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.
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.
Summary: The Aiea Loop is a very nice, 4.5ish mile loop on the ridge up above the H3. It’s certainly not flat, but it does run through a well-shaded area. It’s a bit off the beaten path, and seems to only get the regular morning walking crowd, though hikers do show up from time to time. This is definitely a hiking and running train; it’s not bike friendly in any way, shape or form. You’ll pass the heiau on your way in; it’s worth a stop on the way out, both for the signs to read and a chance to see it (it’s a good shape).
The Good: Trail. It’s all trail. No pavement, no steps, no hand rails, nothing. Quiet and peaceful, this is a nice area away from the world, perfect for running. You’ll likely see a few people out on your run, but really, it’s solitude; even the groups of pig hunters and their dogs have been both isolated encounters, and pleasant ones (everyone, even the hunters, seem willing to say hello and stop to chat). The coolness of the morning seems to linger a bit longer on the trail, making it a pretty good place to run later in the morning, too. And the length is about right — at 4.5ish miles, it’s not hard (I would think) for most to get through this in an hour. The route itself is also pretty self-evident; there are no markers, but I really don’t think any are needed. I think you’d be hard-pressed to get lost. Lastly, the facilities there are indeed good enough to support running; there’s no shower or anything, but there are well kept, clean bathrooms in which to change afterward, as well as water fountains.
The Bad: It’s not flat, by any means. And I’m not referring to elevation change — I’m talking about the trail itself. This is no city bike path; there are some places where the trail have a pretty decent angle, heading off the side and down the ravine. For the sure footed, this isn’t a problem; lose your footing, though, and you’d be in for a spill down the side. can you lose your footing? Yep — the trail is littered with roots. Zoning out and running does not mean taking an eye off of where you’re putting down your feet. Also, there are obstacles — there are a few places where fallen trees, well, have been left, with notches cut into them to facilitated getting over them. On a good day, they can be a bit hairy; on a bad day, they can be rather ugly.
The Ugly: The rain and the mud. That uneven trail can get a bit slick in spots when it rains, and I’ve seen one guy come close to sliding right off the side and down the ravine, due to the slick mud. Now, being part Labrador, I happen to love running trails in the rain, stomping through puddles and mud, the mud here might seem like the perfect thing. Not so. The closest I have come to dying on this trail was trying to get over a fallen tree, on a rainy and slick day; the approach to the tree was slick, the tree itself was slick, and the footing on the other side was slick as well. Good runs, I think, should leave you with a fresh review of your life’s history, of what you did right and what you did wrong; I had that that day. Good runs shouldn’t mean slowing your pace, to keep from falling to your death.
Type of route: trail Good to run in the rain? Only if your life insurance is up to date and you’re really, really into trail running
Length: Around 4.5 miles. The park sign says 4.8, but I find that suspect.
Options for the route: Nope, though I did spent one fine Sunday out there running back and forth, from one parking lot to the other, for about 3 hours .
Elevation change on the run: It drops down to about 800′ elevation, and tops out at about 1600′ at the highest point . Water used: 1.5 liters .
Where to start: Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area (here) Where to park: At the parking lot all the way at the end of the road. There’s a good fountain there, a nice and clean bathroom, and a nice picnic area that’s perfect for a cool-down. Point your car’s GPS towards: 99-1849 Aiea Heights Dr, Aiea, HI 96701. The cross-street is Uluaau Drive.
Facilities Water? Yes Toilets? Yes Medical care? Nope Ranger / park folks? Yes, at the entrance (often). Picnic areas? Yes, and even camping areas. A place to change afterward? Yes, in the good & clean bathrooms
Rewards in the area: Plate lunch at the Aiea Bowl.
You’d run this route when….it’s August, and hot, and you’re getting a late start to the morning after having slept in. Or, when you want a nice, quiet, away-from-people trail run, some place where you can turn up the music and tune out the people.
My rating: 8
Music: George Thorogood. This would also be the place to play Whitesnake, or the Go-Go’s, because you just won’t run into someone who will ask, What are you listening to?
