Distance (RT to Keālia Shelter): 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
Elevation Gain: ~930 ft. / 283 m
The Keālia Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu is a quiet local day hike behind the Kawaihāpai Airfield in Mokulēʻia that climbs 19 switchbacks through a beautiful native dryland forest to a shelter at the top, at which point hikers can decide to continue farther toward some of the best views on the island or turn back to the beginning!
It is for this reason that Keālia can be a very different adventure for different people, depending on how much or how little you’re interested in seeing.
By this, I mean that the Keālia Trail is often a quick evening workout for North Shore residents, just as the Koko Head Stairs are on the southeast side of Oʻahu. However, if you’re interested in a bit of a longer adventure, the Keālia Trail is best combined with the Kuaokalā Trail on the southern side of the Waiʻanae Range, as this is where the best views are truly found!
That said, there is quite a bit to know, meaning a number of turns to remember, if you’re interested in hiking beyond the Keālia Shelter at the end of the switchbacks, which is why I recommend reading this article in detail, as every turn to the Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST) and Kuaokalā Trail is shown past the end of the official Keālia Trail below!
Driving to the Trailhead (Kawaihāpai–Keālia Public Access)
The Keālia Trailhead is located within Kawaihāpai Airfield, also known as Dillingham Airfield.
To get there, drive along Farrington Highway to the far west gate of the Kawaihāpai Airfield, just before the sign for Kaʻena Point State Park, and there will be signs indicating public trailhead access.
If you are planning to start the Keālia Trail later in the day, take note of the hours posted on the gate so as not to have your car locked inside.
Keālia Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Keālia Trail is located in a small parking lot on the left-hand side of the entrance road, about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) from the turn off Farrington Highway, shown in the photos above.
Note that this is not the same entrance that is used for skydiving on the other side of Kawaihāpai.
Google Maps Directions: Keālia Trailhead
Hiking the Keālia Trail
Walking to the Trailhead
From the designated parking area within Kawaihāpai Airfield, it’s a 0.25-mile (0.4 km) walk to get to the actual trailhead.
That said, exit the parking lot and go right, then left immediately after to begin making your way to the Keālia Trailhead.
This is the left-hand turn immediately after leaving the parking lot.
After passing through the fence, go left at this split to continue walking to the Keālia Trailhead.
After the split shown in the photo above, simply follow the access road until it reaches the true Keālia Trailhead, just a short distance ahead.
Keālia Trailhead
This is the Keālia Trailhead, located roughly 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from the parking area, and note that the distance posted above does not include the walk up to this point.
Once past the trailhead, the Keālia Trail begins climbing a continuous series of 19 switchbacks to the Keālia Shelter at the top.
The switchbacks really are the whole hike!
That said, the lower-elevation switchbacks tend to be slightly longer, but they gradually get shorter and shorter as the trail nears the shelter.
This is where the Keālia Trail turns the first of 19 switchbacks on the hike up to the shelter.
This big boulder in the middle of the trail is always a nice sign that the trailhead is not far ahead on the hike back down!
ʻIlieʻe is one of the more common native Hawaiian plants in the forest understory on the Keālia Trail, but it can be challenging to tell apart from the invasive Chinese violet, as the two often grow side by side.
What Makes the Keālia Trail so Special?
To the average hiker, the switchbacks up the Keālia Trail likely don’t look like anything to write home about, but what’s not so obvious is that the entirety of the trail, from top to bottom, is one of the more intact dryland native Hawaiian forests!
This is meaningful because dry forests in Hawaiʻi are often considered the most heavily degraded—or rather, lost—landscapes across the islands, similar to the loss of true native prairies on the mainland.
With that being the case, native Hawaiian dryland forests, such as this, are often fragments or shells of what they used to be!
This is a result of non-native, invasive grasses and trees, such as Fountain Grass and Koa Haole, both of which are highly prevalent along the Keālia Trail today and are among the main drivers of this trend. What this really means is that only pockets of native dryland forest exist today, typically located in highly inaccessible mountainous terrain, with few exceptions like the Keālia Trail and the Kānepuʻu Preserve on Lānaʻi.
This is why I often consider the Keālia Trail to be the most accessible, intact native dryland forest on Oʻahu today, and I mention this here because the large tree on the left-hand side of the photo below is an overstory Wiliwili tree—a relic of what old-growth native dryland forests once looked like across Hawaiʻi at large!
Furthermore, the lower elevations of the Keālia Trail are home to one of the most beautiful Wiliwili–Lonomea forests on Oʻahu today, with Lonomea largely fading out after the lower switchbacks but Wiliwili continuing all the way to the summit!
