If you ever wanted a haunted hike that also smells like overripe fruit and victory, boy do we have the trail for you.
It’s got moss-covered pavement, occasional chickens, and just enough ghost stories to make you question the breeze on the back of your neck.
The Old Pali Road hike — part of the now-abandoned section of the original Pali Highway — is a walk back in time. Literally. You’re walking on a narrow strip of 1950s pavement carved into the mountain, flanked by towering bamboo and thick canopy, where vines reclaim streetlights and concrete turns to jungle.
A Highway Frozen in Time
Built in 1957, the original Pali Highway was a marvel — a winding mountain road linking Honolulu to the Windward side, with sweeping views and sheer drops. In the 1960s, a newer, safer version was built (with fewer sharp turns and fewer ghosts), leaving this original stretch to crumble quietly back into the earth.
Today, the road is a favorite for local hikers, amateur ghost hunters, trail runners, and anyone craving a less crowded nature fix just 20 minutes from Waikīkī. You’ll find it just off the current Pali Highway — look for the closed-off metal gate and the eerie, immediate drop in temperature.
You Might See:
Wild guava trees, fragrant and dropping pink fruit all over the trail
Ferns the size of surfboards
Old lava rock retaining walls, now mossy and split with native plants
The occasional mist, rolling in quick and gone just as fast — as if the mountain took a deep breath
You’ll also hear legends of Night Marchers, old military patrols, and strange lights seen at night. But don’t worry — most daytime hikers report only birdsong, rustling leaves, and maybe a distant “brah, you like hike wit us or wat?” from someone in Crocs.
How to Get There (And What to Know)
Trailhead: Park at the lookout or nearby lot off Nuuanu Pali Drive. Walk toward the gate.
Time: ~1.5 miles round trip (easy to moderate).
Tips:
Bring water.
Wear decent shoes (not slippahs this time).
Bring a bag for guavas — they’re everywhere.
Respect the trail. Take nothing. Leave nothing.
Don’t go at night unless you’ve got permission from your ancestors.
It’s part jungle, part history lesson, part horror movie intro — but mostly just a beautiful, shady walk with views money can’t buy.
And if you find yourself walking in silence and hear footsteps behind you, don’t worry… it’s probably just the wind. Or a chicken. Or your cousin.
Travel & Outdoors – Hawaii Monthly Staff