David Y. Ige

HONOLULU —   The Department of Land and Natural Resources has temporarily closed the ‘Aiea Loop Trail in Keaiwa Heiau State Recreational Area, for public safety, due to two landslides with fallen trees on the trail.

DLNR’s Division of State Parks has posted trail closed signs at both ends of the popular loop trail.  The landslides were reported on Monday by a hiker.

Starting from the ‘Aiea Heights side, the first landslide is just past where the power line crosses over the trail.  The second is also on the ‘Aiea Heights side of the trail, about .75 miles past the first landslide.

The park is OPEN, only the trail is closed. Work to clear the large fallen trees and damage to the trail will begin next week. Future updates on trail status will be posted on the State Parks website https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/  under “Announcements.”

The ‘Aiea Loop Trail is 4.8-mile trail that begins and ends in the park. This trail runs along the ridge on the west side of Halawa Valley and offers views of the southern coastline of O‘ahu from Pearl Harbor (Pu‘uloa) and the Wai‘anae Range to Honolulu and Diamond Head (Le‘ahi).

Much of this area was replanted by foresters in the late 1920s. The lemon eucalyptus trees give the air a light citrus fragrance. Stands of Norfolk Island pine trees mark the lower end of the trail. Look for the native koa and ohi‘a trees as you reach Pu‘u Ua’u, the high point about midway along the length of the trail. You might also see remnants of a B-24 bomber that crashed in 1944.

For more information about the trail go to https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu/aiea-loop-trail/

 

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Images of the trail and fallen trails are available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5kt8tyv6p1a1ssy/AABxUFVY9cnOgqnSRP5rW–Na?dl=0

Photo credit:  Courtesy Mark Fuchtman

 Media Contact:

Deborah Ward

DLNR Public information specialist

Phone: (808) 5870320