This is one of the many Lonomea trees that dominate the lower elevations of the Keālia Trail.
This is where the Keālia Trail turns the fourth of 19 switchbacks on the hike up to the shelter.
ʻĀnunu is a beautiful viney species in the forest understory of dryland Hawaiian forests, with it typically being easier to spot after a lot of rain—something that is more common in the wetter winter months, as opposed to the hotter and drier summer.
Around the sixth switchback, the overstory canopy essentially disappears, with the exception of a few large Wiliwili trees along the way.
This is why I highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt—especially if you plan to venture as far as the Kuaokalā Trail on the other side of the Waiʻanae Range.
This is the eighth of 19 switchbacks on the Keālia Trail.
The small tree on the right-hand side of the photo below is one of many Wiliwili trees planted along the Keālia Trail in 2023 in an effort to create better habitat and protect one of the rarest species on Oʻahu.
Now, years later, it’s great to see that so many have successfully taken root and will hopefully continue to thrive among the much larger relic Wiliwili trees found throughout the Keālia Trail!
The large tree on the right-hand side of the photo below is another old-growth Wiliwili—Wiliwili quite literally meaning "twisted," which is often the appearance of many Wiliwilis exposed to constant trade winds across Hawaiʻi.
This is where the Keālia Trail turns the 11th switchback, which is significant because this is where the trail passes beneath the source of one of the biggest rockfalls in memorable history.
Yes, rockfalls are somewhat common on the Keālia Trail, typically after or during heavy rain, but this particular one, from 2021, tore across multiple switchbacks and left large boulders along and just off the trail that can still be seen today!
Since the climb up the Keālia Trail is near constant, including where Keālia Road continues past the Keālia Shelter on the hike over to the Kuaokalā Trail, some hikers may want to bring trekking poles—especially for the hike back down!
This is ʻAʻaliʻi, and it is one of the most widespread and resilient native Hawaiian plants, thriving amongst invasive grasses here and landscapes across Hawaiʻi!
This flatter stretch follows the 16th switchback, and it is one of the best northeast-facing viewpoints across Mokulēʻia and much of Oʻahu’s North Shore!
The last thing worth noting is that the tall Guinea Grass along the Keālia Trail can get a bit overgrown after periods with a lot of rain, but it is typically not too difficult to walk through, though it can be hard to see where your next step is.
This is where the Keālia Trail turns the 19th and final switchback, just below the shelter.
Keālia Shelter
This is the Keālia Shelter and the end of the 19 switchbacks that first began in the Lonomea forest near Kawaihāpai below.
For some, the Keālia Shelter is the end of the hike, while for others, it is just a stop along the way.
By this, I mean that the end of the Keālia Trail is the beginning of Keālia Road, which can be followed to cut across the Waiʻanaes to reach the East Kuaokalā Trailhead on the southern end.
This is where I often continue after reaching the Keālia Shelter, as this is where the best views on the hike are located!
That said, there are a number of turns to remember in order to stay on the correct path, which is why I recommend reading the following section in detail if you are interested in continuing farther, as a few of the turns can be easy to miss!
Keālia Road (Keālia Shelter to Kuaokalā)
Distance (One Way): 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
Past the Keālia Shelter, the Keālia Trail ends, and Keālia Road begins.
The distance above is the one-way distance from the Keālia Shelter to the East Kuaokalā Trailhead, which is my preferred way to hike the Kuaokalā Trail, as this route avoids the hassle of getting the Kuaokalā day-use permit.
All that to say, simply follow Keālia Road uphill past the Keālia Shelter to continue hiking to the Kuaokalā Trail on the Mākua side of the Waiʻanaes.
The main thing to know about the hike from the Keālia Shelter to Kuaokalā is that there are three major hills and four turns, all of which are labeled below.
That said, the Keālia Trail continues climbing after the Keālia Shelter, but this is not the first hill.
However, I like to say, "When you see it, you will know," because the first hill really is unmistakeable!
This and all the access roads across the western Waiʻanae Mountains are some of the most popular places to trail run on Oʻahu!
If trail running is something you’re considering, I recommend using the shoes I have linked below, as they work well for both hiking and trail running on many of the best adventures across Oʻahu that tend to be less overgrown.
This is ʻIliahi aloʻe, and it is one of the most common native plants in the non-native forest understory that dominates much of the Waiʻanae Mountains!
Keālia Road–Keālia Gulch Junction
This is the first of the four turns past the Keālia Shelter.
Once here, go right to continue on Keālia Road toward the East Kuaokalā Trailhead, as the path to the left simply branches down toward Keālia Gulch and away from the main route.
