ankle and foot injuries can be a serious risk.
The Ugly: None. My own regret is that the base stopped — long ago, by the way — their annual run over KoleKole Pass, across the Navy base on the other side and on to the Pacific Ocean. That would be an awesome half marathon run, one that, in this post 9/11 world, I doubt we’ll see return.
Type of route: Paved road and some sidewalk. Good to run in the rain? Great to run in the rain.
Length: ~16 miles.
Options for the route: You can make it shorter. If you’re willing to abandon the loop aspect of this run, you could also run through the main area of post, adding some more miles.
Elevation change on the run: 900 feet, up to 1700 feet or so . Water used: About 5 liters. I could have / would have used more.
Where to start: Richardson Pool. Where to park: Same (Google Maps) Point your car’s GPS towards: Burr Street at Cadet Sheridan Road, Schofield Barracks, HI 96786
Facilities Water? Yep. All over the place. At the pool, at various facilities along the way (like the gym), and at the shoppettes. Toilets? Ditto. Medical care? The finest the Army has to offer. Ranger / park folks? Military Police (insert Park Ranger vs MP joke). Picnic areas? Hmmmm. Yes, at the pool. And at a few other parks around the area. Bowen Park is my favorite (here). A place to change afterwards? Richardson Pool.
Rewards in the area: The museum. It’s fat-free, too.
You’d run this route when? It’s dark out, and maybe rainy.
My rating: 7. It’d score better, but on a hot day, this run is brutal.
Summary: Poamoho Ridge Trail is a 3.5 or so mile ascent up the ridge to the top of the Koʻolau Range, after a 6.5 mile trip up the Poamoho Hele Loa Road. The trip requires a special permit from the State, as the route crosses land belonging to the Dole Plantation, the US Military, and the State itself. The road itself is very well suited for running, and two-thirds of the ridge trail can easily be run as well; the last portion of the ridge trail is unmaintained, and is better suited for walking / hiking, but it still well worth it. With the permit requirement (and limit to five permits per weekend day), this is not just a wonderful route, it’s also one that is quiet and a place to go with a small group knowing you won’t see many (if any) others. From the trail-head, the route is about 18 miles round trip and rises from 1100 feet elevation to 2600 feet.
Background (me and this trail): I first started toying with the idea of running this route when I first started to spend some time on the Na Ala Hele website, which is about the State trail system. It’s listed as a state hiking trail, but a few things caught my attention. Like the need for a permit. That it goes through the forest. That it’s only periodically maintained. That the Poamoho Hele Loa is 4×4 only. I knew that those were just sirens calling to me, but that to others, they’d be a turn off — you have to plan ahead to go run this? You can’t just get up and go on a whim? Just running the ridge trail would be a 10km run (or maybe hike), but running the whole thing would be about 20 miles — who does that? Well, I do, I thought. I knew I should not run the route alone (few others on it, isolated, ridges with cliffs, unmaintained, etc), but I wasn’t sure I could talk others into doing this with me. I hope this post is ammunition for others to talk their friends into doing this with them.
The Good: This 20 mile run has three parts: road, 2 miles of lower trail, and 1 mile of upper trail. The road is great running. It’s a good ascent, with the road taking you up about half the elevation of the ridge, and it’s well maintained, making it easy to run. It’s not good, it’s great. No one is going to try and run any real length of Maunawili while three-across; you can do that here. The ridge trail is 3 miles long, and the first two aren’t good, they’re great, too — nice and wide, solid shoulders, great views, plenty of trees providing shade. Even running on a day of sprinkles after a night of rail, we didn’t have slippage issues during those first 2+ miles of the lower trail. And yes, it is as isolated as I had expected, and hoped; we saw one set of hunters just once (there were two sets out), and one group of hikers (they drove up the road to hike the last part), but other than that, we had the mountain and trail to ourselves. And probably the nicest surprise was, as a military member, parking at the gym on the Helemano Military Reservation, and having a great gym at which to clean up after the run. And one last thing — the permit. It’s free, and can be done by mail or fax — which is awesome.
The Bad: Cows loose on the trail. I have cow and bull issues, I know, but there were some (4) that were out and about, and giving us the stink-eye. We paused and waited, and they moved on. Also bad for running is the last mile or so of the trail; it’s not suitable for running, for the most part. After 9 miles to get there, though, it’s totally worth it to hoof it up that last mile, both to get to the top and to take in the views. Oh, and you’re going to get dirty. There’s no two ways about that – running or hiking. For me, that’s fine — par for the course, really — but if you’re not expecting it, you’ll be surprised.
