Ala Moana Regional Park in Honolulu, HI (Blog Hike #1068)

Trails: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Ala Moana Regional Park
Geographic Location: downtown Honolulu, HI (21.29291, -157.85408)
Length: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: April 2025
Overview: An oceanfront loop on flat paved trail with views of the Pacific Ocean and of Diamond Head.
Park Information: https://pros2.hnl.info/parks/59570ad5e4ef9fe84fea45fe?d-direction=asc&d-sort=name&d-page=1&d-offset=0&d-limit=10
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=983717
Photo Highlight:

Hawaii Trip Video: (coming December 23)

Directions to the trailhead: This hike starts at the northwest corner of Ala Moana Regional Park at the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard (SR 92) and Kamakee Street.  This point is most easily reached by bus, or you could park anywhere on Ala Moana Park Drive, which parallels this hike's route for nearly a mile.

The hike: After I graduated from high school in June 1995, 3 years before even the first version of this blog existed, my mom and I took our first hiking road trip.  We lived in Cincinnati, and that trip went south to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Kentucky/Tennessee state line.  We visited and hiked in our first 2 states on that trip, and we set a goal to visit and hike in all 50 states.

            I took my mom on a cruise to Alaska in 2011 for her 75th birthday, where I hiked in my 31st state.  My mom died in 2014, having visited 45 states and having hiked in most of them.  In 2021, I hiked at Columbia Hills Historical State Park in Washington to get my 49th state.  Finally, in early April 2025, I boarded a plane that touched down in Honolulu just before sunset, thus visiting my 50th state.  I did my first Hawaii hike the next day, which is the hike described here.  This hike and the next 2 hikes are from my bucket list Hawaii trip, and while (hopefully) they are not the final hikes in this blog, they represent the culmination of an amazing 30 year journey.

            The name Ala Moana means "path to the sea," and while the park we see today seems to be idyllic and classic Hawaii, in fact it is anything but natural.  As recently as the 1920's a swampy marshland occupied these grounds, and the wetland was used as an unofficial garbage dump.  The park's land consists mostly of dredging deposits made by the Hawaiian Dredging Company in the 1930's.  The land was used as a military staging area during World War II, and the beach opened in 1954.  The park is owned and maintained by the City of Honolulu, and its close proximity to the city means that it closes every night at 10pm to discourage the homeless population from living here.

            Most of the park's amenities were built by depression-era federal agencies such as the Civil Works Administration, and those amenities remain the park's main features today.  Amenities include tennis courts, a lawn bowling green, a sports pavilion, a beach with lifeguards, and several miles of paved trails.  The hike described here forms a loop around the entire park, and while it is on asphalt or concrete all the way, it features some of the best scenery Honolulu has to offer.

Park entrance sign at northwest corner

            There are several places where you could start this hike, but I rode The Bus to reach this park.  Thus, I started at the park's northwest corner, the point closest to my bus stop.  Enter the park from Ala Moana Park Drive and head east on the concrete trail with busy Ala Moana Boulevard on your left and the park's west lagoon on your right.  This part of the trail passes through a mowed-grass area dotted with trees and boulders, probably of volcanic origin.  The surroundings are pleasant, but the noise and bustle of the city are everywhere on this part of the hike.

Hiking eastbound

            Just past 0.1 miles, turn right to cross a footbridge over the water channel that connects this park's 2 lagoons, then turn left to continue your eastward course.  The next part of the hike traces the northern edge of this park's developed area.  You pass the lawn bowling green, McCoy Pavilion, and the tennis courts, all on your right.  I did some nice wildlife viewing here that included cattle egrets, golden plovers, and feral cats.  Some picnic tables make nice places to rest and admire the birds.

Cattle egret

            At 0.8 miles, you reach the eastern lagoon.  Some palm trees and banyan trees live here, and this lagoon is larger and more scenic than the western lagoon, thus making this part of the park more popular.  Do a loop around the eastern lagoon by continuing east until you intersect Ala Moana Park Drive, and then turn right to walk the sidewalk along the drive.  Looking to the right provides a nice view of downtown Honolulu behind the lagoon, and the lagoon's water is so clear you can see fish swimming in the lagoon.

Eastern lagoon

Honolulu behind eastern lagoon

            1.1 miles into the hike, turn left to cross Ala Moana Park Drive on a crosswalk and head south with a huge parking lot on your right and the Ala Wai Harbor on your left.  This trail takes you into the Magic Island part of the park.  Originally intended to be a resort, Magic Island is a peninsula consisting of dredged coral fill that juts out into the ocean.  Thus, Magic Island provides this park's best ocean views.

View southeast toward Diamond Head

            At 1.5 miles, you reach the southern tip of Magic Island and this park's signature view: southeast down Oahu's shore past Waikiki to Diamond Head.  The colors of the green volcanic cone, beige beach, black rocks, and blue water combine with the sounds of the waves to make this viewpoint special.  After taking in this view, continue around Magic Island by hiking west with Magic Island Lagoon to your left.  Some piles of boulders block the Pacific Ocean waves from entering Magic Island Lagoon, and the lagoon's beach was a popular place on the warm, sunny, and humid late morning that I hiked here.

Magic Island Lagoon

            Near 1.8 miles, you climb some steps and turn right to begin the trail that goes up Magic Island's west side.  There are no views of Diamond Head on this side, but the ocean and its waves are still enchanting, and views of downtown Honolulu emerge over Ala Moana Beach.  At 2.2 miles, you return to Ala Moana Park Drive, thus completing your tour of Magic Island.  Turn left to begin paralleling Ala Moana Park Drive and begin the final portion of our loop.

Downtown Honolulu behind Ala Moana Beach

Ala Moana Beach

            The trail heads west with Ala Moana Beach close on the left and Ala Moana Park Drive close on the right.  Many people who drive to this beach park along Ala Moana Park Drive, and this area retains a very crowded city-type feel.  Soon the road and trail curve right to bring you back to the northwest corner of the park, thus closing the loop.  Downtown Honolulu is just steps away, and didn't that Hawaiian beach you just passed look very attractive?