The Old Pali Road Hike

Famous Pali Cliffs of windward Oahu
 Up until the late 1800's only a footpath, barely big enough for a horse, existed to connect Honolulu with the windward side of Oahu through the Ko'olau mountains. The path was steep and treacherous, especially on the windward side where the pali cliffs drop off suddenly in sheer walls. The path led past many spiritual sites as well as the site of one of the most important, and bloody, battles that ever took place on Oahu. At the very top of the pass, where the Nuuanu Pali lookout is now located, King Kamehameha's forces finally overwhelmed Oahu's last defenders. The stories say that hundreds of the Oahu warriors were forced, or took the leap to avoid capture, over the sheer drop off to their deaths.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout
  Then due to popular demand and an increasing population over in Kaneohe on the windward side, the 'old' pali highway was built at the turn of the century. It mainly followed the old footpath and was still treacherous as it hugged the cliffs. Many people believe the road haunted from the beginning as it was built over sacred areas and numerous ghost stories persisted.
  The old Pali highway could not hold up to the test of time and was finally replaced in the late 1950's by the current Pali highway. Tunnels going to and from the windward side were blasted through the mountain. As they were building the new tunnels workers uncovered over 400 remains, those warriors of that infamous 1795 battle defending the island. A little dynamite and those remains were finally put to rest and buried under tons of the earth they died trying to defend.

The old Pali road might be out of commission for car traffic, but intrepid hikers still venture on its overgrown path, hugging the cliffs, just like in old Hawaii. And it can still hold some wonderful surprises in the forms of rocky creek, beautiful flowers, incredible overlooks, and a hidden waterfall or two.

Old and New: Old Pali Highway on Top overlooking the New Pali Highway on the bottom



Looking out from the old Pali highway

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