Summary: I have been in love with the North Shore since I was a kid. Growing up on a Boogie Board in the 70′s and 80′s, it was hard not to hear the tales of Sunset and Waimea and to become enamored by the sales of sand and surf and the beautiful sea. Since returning to the island, I’d been trying to work out a decent run to do across the North Shore, something more than just the 3 miles of bike path but something that would been me off of the thin and dangerous roads out past Turtle Bay. Shark’s Cove to RFF Opana seems to fill that need nicely — a good length (11 miles round trip), with plenty of bike path (6 of the 11) and sidewalk running, with great views of the beaches and plenty of places to divert to see the sand and sea. Over the 11 miles, the elevations changes very little, while the route is a mix of shade and exposed roads and paths.
The Good: This route is flat. Gloriously flat. The bike path sections also have a lot of shade, low volume of bike traffic, and slow bike traffic (the serious riders keep to the street, it seems, while the beach cruisers stick to the bike path). The many beaches along the way feature decent enough bathrooms and the occasional water fountain, making this an easier run to do without a camelbak. The bathrooms come in handy for cleaning up after the run, though I favor a dip into the cove more. There are also some good eats in the area for afterward. This run would be amazing if the bike path were longer, but hey, it is what it is.
The Bad: It gets a wee bit warm mid day and into the early afternoon; this is definitely a run to do in the morning. If vehicle traffic is abnormally high, some stretches of this route won’t be much fun to run, as there’s not a lot of spare room on the side. There can be some traffic in and around the entrance to the Kahuku Motocross Park, but the riders always seem to do a great job leaving plenty of room for folks to go by.
The Ugly: None. For me, the worst is looking off to the hills, knowing I can’t run there. Out past Turtle Bay, the road really has no spare room for runners, though I know people do run it.
Type of route: Paved. Some is bike trail, some is something like a sidewalk (though not really), and for some stretches, it’s running along the edge of the road. Good to run in the rain? Yep.
Length: 11.5 miles, round trip.
Options for the route:Yep, with some risk. The best would be to keep right on going, and to run to La’ie Point State Wayside. That’d make it about 13 miles one way — and a perfect place for family or friends to come get you before spending the day at the PCC or the beach.
Elevation change on the run:Less than a hundred feet. Water used: None, though if I’d had some with me, I’d likely have used a liter at most.
Where to start: Shark’s Cove, just past Waimea Bay Where to park: Here Point your car’s GPS towards: 21.645300,-158.063600, or Kamehameha Hwy at Kapuhi Street. If you get to Foodland, you’ve gone too far.
Facilities Water? Yes. Water fountains at public beaches along the way/ Toilets? Yes, near the start / finish of the run Medical care? Nothing specific. Bring your cell phone to call 911, though there are plenty of people around. Ranger / park folks? Nope. Picnic areas? Plenty, at the beaches along the way. A place to change afterwards? Yes, public restrooms.
You’d run this route when….you want to relax and put in some miles without getting smoked. With so little elevation change, this is a great cruising run.
My rating: 7. The sun can be mean, and the whole running-on-the-edge-of-the-road thing isn’t so cool. I did not give it extra geek points for going to the entrance to RFF Opana, though the thought did cross my mind.
Summary: I know that I just interrupted Running Oahu to bring you Running Prescott, but I need to interrupt again to bring you this special, Running Maui. With three from work, I’ve come to Maui for the inaugural Valley to the Sea Half Marathon. This event, which serves as a fundraiser for the Helekunihi Cultural Foundation, features a good route that is mostly downhill (from the start point at 1000′, to the beach) and very quick. Oh, and it’s pretty — very pretty. The run starts in Iao Valley, which is stunningly beautiful, and heads down to Mai Poina ‘Oe Ia’u Park, first on roads that have but an OK surface (in the Iao Valley park) and then on good road surfaces, before ending with a dash along the beach itself. Not too bad, for an inaugural event — and not too bad for an event that had only about a hundred runners.
The Good: The route. Downhill? What’s not to love about a net loss of 1000′ in elevation? And starting in the Iao Valley park is a great way to begin — the sheer beauty of the site is truly awe-inspiring (make time to go see photos of it on Flickr – here). I can’t think of a prettier starting point for any event I’ve ever run. I didn’t want to start; I just wanted to stand and stare for a while. The run featured water points — water and gatoraid, always – every two miles, with more at the end. For a first time effort, they sure did it right. The crew had a good spread of food and drinks after the race, and had ready the small prizes for winners of the various categories — no long delay, no checking the web later.
