Maunawili Ditch Trail

Summer time on O'ahu, the perfect time for hitting the trails.  No matter how often I hike, there are always new places and trails to experience and explore.  Just as soon as I scratch one hike off of my "to do" list, another one appears to take the old ones place.  Maunawili Ditch Trail is a trail I had not yet hiked, so it was on my list, as I am diligently trying to hike all the trails.  In doing some online research about this trail I discovered that it is the only trail in the Na Ala Hele state trail system that officially allows horses. In fact, all the blogs I read prior to going on this trail recommended bringing a horse to do this trail instead of hiking in on foot.

I didn't have a horse readily available (maybe next time), but I did have my kids, the bestie, and her kiddos.  So, off we went on a windward adventure to Maunawili Ditch Trail.  This trail is flat, great for all levels of hikers (young, old, fit, unfit, fast, slow).  The majority of the trail is shrouded in shade, so this is your hike choice for those days you just can't bear to hike in the sun.  The forested path meanders through various trees, a dried up stream, rocks, and unusual flowers and leaves at the bottom of the Ko'olau Mountain range.

This trail seems to be a connector trail.  The start of the trail is on Waikupanaha Street in Waimanalo.  We parked in front of the brown and yellow trail marker signs next to a small gravel parking area.  After hiking the trail all the way to the other end where another set of brown and yellow trail marker signs were on Mahiku Place, we realized we could have parked at either entrance/end of the trail.  You can do this trail straight through and then walk back up the road to where you have parked, or you can do the trail, turn around and head back into the forest, until you reach the other end. This trail is not a loop so you can either do a little over 2.5 miles with some walking on the street (no shade) or you can choose to do almost 5 miles (all of which will be shaded).   We chose option number two.  This way we were able to re-see sights we saw going in, get a few more pictures and steps in for the day, and also make sure we didn't get lost.

There were no real stunning views along this trail.  We encountered two bicyclists, more horse manure than I ever care to see, no actual horses save for one in the backyard of a house in the neighborhood beside the trail, a couple of peek-a-boo views of the top of the mountains to include the back side of Mount Olomana, and that's really it.

For an easy, quick, unpopulated trail, this is the trail to choose.  The only other reason you may find yourself on this trail is to meet up with the Maunawili Demonstration Trail or a side back trail for a non-traditional entrance to the Olomana peaks.

Although this isn't a new favorite trail, I am happy we explored it with friends, successfully dodged stepping in horse manure, and now I know where I can start when I'm ready to tackle the nine plus miles of the Maunawili Demonstration Trail.  Plus, I got a blog post out of it.  😉

The hiking crew was fun as always, and we finished out the day with some yummy grinds from Nalo Health Bar and soaking in some rays at Kalama Beach Park afterwards.  A trio of summer fun that started in the most unexpected of places...a ditch trail.