The Ugly: If the sun is out in full force, this’d be a cooker of a run. On a cloudy day, we all drained our camelbaks; I can only imagine what it’d be like on a hot, sunny day.
Type of route: Dirt road and trail Good to run in the rain? Yes, if you’re already comfortable with that.
Length: about 18.5 from trailhead to the top and back; it’s 20, from the gym.
Options for the route: Nope.
Elevation change on the run: 1100 feet to 2600 feet. Mostly gradual, not too many steep areas. Water used: The full 3 liters.
Where to start: When you get your permit, they’ll tell you that. Where to park: You can park near the trail head, or near the gym (like we did). Or, you can drive the road and just run the trail. Point your car’s GPS towards: Wait and see.
Facilities Water? Nope Toilets? Nope Medical care? Nope. Cell phone coverage all the way up, though. Ranger / park folks? Nope. Picnic areas? Nope A place to change afterwards? We did, at the gym.
Rewards in the area: 3 taco plate at Just Tacos in Mililani (map). It was about $50 for the three of us to each have this, but man did it hit the spot.
You’d run this route when…. you love running on this island, and you have friends just are as crazy as you. When you’ve already run most all of the other Na Ala Hele trails, and decide that, really, you need to try and run them all. When you need a run that will push you a little farther than normal.
My rating: 10. I would run this again today.
Music: None. Won’t need it, probably won’t want it.
Summary: The Kuli`ou`ou Ridge Trail is a 2.25 mile trail that rises almost 1800 feet, before peaking on the spine of the Ko`olau Ridge. It’s a tough run, for it is steep, but it is very run-able and offers a great reward in the form of spectacular views. The locals say that you’re suppose to run to the top, come back down to the picnic table, and then run back to the top again.
The Good: The trail is in very good shape. Unlike a lot of other trails that go mauka on the Ko`olau Ridge, this one is wide and easily navigable all the way to the end. There are no ropes, there’s no forced hiking; you can run as hard and as long as your legs can handle. Being steep, there’s some erosion, but it’s been well addressed and should hold up well for a long time. And the views — wow, the views. Fantastic. From Diamond Head, all the way around to the Makapu`u Lighthouse and on to Kaneoha Bay, standing at the top of the trail lets you see everything from Honolulu to the Kona Brewing Company restaurant in Hawaii Kai. And the foliage is awesome; like the website says,
The trail traverses through an assortment of exotic vegetation typical of arid areas: Christmas berry, haole koa, formosa koa, ironwood, Norfolk pine and guava. Beyond the shelter and the guava forest, the trail breaks out of the canopy and into uluhe-o`hia-koa-lama forest.
The Bad: Are you OK with ascending about 1800 feet of elevation, in 2.25 miles? Because you’re going to do that. Are you happy only running on bike trails? This ascent features rocks and roots and stairs and all kinds of things that will make you question your footing, and question your sanity on the way down. Now, I happen to like that stuff, but hey, that’s me. And remember — this is an active hunting area, so be careful on the weekends.
The Ugly: Nothing.
Type of route: Trail Good to run in the rain? It’s be a tough one, especially the last little bit.
Length: 2.25 miles to the top.
Options for the route: Run to the top, come back down to the picnic area, then re-assault the top — that’s 10km once you get back to the car.
Elevation change on the run: 300 feet up to 2100 feet, and back down. Water used: I used 1.5 liters, but could have / would have used more.
Where to start: Kalaau Pl, Honolulu, Hawaii 96821S Where to park: Same. The very end of the street is marked no parking, and that seems to be enforced. Get there early, or your parking options won’t be close to the trail head. Point your car’s GPS towards: here.
Facilities Water? Nope. Toilets? Nope. Medical care? Nope. Ranger / park folks? Nope. Picnic areas? One. Mid way up, about 1.5 miles from the trail head and .7 miles from the top. A place to change afterwards? Nope.
You’d run this route when….it’s not actually raining Windward, and you want a nice view. When the skies are clear, and you think you can get up there for the sunrise. When you’re training for the DipSea. When old ladies call you out.
My rating: 9
Music: Some classic 80′s tunes. That is, assuming no one is close enough to you on the trails to actually hear what you’re listening to. If that’s the case, go with NWA.
Summary: Wai`anae is home to the Wai`anae Kai Forest Preserve, that stretches from near Poka`i Bay all the way up to Mount Kaʻala, the islands highest point. While a number of trails will take hikers up to Mount Ka’ala, leg-strong runners can make a good dent in running Wai`anae Kai – a history and ancient trail that heads up to a saddle just below Mount Ka’ala.
