Aiea Loop

In February, on a whim, I exited the main highway of Oahu, the mighty and congested H-1, and followed a road called Aiea Heights all the way to the end. Its a road that winds up and up and up through residential areas until you reach a park and a forest of pine trees. It would feel like driving to another state if it were not for the palm trees mingling with the pines.

A heiau (the Keaiwa Heiau in Aiea no less) is not a word conjured up by a desperate Scrabble player, it is an ancient Hawaiian temple. Keaiwa Heiau State Park contains the remains of an ancient healing temple and some picnic areas. I walked around and took photos but that's about it.




























Last weekend, Luis and I returned to the park and hiked the Aiea Loop which is about 4.5 miles through the foothills up to a ridge. Even though it was a loop and technically impossible, it felt like we were going uphill for most of the hike. The views were worth it though and looking down on the H-3 highway snaking through the Koolau Mountains was spectacular. Although there were a good number of pine trees in the forest, there were eucalyptus, koa, and strawberry guava trees as well. It was a fragrant hike.