After about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) since leaving the Keālia Shelter, Keālia Road passes this abandoned water tank on the left-hand side, which is really nothing more than a nice mental checkpoint when much of the road through the Eucalyptus–Ironwood forest looks the same.
Hill 1
This is the bottom of the first of the three hills, and it is by far the longest of the three!
The first hill on Keālia Road has a few false summits, but keep in mind that the top isn’t until the road makes a hard turn to the right.
Yes, the first hill is still going!
The top of the hill in the photo below is where Keālia Road makes the hard right turn and finally levels off after the long first hill!
This is the top of the first hill!
This is where Keālia Road turns sharply to the northwest, which is a nice sign that the second hill is not far ahead!
Keālia Road-Kuaokalā Makai Road Junction (Hill 2)
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the sharp northwest turn, Keālia Road meets the second of four junctions and the beginning of the second hill.
At this split, go left to begin the second hill and continue up to Kuaokalā.
The second hill is just as steep, but significantly shorter than the first!
This is the top of the second hill, which is a bit disappointing because Keālia Road immediately begins descending toward the bottom of the third and final hill.
Hill 3
After climbing and descending the second hill, the third hill immediately follows, which is by far the easiest and most gradual of the three!
Keālia-Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road Junction
This is the top of the third hill, and it’s where Keālia Road ends at a junction with the Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road, the same road that leads to Peacock Flats and the Mokulēʻia Access Road.
Once here, go left to continue on the 1.8-mile (2.9 km) route between the Keālia Shelter and Kuaokalā, as the road to the right simply leads down to the Kaʻena Point Space Force Tracking Station and the West Kuaokalā Trailhead.
On that note, this is why this junction is often seen as a great trail-running loop, combining both the Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road and the Kuaokalā Trail before returning back to Keālia on the North Shore.
After leaving Keālia Road, the hike over to the Kuaokalā Trail only follows the Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road for about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) until it reaches the spur that branches away toward the East Kuaokalā Trailhead.
East Kuaokalā TH-Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road Junction
This is the fourth and final junction between the Keālia Shelter and the East Kuaokalā Trailhead, located just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away from this split!
At this final junction, go right to continue toward the Kuaokalā Trail, as the road to the left is where the Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road continues toward Peacock Flats and the Mokulēʻia Trail beyond.
East Kuaokalā Trailhead (Waiʻanae Summit Trail)
After 1.8 miles (2.9 km) since leaving the Keālia Shelter, the hike across the Waiʻanaes from the North Shore to the West Side finally ends at the East Kuaokalā Trailhead, which is also the junction with the Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST) that encompasses both the Kuaokalā Trail to the right and the fence line heading east toward Pahole to the left.
To learn more about the Kuaokalā Trail as it continues from this point to the Space Force Tracking Station, I encourage you to read all the details in my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Posts: Kuaokalā Trail / Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST)
Connecting Keālia to the Mokulēʻia Access Road
Distance: ~13.0 miles / 20.9 km
One of the most common Waiʻanae trail runs is connecting the Keālia Trail with the Mokulēʻia Access Road, utilizing either the Mokulēʻia–Kuaokalā Access Road or the Waiʻanae Summit Trail.
In doing so, the total distance is about 13 miles (20.9 km) roundtrip, which may sound long, but all parts of the trail move fairly quickly. Note that the distance above includes the 3.6 miles (5.8 km) along Farrington Highway to get from trailhead to trailhead.
That aside, there’s really no telling how much exploring one can do past the Keālia Shelter, as there are still new places I’m learning about all the time! If you’d like to learn more about the best trail runs on Oʻahu, including the Mokulēʻia Access Road mentioned above, I encourage you to read more in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Best Trail Runs on Oʻahu
Native Plants on the Keālia Trail
As previously mentioned, the Keālia Trail is arguably the best accessible native dryland forest on Oʻahu, particularly because of the large overstory Wiliwili and Lonomea trees throughout, not to mention all the other native species that grow beneath the canopy.
This is why, despite the threats of invasive grasses, trees, vines, and more, the Keālia Trail remains one of the best places to see a native dry forest on Oʻahu today, as most comparable forests are located in remote, largely inaccessible locations across the Waiʻanaes.
Some of the native plants that can be seen along the hike include the Waiʻanae Range Schiedea, Wiliwili, Lonomea, ʻĀnunu, Maʻo hau hele, Alaheʻe, ʻAlaʻala wai nui, ʻIliahi aloʻe, ʻIlieʻe, ʻIlima, and Kokolau, to truly name only a few.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