The Good: You will be alone on this trip. Unlike other trails down near Honolulu or even over near Kailua, few seem to venture up these trails. It’s not that they’re bad trails, they’re just off the beaten path. All the better, I say. If you head out there in the morning, you’ll likely get some shade from the mountains themselves. Being leeward, the odds of getting soaked are much lower, too. Oh, and the views. My goodness — the views. Splendid views — you’ll want to stop from time to time, just to soak up the views. Lastly, the trails are well marked; painted bottle caps (Gatorade, from the looks of them) adorn the route, color coded to keep the various routes straight.
The Bad: Bring your thighs. From the parking area, it’s up. Parking is at about 600 feet of elevation, and the power lines in the saddle are at about 2800 feet of elevation. 2200 feet of ascent, in about 2.25 miles. If you’ve got legs, you can probably run the first 2 miles, and hike / hot air balloon up the last quarter mile. How steep? The paved road at the bottom has markings from what appears to be tracked vehicles — you know, the types of tracks yo see on tanks, snow cats, etc. Crazy steep. But it does have splendid views — you’ll likely need to stop from time to time, just to soak up the views and to keep your thigh muscles from actually exiting the skin. I don’t really see this as a bad thing, but it merits mentioning — yes, it’s a hunting area. So, yes, you may encounter hunters and dogs (though in all my encounters around the island, I’ve never had an issue with hunters or dogs).
The Ugly: Cattle. Granted, I have cattle issues already, but they are sometimes out there in small numbers. Yes, bulls, too. No water, no restrooms, no rangers wandering about. It’ll be just you and a steep run.
Type of route: Steep trail. It starts paved, becomes a dirt road for just a little bit, and then becomes trail. Good to run in the rain? Wow. I’m going to say no. You’d likely slip and slide all over the place.
Length: 4.5 miles, round trip.
Options for the route: For running? Maybe start at Poka`i Bay and run up instead of driving up. Running higher up on the ridgeline just isn’t possible, though there is great hiking to be had there.
Elevation change on the run: From 600 feet to 2800 feet . Water used: 2 liters going up, almost none coming down.
Where to start: At the end of Wai`anae Valley Road. Where to park: Same Point your car’s GPS towards: Waianae Valley Rd, Waianae, Honolulu, HI 96792
Facilities Water? Nope. Toilets? Nope. Medical care? Nope. Ranger / park folks? Nope. Picnic areas? Yes, actually. Here. A place to change afterwards? Nope.
Rewards in the area: Poka`i Bay, of course. Stop in for a dip, maybe something to drink. It’s a great beach for just sitting.
You’d run this route when…. you’re training for the TransRockies Run. When your thighs need a good reminded of who’s the boss. When just running 4.5 miles is enough.
My rating: 7. It’s good, but it’s a lot.
Music: Stuff from the late 70′s. Black Sabbath. Iron Maiden. When I ran into the bulls, I had Johnny Rotten piping into my ears, and that was followed by some classic Rolling Stones.
Up the windward side, just south of the Polynesian Cultural Center and the mo’o of Lāʻie, is the town of Hau`ula. It’s home to two great ridges with state trails, and they’re both well worth the drive. The Papali Trail on the Ma`akua Ridge features great trail running, lots of ascent and descent, and great places to see the sun rise, while the Hau`ula Loop Trail skirts across from the Kipapau Valley and have some great ironwood forest. There’s lots of shade, and cool temperatures prevail in large part to the gentle breezes.
Summary: The Manana Trail is a state / country trail in the Pearl Ridge area, that heads mauka (towards the mountains) up the Koʻolau Range. While it’s close to six miles to hike all the way to the ridge, the lower first few miles of the trail make for some great running. It offers easy access, great views, rolling ascent and wide, safe paths.
The Good: The first three miles of this trail is good. It’s a nice, rolling climb from about 1000 feet of elevation, up to about 1600 feet of elevation. Nice wide trails, the route is well marked and easy to follow. It mixes lots of shade with open areas of panoramic views. And on a nice and sunny day, this is a beautiful place to go run. Mid way up, there’s even a camping area — a nice place to stop for a sit, though there’s no water or anything other than the clearing.
The Bad: There are a few stretches of the trail that are narrow, with a drop off on both sides. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing – it’s probably just not for everyone. Also, parking is at the end of a residential street — I always feel guilty, parking in front of someone’s house when I head out running (though I do try and police up the trash in the area, and leave it better than I found it). Did I mention dog poop? Yep — some of them, unfortunately. Did I mention pig hunting? I don’t see it as a problem — I’ve never had a bad experience with hunters on the trails. But it is a hunting area.
