15 Best Oahu Hiking Trails

Share via:

• 
• 
• 
• 

Oahu hiking trails provide access to some of the best views and adventures on the island.  Whether you're hiking on ridges above unrivaled, panoramic ocean views at the Lanikai Pillbox Hike, climbing switchbacks along the Diamond Head Trail, or strolling through botanical gardens to the grand Waimea Falls, you’re guaranteed to have a diverse experience with each hike you venture into.

Other hiking adventures to places like Kaena Point and the Judd Trail will take you off the beaten path to experience more of the natural, wild, island beauty that most tourists never get to see.  It's also worth exploring some Oahu North Shore hikes too.

I never get tired of hiking in Oahu because each hike is its own unique adventure! Some will take you to old military pillboxes with stunning ocean views, while others will have you trekking through "Jurassic Park" jungles to reach magnificent waterfalls!

Best Hiking Trails on Oahu

In fact there are close to 50 popular Oahu hiking trails located throughout the island.   But with limited time, let’s explore a few Oahu hikes you’re going to definitely want to trek!

---

---

Climbing Ridges on Oahu Hiking Trails

---

#1 Diamond Head Hike

I was pleasantly surprised to find that it only took a half hour to Hike Diamond Head to the top. You'll find everyone from children to senior citizens climbing up to the crater ridge top.

---

#2 Makapuu Lighthouse Hike

The prize that the end of this hike is the stunning views of the Makapu’u Lighthouse & beach  (one of my favorite body boarding beaches in all of Oahu!), the Windward coast, Rabbit Island and Kaohi’ka’ipu Island. From a distance, you can also see the impressive outline of neighboring islands, Molokai and Lanai.

---

#3 Koko Crater Trail

The “steps” are actually old military railroad ties for a train that once ran supplies to the top of the ridge.  Make it to the top of this Oahu hiking trail, and you will be rewarded with incredible panoramic views of the surrounding area, including Hanauma Bay, the Koko Marina, and Sandy Beach.

---

Oahu Pillbox Hikes

---

#4 Lanikai Pillbox Hike - Kaiwa Ridge Trail

The Lanikai Pillbox Hike is a fun little hike that starts at the end of a residential street, and escalates quickly a quarter mile up to the first pillbox.

If you are intrigued with your hike to the first bunker, then continue up the Kaiwa Ridge Trail onto the second pillbox, which will extend your hike and views to just under a half hour each way.  Simply stunning views throughout the entire hike!  This is one of my wife's favorite hikes.

---

#5 Ehukai Pillbox Hike

It is sometimes referred to as the Sunset Pillbox Hike, as it resides behind the Sunset Elementary School.

The climb will take you about 30 minutes or so to reach the first of two military pillboxes.  The second pillbox that’s just 5 additional minutes away has the best views of the North Shore!

---

#6 Maili Pillbox Hike

The Lanikai Pillboxes get all the attention, but I love this 1 mile hike (one way) for the ease of the switchback trails to get you to the top.  The views of the Waianae coast, valley, and surrounding mountains are breathtaking.

And as I mentioned, you have not 1 but 4 different Maili pillboxes along this ridge that are still intact and are great rest stops along the way.  Each offer different characteristics, unique views, and fun graffiti artwork, making each pillbox not only great as a rest stop, but also great for photo opps!

---

Hiking Oahu Waterfalls

I'm not sure if there is anything more exciting than trekking through Oahu hiking trails that come with a stunning reward waiting for you at the end -- a powerful, breathtaking Oahu waterfall!

Three Oahu hikes I would like to recommend are fairly easy and family friendly. Waimea Falls Park is the easiest of the three, with facilities onsite. Manoa Falls and Mauanwili Falls offer a little more sense of adventure, as you’ll be hiking up jungle trails.

---

#7 Waimea Falls Park

There is a small entrance fee to enter the Waimea Falls Park, but well worth the bang for the buck. It will take you about 30 minutes to reach the waterfall.

---

---

#8 Manoa Falls Trail

---

#9 Judd Trail & Jackass Ginger Pool

This Oahu hiking trail is just over a mile long loop that leads you through the lush Old Pali Road jungle.  The trail is maintained, but can be muddy in some spots.

Look up  when you reach the towering pine trees with their notched trunks.  It's quite a site to see!

---

#10 Maunawili Falls Trail - temporarily closed

It will take you about an hour to hike this mile and a half trail.  It can get a little wet at times since the Maunawili Falls trail backs up into the Koolau Mountains, so be prepared to trek through some muddy areas.

---

---

---

Trekking Raw Beauty in Oahu

---

#11 Kaena Point

You get an opportunity to explore Oahu hiking trails in its raw state.  Enjoy the natural beauty, plant, and animal life as you trek over the sand dunes.  To avoid the extreme heat that takes place on this side of the island, this is a moderate hike that should be started in the early morning.

