‘As a mom, we love this hike because it’s safe and adventurous’: Hawaiʻi hikes

HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Wednesday, July 17, KHON2.com’s Unfit Adventurer decided to check out a rather special hike, the Judd Trail.

The Judd Trail is perfect for families and anyone who loves nature. The trail goes through a beautiful forest with lots of tall trees and pretty plants. It’s not too hard to hike, so it’s great for kids and beginners.

One of the best parts about the Judd Trail is that it leads to a special place called Jackass Ginger Pool. This natural pool is a fun spot to visit, especially after walking on the trail. You can cool off by dipping your feet in the water or even take a swim.

The trail is about a mile long, so it doesn’t take too long to hike, making it a perfect little adventure. If you love being outdoors and exploring nature, the Judd Trail and Jackass Ginger Pool are awesome places to visit!

We were surprised at how much fun this particular hiking trail is.

When we arrived, we found lots of people swimming and chilling near the road in a waterfall area that is absolutely gorgeous. This isn’t the Jackass Ginger Pool.

At the beginning of the Judd Trail, the waterfall and pool area is called Nuʻuanu Stream. This spot is a lovely area where you can see a small waterfall and enjoy the serene pool at its base. It’s a great place to start your adventure before starting out on the trail.

This is where we met the Zalapa brothers. They were sitting on a giant log that is at the entrance to the trail area. They are here visiting from Houston, Texas.

“For a hike, you don’t get much better than this,” said one Zalapa brother.

“This was alotta fun,” chimed in his brother. When asked why they decided to take this hike, he said, “mom found it and thought it’d be good fun for us.”

With that, we set out on our hike. When you arrive, you are immediately greeted with laughter and life. This is a lively trail area that is populated with both locals and tourists.

After taking in all the waterfalls and the rushing waters at the Nuuanu Stream, we went to the area where you cross over the stream into the hiking area. The stream is lined with large and small rocks that make the jumps quite fun.

The children we saw are able to navigate them fairly easily; the adults were a bit more cautious.

Once on the other side of the stream, we met Travis Hood who was hiking with his two children. He lives on a local military base.

“This is one of our favorite hikes because it has lots of watering holes,” said Hood. “My kids are out for the summer; so, my daughter chose today’s hike.”

He went on to explain that the hike is a loop that has lots of “watering holes” that keep the kids entertained and happy. “This is my favorite hike,” said his daughter.

And he was right. Not too long after we crossed the initial stream, we found the Jackass Ginger Pool. It’s a beautiful area where folks can swim and hang out and really enjoy an outdoor experience.

If you take a left at the trail head, then you get to go to the Jackass Ginger Pool at the end of your hike. If you go to the right, then it’s at the beginning. Next time, we’ll go left.

Magdalena Petko was hiking with her daughter and her daughter’s bestie. She lives in Mānoa and loves this hike because it has everything.

“When you’re with kids, this hike is perfect because it has climbing, swimming, balancing and navigating,” said Petko. “As a mom, we love this hike because it’s safe and fun.”

She went on to explain that while it is safe, it is also a very adventurous hike.

“I love taking my kids for hikes,” added Petko. “I do all the interconnected trails with my older children. She is just starting out with hiking; so, this one is perfect for those safe adventures.”

“This is my favorite hike,” said her daughter. “I love how different it is. Up there you all the pines and the climbing, and down here you have all the bamboo and the water pools. It’s a perfect hike.”

Inspired, we trekked on.

We met Milani who is from Makiki. She just starting out on the hike as we were nearing the end. She said, “I love this hike because there is always the best reward at the end.” And with that, she whisked herself away.

Going back across the stream, we met the Kanani family who are visiting from San Francisco. Their oldest daughter wanted to hike; so, they came out to this one after reading the reviews.

“We came here because it is supposed to be an easy hike,” said Mrs. Kanani. “It has been really easy for oldest, but our youngest did struggle a bit.”

For all the hikes we’ve taken on this series, the end of this one was a glorious experience. Usually, when we come around a bend, there’s just more trail, more stairs, more mud. But with this one, we came around and we were right where we began at the stream crossing. It was a good feeling.

The Unfit Adventurer Rating for this hiking trail is: (ratings are out of a possible five hiking boots.)

Ease of hike for unfit folks

Views offered

Friendliness of fellow hikers

Worth the struggle

Feeling of accomplishment

So, if you decide to hike the Judd Trail, then be aware that the experience for everyone who does it is different. You’ll need to rely on your own physical skills to determine whether this is the right hike for you.