Favorite Oahu Hikes
Many people think of Hawaii for its beautiful beaches, hula, and mai tai’s but it actually has some of the most incredible hiking in the world. Hawaii is a volcanic archipelago with six main islands to visit. Oahu in particular has beautiful dramatic landscapes where you can hike right along the spines of green mountain ranges overlooking the ocean below. The best part is these beautiful views aren’t only limited to those in peak athletic condition as there are trails that cater to all activity levels. Below I’ll highlight some of our favorite hikes we’ve done and the ones we can’t wait to get to next time!
Diamond Head (Honolulu) - 1.9 mile out and back, 515 feet elevation, 1 hour 5 minutes - This is such a great hike to do if you are staying in Honolulu or Waikiki. I’d consider this a relatively easy to moderate hike as our son did this at age 3 on his own two feet the majority of the way. Parts of the trail are paved but there is a steeper climb at the end. Wear sunscreen as there is little protection from the sun and expect this trail to be busy with other tourists.
Diamond Head Trail overlooking Honolulu
Ka’iwa Ridge Trail / Lanikai Pillbox (Kailua) - 1.6 mile out and back, 613 feet elevation, 1 hour - This is definitely at the top of my list of favorite hikes. It’s relatively short but still moderately challenging with slight elevation gain scrambling up a few rocks and steep dirt hills. The view at the top from the beautifully graffitied pillboxes (or old army bunkers) is incredible and overlooks Lanikai Beach and the Mokulua Islands (or Mokes). The trailhead is in a quiet neighborhood so be mindful of no parking signs. Highly recommend to do this one at sunrise!
Lanikai Pillbox on the Ka’iwa Ridge Trail
Kammieland Trail / Ehukai Pillbox (North Shore) - 1.5 mile out and back, 636 feet elevation, 1 hour 7 minutes - This is another moderate pillbox hike but the view at the top overlooks the iconic North Shore and legendary surf. This trail starts steep and can be incredibly muddy after rain. Make sure to keep going after the first pillbox to get to the second for the best view!
Ehukai Pillbox on the Kammieland Trail
Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail (Honolulu) - 4.7 mile out and back, 1,512 feet elevation, 3-4 hours - This is such a unique hike and a must do in my opinion but is moderate to difficult in activity level. The first challenge of this hike is getting to the trailhead which is in a gated community in Honolulu. When you pull up to the guard station just let them know you are there for the hike. They will write down your license plate number then provide you with a trail pass that includes directions to the trailhead and instructions regarding parking. There are a limited number of passes so it’s recommended to arrive early (we arrived about 40 minutes after sunrise and were still okay) and park in designated parking areas only. This trail is muddy and steep at times with ropes and steps (especially toward the end) but takes you up along the spine of the Ko’olau Mountain Range. While our son had a great time doing this hike at age 6, I would not consider this to be a little kid friendly trail unless they’ve had prior moderate hiking experience (oh, and have ample snacks). Wear proper footwear (sneakers at minimum but hiking boots would be best)!
Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
Ka’ena Point via Farrington Highway (North Shore) - 5.6 mile out and back, 213 feet elevation, 2-3 hours - This is a relatively easy but long trail on an old dirt road along the rocky coast leading to the western tip of the island. At the end is the only protected area in the world where you can walk unescorted on a trail next to nesting albatrosses. It is also a popular spot to see monk seals and in the winter months you may see whales breaching in the distance. Ka’ena Point is called the “Leaping Place of Souls” and is thought to be where the souls of ancient Hawaiians would jump off into the spirit world to meet the souls of their ancestors. While not a physically difficult hike there is no protection from the elements so don’t forget your sunscreen.
Ka’ena Point Trail
Waimea Valley (North Shore) - 1.9 mile out and back, 291 feet elevation - I’m not sure I would necessarily classify this as a hike as it is an easy paved path at a botanical garden with a $25 admission fee that most do at a leisurely pace while admiring the flora and cultural sites along the way but you will still get some steps in! At the end is Waimea Falls where you can take a swim so don’t forget your swimsuit and towel.
Waimea Falls
Next up on the Oahu hike bucket list are Moanalau Valley Road Trail, Kuli’ou’ou Trail, and Pink Pillbox so hopefully I’ll be able to add on to this post someday!
*Note: mileage, elevation, and some time information was obtained from the AllTrails app which I highly recommend! Also the average time is obviously very dependent on your pace :)
