There are two (2) ways to access this trail:
1. Proceed uphill, towards the mountain (mauka) on Tantalus Drive. Approximately 1/2 way to the top, look for the trail head sign on the right hand side of the road. Prior to the Makiki Valley Trail head sign, there is a small parking area on the corner. You may park here.
2. This trail may also be accessed via Round Top Drive, Maunalaha, Kanealole, Moleka or Nahuina Trails.
Please note that the Makiki ValleyTrail (in yellow) is part of the Honolulu-Mauka Trail Network, comprising of 18 interconnected trails (in turquoise). The system may be accessed via the Makiki Arboretum Trail (dark blue) as part of an extended hike. The shortest route from the Makiki Arboretum Trail to the Makiki Valley trailhead is 1.15 miles.
From the small parking area at the switchback walk up Tantalus
Dr. briefly to a signed junction on the right. Turn right off the road
onto the Makiki Valley Trail.
Descend gradually along the slope into the Kanealole watershed.
Shortly reach a signed junction. Continue straight and down on the
valley trail. (To the left the Nahuina Trail leads up to Tantalus Dr.
and the Kalawahine Trail.)
Switchback twice past some ki (ti) plants.
Reach another signed junction. Continue straight on the valley trail.
(To the right the Kanealole Trail leads down to Hawai`i Nature Center.)
Cross a side stream and then Kanealole Stream on plank walkways.
Climb gradually out of the Kanealole drainage.
Descend gradually into a gulch and cross a small stream there.
Descend gradually into Moleka watershed and cross double Moleka Stream
on slippery rocks.
Ascend steadily out of the Moleka drainage to reach a 4-way junction.
Bear left and up on the valley trail. (Straight ahead is the `Ualaka`a
Trail, which leads to Pu`u `Ualaka`a State Park. To the right is the
Maunalaha Trail, which descends steeply to Hawai`i Nature Center.)
Reach a signed junction by a banyan tree. Continue straight on the
valley trail. (On the left the Moleka Trail climbs to Round Top Dr. and
the Manoa Cliff Trail.)
Climb gradually along the flank of Sugarloaf (Pu`u Kakea), a volcanic
cone.
Go under a banyan tree arch.
Reach the end of the Makiki Valley Trail at Round Top Dr.