The Bad: Starting at 0700, and getting cooked alive my the morning Maui sun. Ugh. Especially on Highway 30, heading south — with the sun off to your left, with only a few trees along the way, the morning sun can be rough. I don’t think there’s anything to be done about the route, but starting an hour earlier would sure help. Also, one thing about the race organization itself struck me as odd — 19-39 as a single category for runners. I hope they are able to fix this for next year.
The Ugly: I can’t think of a damn thing.
Type of route: Road. Some of the road surface is good, some bad. The very end of the race is on the beach, on packed sand. Good to run in the rain? Yes. I was worried about the roads being slick (it had rained all night).
Length:Half marathon.
Options for the route: Turn around and run back. One guy did just that.
Me and my peeps
Elevation change on the run: Net sum of a 1000 foot loss. At about the 2 mile mark is the only real climb, and it’s a short one needed to get out of the park . Water used: Maybe 50 ounces at most.
Where to start: The stunningly beautiful Iao Valley (Wikipedia). Where to park: Same Point your car’s GPS towards: End of Iao Valley Road, Highway 32, Wailuku, HI
Local kids being, well, local kids in Ioa Valley State Park
Facilities Water? At the start and finish. The race featured water points, but if you were to run this on your own, you’d be out of luck for water. Toilets? Start and finish. Medical care? The race featured it — I actually saw a runner who was a doctor stop to help a downed runner — but otherwise you’d need to bring a cell phone and call 911. Ranger / park folks? At the start. Picnic areas? At the start and finish. A place to change afterwards? Yes. The park has restrooms and outdoor showers.
Rewards in the area: For me, any talk of rewards in the area begins and ends with Las Piñatas (reviews here). Point the GPS towards 395 Dairy Road at Hana Hwy, Kahului, HI, 96732.
You’d run this route when? When they put the event on next year (26 March 2011, by the way). Nice run, good group, good organization. Not a run to be savored alone, but a great one for an organized event.
Though it lays dormant and seemingly forgotten, the Old Pali Highway is still in great shape, and still makes for a great place to run — so long as you’re OK with hills.
Summary: Kolekole Pass is a well known running route, but one that today sees many fewer runners than it once did. In this post-9/11 world, access to Schofield Barracks, Lualualei Naval Reservation, and this historic road is restricted. While it has historically been best known as shortcut across the Wai’anae range, these days it is a nice, quiet, and steep place to run.
The Good: There’s little traffic on this road. In fact, at during some parts of the day, there’s no through traffic at all, with only military vehicles heading to and from various ranges. And it’s a nice little climb; the grade is steep enough to strain the legs, but not so severe as to bring you to your knees. Also, the road is well maintained, and the side grass is regularly cut and cared for; for an out-of-the-way little side road, it’s in remarkably good shape. Lastly, the road up has both great shade and a wonderful breeze, keeping the temp down during the hardest of times. Time it right, and you can duck right into the showers at Richardson pool to clean up, before swimming a few laps.
The Bad: Run what you brung; there’s no water along the way, no fountains, and a single porta-potty (that is actually pretty clean and regularly serviced). While there are cars that transit the road pass, there are also large military trucks and commercial trucks; all of them do drive slow and are very good about making way for runners (and soldiers on ruck marches, etc).
The Ugly:Well, it’s not really that ugly, but there’s really nothing on the side of the road. There are sidewalks for a good part of the way up through the military sections of Schofield Barracks, but that ends with the last of the motor pools. From there on out, you’re running on the edge of the road; it shouldn’t be an issue.
Type of route: Road Good to run in the rain? Fantastic to run in the rain.
Length: 9.5 miles, from the Inn, up Trimble to the pass, and back down Lymen Road and the cemetery.
Options for the route:I’d love to tell you that there’s still an option to run over the pass, down the other side and on to the ocean. In the old days, the military use to have organized run to do just that. I have not heard of it being done recently, or of plans to let anyone do it (though, if a guard would ever give me the chance, I’d surely do it). Also, there’s a longer (11.5 mile) route that loops more to the northern point of the post, before looping around and back to Trimble.
Elevation change on the run:I’m not really sure (I’ve been running up there without my Garmin) . Water used: None. That being said, I should add that I run in the morning, and I often run in the rain in the morning. It would be easy to go through 2 liters running up the pass and back, if not three liters of water.
Where to start: The Inn at Schofield Barracks Where to park: Here (library parking lot, across the street) Point your car’s GPS towards: The Inn.