The Ugly: Have you noticed that I’ve been talking about the first three miles of this trail? Well, after the three mile mark is stops being running and turns into hiking. Or mountain climbing. If you’re wanting a run longer than 6 miles round trip, this isn’t it. If you want to run to the top, this isn’t the trail for you.
Type of route: Trail run Good to run in the rain? Yes, for the first 3 miles. After that, no.
Length: 6 to 12 miles; I recommend just the 6.
Options for the route: Yes — one. There’s a split off, to go down to the Waimano Pool. Take caution, though — it’s a steep hike down, and a mean hike back up. If it’s raining, or been raining, it’ll be slick. More info, here.
Elevation change on the run: Three miles will be about 600 feet of elevation gain. Water used: A solid two liters.
Where to start: At the end of Komo Mai Drive Where to park: Same. be sure not to block the circle at the end — emergency vehicle access, so you’ll get a ticket / towed. Point your car’s GPS towards: Komo Mai Drive, Pearl City, HI 96782 (here)
Facilities Water? No Toilets? No Medical care? No Ranger / park folks? No. Picnic areas?Yes (via). Mid way up, at the camp site. A place to change afterwards? No. Which is a bit awkward — doing a deck change outside someone’s house is, well, awkward.
Rewards in the area:Try Miki’s (1001 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City, HI 96782-3334) for some grinds.
You’d run this route when….it’s a sunny, sunny day with some clouds that are mauka.
My rating: 8. I look forward to running this one a few more times.
Music: It needs to be something older, like the Squeeze (try this).
Summary: For as long as I have been running up and down from Nuuanu Pali State Wayside, aka the Pali lookout, I’ve had my eye on a run from the beach in Kailua to the Nuuanu Pali and back. From my best guesstimation, I figured it’d be about 13 miles to do it. Starting at the Kailua Beach Park in Kailua seemed like a perfect fit; I’d used it as a base of operations for a number of runs up to the pillboxes, and to the area around Kailua and Bellows Air Station. The run from there up to Nuuanu Pali is a mix of nice, flat road running, with a moderate climb up the old road to the lookout itself. One key appeal of this route is the shade, while the other is in running roads — old and new. All told, it worked out to be just about 13 miles on the nose, and it’s as good a run in the rain as it is on a sunny day.
The Good: Right distance, right difficulty. I’ll be honest — 13-15 miles is where I’m happiest. And really, I’m not a gazelle, so a good climb works just fine for me, too. I think I was no more than 20 minutes off my normal time for a half marathon, a lot of which was due to the shade and the road. The roads are a real plus — the old Pali Highway is a great escape for running, a chance to run an abandoned road that is still in very good shape (and that features some great scenery). And the park in Kailua is a great place to start and finish — plenty of parking, plenty of water, nice showers, clean bathrooms, and nice changing rooms.
The Bad: I don’t know if there’s such a thing as rush hour in Kailua, but if there is, running along Auloa Road might be tricky — no sidewalk, and the shoulder drops off quickly. But we are talking about Maunawili, after all — if three cars pass, I think that’d be the rush. There’s the one stretch on the old Pali Highway, where the trail goes under the new highway and careful footing is required; I can’t see it being fatal to anyone, though. Also, there’s no water along the way, nothing at Nuuanu Pali that I’ve ever found. So, you’ll need to bring whatever you may need (and with all the shade along the way, 2 liters should be enough for most days).
The Ugly: None, that I know of. Nice route, nice climb, nice quiet.
Type of route: Road Good to run in the rain? Excellent place to run in the rain.
Length: 13.1 roundtrip
Options for the route: Yep – the Waimanalo trail instead of along the roads. makes the run about 22 miles total, instead of the 13.1 miles.
Elevation change on the run: ~1100 feet up to Nuuanu Pali. Water used: 2.5 liters.
Where to start: Kailua Beach Park Where to park: Kailua Beach Park Point your car’s GPS towards: 526 Kawailoa Road at Alala Road, Kailua, Hawaii 96734
Facilities Water? Yes, at the start / finish point Toilets? Yes, at the start / finish point Medical care? No. Ranger / park folks? No. Picnic areas? Yes, at the start / finish point A place to change afterward? Yes
Rewards in the area: Step into the ocean. That works for me every time. If that’s not enough, swing my Moke’s Bread and Breakfast for some grinds; me, I’ll stick to the dip.
You’d run this route when…. you’re in the mood for a nice climb. Or you’re nursing an ankle and want to stay off the trails. Or there’s a full moon out, and not a cloud in the sky.
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