In the mountains north of Pearl Harbor, this state park protects Keaʻiwa Heiau, an ancient hoʻola (healing or medicinal) temple. Today people wishing to be cured may still place offerings here. The 4ft-high terraces are made of stacked rocks that enclose an approximately 16,000-sq-ft platform; the construction may date to the 16th century.
The scenic, 4.8-mile (2½-hour) ʻAiea Loop Trail starts from the top of the park’s paved loop road. There are some steep, sometimes muddy switchbacks, but you’ll enjoy sweeping vistas of Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and the Koʻolau Range. About two-thirds of the way, the wreckage of a plane that crashed in 1944 can be spotted through the foliage on the east ridge.
The park has picnic tables, covered pavilions with barbecue grills, restrooms, showers, a payphone and drinking water. The four tent sites at the campground (tent sites by permit $5; 8am Friday to noon Wednesday) are well tended but don’t have much privacy. Permits must be obtained in advance. Bring waterproof gear; rains are frequent at this elevation. There’s a resident caretaker by the front gate, which is locked at night.
To get here from Honolulu, take exit 13A ʻAiea off Hwy 78 onto Moanalua Rd. Turn right onto ʻAiea Heights Dr at the third traffic light. The road winds up through a residential area for over 2.5 miles to the park. From downtown Honolulu, bus 11 (ʻAiea Heights; 35 minutes, hourly) stops about 1.3 miles downhill from the park entrance.