---

#12 Kaniakapupu Ruins

Today you can take a short stroll through a bamboo forest and visit the Kaniakapupu Ruins, one of the oldest standing structures on Oahu!

---

#13 Kapaeleele Trail

It’s also a great alternative to hiking Crouching Lion that is much harder and advanced to hike, and its just 5 minutes down the road.  The Kapa’ele’ele Trail resides in Ahupua’a O Kahana State Park, which also features an ancient fishing pond in the area.

Find the viewing bench as you get towards the top, and take in the vast views, the Huilua Pond, and the beautiful aqua blue ocean below.

---

#14  Aiea Loop Trail

Aiea Loop Trail is a fantastic hike worth exploring. It's less popular than other Oahu hiking trails, but well-kept and has plenty of signage along the way. It's the ideal hike if you are looking to get away from the crowds but don't want to drive too far out of the city.

Along the hike, you will see loads of colorful and floral vegetation, such as eucalyptus and guava trees.  Keep on the lookout as you could encounter a wild boar.  There is a World War II plane crash site, it's not well-marked and covered in branches making it easy to miss.

Although the trail opens around 7 AM, you  can actually arrive a little earlier to catch the sunrise, but you definitely don't want to be on this trail when the sun has set and starts to get dark, as you could get stuck up there for the night.  When you get to the top, you'll be rewarded with incredible views of the valley and a fantastic sight of H-3 Highway going into the mountainside.

This 5-mile hike will take about 2.5 to 3 hours and is considered beginner-friendly, But be prepared for a continuous but relatively moderate climb uphill in one section.  There will be spots to take small breaks and appreciate the trail's beauty before continuing on.

The Aiea Loop Trail is located about 25 minutes north of Waikiki.  There is a parking lot at the beginning of the trail with a public restroom.

---

#15  Kuiliouou Ridge Trail

The Kuliouou Ridge Trail is a moderate to an intermediate hike that not recommended for beginners. The hike starts off with steep steps, before turning into a dusty windy trail, and finishing with another set of hilly stairs to the ridge. Reach the top and you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Diamond Head and the Pacific Ocean.

The trail is sounded with beautiful exotic flowers, towering trees, and native plants. There are picnic tables about halfway up where you can take a quick rest and admire the scenery.

Coming down is a lot more challenging than going up due to sometimes slippery grounds and vertical steps. The hike takes between 3 and 4 hours, hiking a total of 4.5 miles. There is good signage on the trail, but be mindful to hike down well before sunset hour.

Parking should be available in the neighborhood on Kalaau Rd.  Be mindful of neighbors and posted signs.

---

Getting to Oahu Hiking Trails

Driving is probably your best means of transportation for some of these hikes.  Many of Oahu's hiking trails are located off main roadways and can be hard to navigate through public transportation.  It's not impossible but just takes a little more planning and awareness if you choose this route.

---

---

Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) - closed at this time

4000 steps will get you pretty close to heaven on this journey up the Ko’olau mountain ridge.  There is nothing easy about this hike, as you will be counting each step you take!  The US Coast Guard originally put a wooden stairway path into place back in the 1940’s, to allow construction and access to a radio tower.

Stairway to Heaven, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is unfortunately closed at this time.  It originally closed in 1987 for restoration of the stairway, but remains so today due to property land access issues.

In recent developments the state has agreed to take over the estate, and looking into possibilities to restore the stairs once again with hopes of opening it up to the public again one day.

I cannot recommend this hike at this time because it is officially closed, but it seems that people are still making the journey up the newly renovated path although "No Trespassing" signs are visibly posted.

For now see if you can conquer the Koko Head Steps!

---

Oahu Hiking Trails for Groups

---

There are a couple good hiking organizations on Oahu that promote scheduled hikes throughout the island.  It’s a great way to experience scenic hikes in a group setting, with folks who are more likely familiar with these Oahu trails, and can educate you along the way.

You do not need to be a member of either group, but reservations are required. The Sierra Club Oahu Group posts a calendar of upcoming hikes on their website.  I would recommend calling them to learn more details. 

The Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Corporation also promotes hikes on Sundays, and asks for a $3.00 donation or more to join them on their weekend adventures.

---

Beautiful Oahu Strolls

---

Waikiki Walking Tour

The reason I like this Self-Guided Waikiki Walking Tour is because the landscape continues to change and will amaze you the farther you go.

I recommend starting off at the Duke Kahanamoku statue and head south along the beachside towards Diamond Head.

You can either turn around a mile down the road, when you reach San Souci Beach, or continue on as the road starts to slowly climb up Diamond Head.  Check out more for this walking tour around Waikiki...

---

Ala Moana Beach Park

This stroll starts off on the Magic Island strip, which gives you some fantastic perspective views of Waikiki and the Kewalo Basin.  Your stroll continues a half-mile down a stretch of sand, where the surrounding activity continues to grow as the day goes on.

---

Return to Best of Oahu Homepage