Facilities Water? Not on the route Toilets? One posta-potty along the way Medical care? Oh, yes. Get injured, and just about everyone stops to ask what’s wrong. Army docs are plentiful, and all are quick to call for an ambulance. Ranger / park folks? Nope, not in a traditional sense. The closest thing is probably the Tropic Lightning Museum. Picnic areas? Yes, at Bowen Field and also adjacent to both Richardson Pool and the Inn. A place to change afterwards? Yes — Richardson pool (0600-0900 during the week, but weekends it opens at 1100).
Rewards in the area: There’s a Baskin-Robbins over at the PX, but really, there’s no super-secret bonus for running up this route.
You’d run this route when….it’s raining and the run is coming up. Or when you’re wanting a harder 10 mile run; this hill is a very good one.
My rating: 8. I really like this one. It’s not all that picturesque in some parts, but running across the post and up the hill is a great, great thing.
Music: Military cadence. No matter what time you run this, no matter the day of the week that you run it, you’re going to pass soldiers coming or going from the pass.
Summary: At the South end of Kailua, on the Windward side of the island, is a single ridge that divides the town from the restricted space of Bellows Air Force Base. It’s not a complicated run, or even a very long run, but it offers glorious views, nice hills, a decent enough path, and not a lot of traffic. It’s in a beautiful area of the island, and is as beautiful a place to run at dawn as it is in a rain storm.
The Good: Good, good running. Steep at times, but the trail along the ridgeline is just fantastic. Low, low traffic — mostly hikers, and mostly folks just going up to the pillboxes. The trail is very run-able, with only limited sections that mandate slowing to a near-stop. On the right parts, it is ideal ridge-running — good trail, up high, right along the spine, with great views and few people, but plenty wide so make death unlikely. With the trail head located so close to the Kailua Beach Park, there’s great support for the post-run — showers, drinking fountains, mostly-safe bathrooms, etc. And did I mention the scenery? Holy smokes — beautiful.
The Bad: Once you get past the pillboxes, well, the quality of the trail drops. Really, it’s just a matter of not really being able to see the trail as much as you’d want or need. Yes, this is running country, just not a sprinting trail. And once the sun comes up, if the clouds are gone, you will heat up.
The Ugly: There are a few places where you can fall to your death. No, they don’t sneak up on you or anything — but they are there. Also, the path down the western descent is poorly marked; it gets the least use, I suppose, so it’s not likely to get better any time soon.
Type of route: Trail. Hiking trail, but trail. Good to run in the rain? Um, if it’s a light rain, sure. Large parts of the trail, though, route the water off the ridge when it’s a heavy rain, so you’d be on slick rocks in water. I ran here in a heavy but short rain, and that was OK — just slick and muddy coming down.
Length: 2.2 miles from the Kailua Beach Park, to the far point overlooking the ocean.
Options for the route: Yes. Two of them, actually. Option one is to drop down to the west side, and emerge onto Kamahele Street, on the far side of the (closed) road along the golf course. From there, it’s a run back up the hill (blah) or a run around the canal and back to the beach (easy run, nice neighborhoods). Option 2 is to keep heading down along the ridge, and head for the water tower. From there, it’s a street run back as well. Option 2 is the most poorly-maintained part of the trails — hands down. Option 3, I suppose, would be to drop down to Bellows Air Force Base, and get arrested for trespassing. Not something I’d suggest, though.
Elevation change on the run: From beach up to about 650 feet at its highest point. Water used: Just going out and back is a 1 liter run. Plan on 2 liters.
Where to start: Here. Just past the Mid Pacific Country Club, on Kaelepulu Drive. Where to park: Kailua Beach Park. Point your car’s GPS towards: Kailua Beach Park, Kailua, Hawaii, 96734.
Facilities Water? Yes– at the Kailua Beach Park. Good fountains, clean water from the tap, and showers — cold, but wonderful. Toilets? Yes — at the Kailua Beach Park. Medical care? No. Ranger / park folks? Have not seen any — at the park, or on the trail. Picnic areas? Yes– at the Kailua Beach Park. That, or eat on top of the bunkers. A place to change afterwards? Great changing areas — at the Kailua Beach Park.
Rewards in the area: A swim to Flat Island. What — you wanted more?
You’d run this route when…. you’ve had your fill recently of speed drills, or tempo work, or other serious training efforts. This is a great run to do with just you and your iPod and some water. It’s enjoyable — a fun, fun run.
Entries (RSS)