Hawaii was our first major trip together. We spent just about a month hiking, exploring and camping our way through Oahu and Kauai. Hawaii is such a magical place and to this day is one of our favorite destinations to visit!
Oahu is the third largest island in Hawaii and houses some of the most beautiful hikes and beaches in the world! With that, there is no shortage of hiking. We honestly hiked at least once a day in Hawaii. It was very difficult to narrow down but here are our top 10, must-do hikes in Oahu Hawaii!
1. Stairway To Heaven
Let’s start this list off with one of the most epic adventures there is to have on the island of Oahu! Also known as the Haiku Stairs, this hike is one of the most popular attractions in Oahu. 3,922 stairs lead up to one of the best lookout points on the island. The stairs were originally built by the U.S Navy to reach a top secret facility that transmitted radio signals to their ships during World War II. They were closed to the public in the late 1980’s and are considered illegal due to their disrepair.
There are two ways to hike the Stairway to Heaven. One is to hike the stairs themselves, however, this route is illegal. There is a heavy police and security presence at the entry points to the stairs and the fines are steep. The other method is known as the “Back-Way” and is legal! This trail is actually called the Moanalua Valley Trail. The trailhead can be found in the park located at the end of Moanalua Road! Read our entire blog post about the Moanalua Valley Trail here!
Disclaimer: Although the Moanalua Valley Trail is considered a legal way to get TO the stairs, the act of being ON the stairs remains illegal.
2. Pali Notches
According to Hawaiian history, The Pali Notches were created in the 1700s by King Kamehameha’s warriors to house canons to defend the valley below. This hike is considered one of the most, if not the most, dangerous hikes in Oahu. It is very challenging. You are relying on ropes to maneuver down and up the sheer rock face of the notches, and there are steep drop offs to the valley below on either side. However, despite all of that..we loved this hike! The climb was exciting, and the views were unbelievable. It is not for the faint of heart, but well worth the adventure if you are up for an adrenaline rush!
Disclaimer: Like the majority of hikes in Oahu, this hike is considered “off limits” as it is not maintained and because it is so dangerous. For this reason we also will not disclose the trailhead location of this hike on our blog.
3. Three Peaks
Also known as Olomana Trail, this hike is right up there on the list of the most dangerous hikes in Oahu. However, this hike is legal! This hike takes you to three peaks, with increasing levels of intensity as you hike. This hike requires some sheer rock-face climbing and some crazy descents relying on ropes. Make sure to check the weather before heading out for this hike as you do not want to be stuck in the rain or reach the top and be stuck in clouds!
There is no parking at the trailhead. You must park on Auloa Road and walk from there! The trailhead is located on Loop Road within the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club, so you must walk through the gates to reach it (the security guards gave us no trouble). After about a mile up this road, you will see the sign for Olomana Trail on the left and that is where you will begin your climb!
4. Crouching Lion Hike
This is arguably one of the most beautiful lookout points on the island of Oahu! This very popular out and back is a quick 0.6 km to the main lookout point. It has a steep climb and when it is coupled with rain can be very dangerous as it gets muddy and slippery. There is a challenging loop trail in this hike that can take 4-5 hours for the adventurous folks out there. We only did the short route as we had other hikes planned this day, but it was so beautiful and very much worth the stop here!
Disclaimer: As of early 2018 this trail is now considered illegal and you can potentially be fined if spotted entering or leaving this trail head. Because of this, we will not include a guide to the trail head at this time.
5. Kuliouou Ridge Trail
This hike is absolutely beautiful. Recommended by some friends who are locals, this trail is easy to find and is very much legal! The path is well marked and the views from the various lookout points are stunning. (We have yet to find a hike with a terrible view in Hawaii). This trailhead is on Kuliouou Road. Park as close to the end of this residential street as possible as this is where the trail head is. Once you begin the trail you will notice a fork, stick to the right side to complete the ridge trail!
Bonus Tip: Once you reach the main lookout, look for a small hidden trail that descends into the bushes at the back of the lookout point. Follow this trail for about 10 minutes and you will reach a secret lookout point that you see pictured here!
6. Tom Tom Trail
This trail is a hidden gem! Starting off across from the Makapu’u Lighthouse lookout parking lot, this relatively simple hike has some of the most stunning views on Oahu. This is a perfect hike for phenomenal views of Oahu at sunrise and takes about 30 minutes round trip. Further along this trail is where the Dead Man’s Catwalk once was located as well as the hidden staircase you see below. Bonus points if you can find it!
Disclaimer: This hike is now considered “off limits” and there have been reported instances of police giving out citations at the entrance! Hike this at your own risk.
7. Upper Makua Cave Trail
This hike is located on the west side of Oahu! This side of Oahu is much quieter than the east and north shore and is home to some incredible hikes and beautiful beaches! You will find the trailhead located across the street from Makua Beach. In the centre of the empty field, you will find a well trafficked foot path, which is where you will begin!
Follow this trail up the side of the rock face (it will start to take you to the right). You will come to a fork in the trail approximately half way up, with one trail continuing straight up and the other heading to the right. You will take the path to the right. Follow this trail for a few more minutes and you will find yourself standing in the Upper Cave! This hike is so beautiful. We hung out here for a while and had lunch. Nobody was around. It was a very special moment for us!
Bonus Tip: Makua Beach has some very cool tide pools that you can swim in during low tide.
8. Pu’u Hapapa
The Pu’u Hapapa or Kolekole Hiking Trail, is a lesser known hike on the Island of Oahu. This is another experience that we need to thank our local friends for! This hike is located on the Schofield Army Barracks and is breathtaking at each view point. This trail is only available to hike on weekends and is sometimes used for training troops so you will need to check their Facebook page to see if it is open to the public. This hike is incredible and was not busy at all. We felt like we were hiking in Jurassic Park the entire time. Very worth the visit if it is open when you are there!
Note: You will need to provide a valid Driver’s License, as well as proof of insurance and registration for the car you will be taking onto the barracks to access this hike.
9. Koko Head Stairs Hike
This very popular hike is a good workout that comes with amazing views! 1048 stairs in 0.7 miles will take you to the top of the Koko Head Crater. The stairs were built as a railway during the 1940’s to allow troops to move supplies in rail cars to bunkers! The trailhead is found in the Koko Head District Park parking lot. From the parking lot you will find a well traveled footpath that will take you right to the hike!
10. Pill Box Hikes
This is a bonus as we will be sharing with you three different Pill Box Hikes that we love. We can’t choose between them, they are all too good!
Pink PillBox
Located on the West Side of Oahu, the Pink Pillbox trailhead is located on Kaukama Rd. Go to just after the 9th light pole and you will see a well traveled trail on the right side! This hike is quick (only about an hour round trip) and there are a few different pillboxes, each at different heights on the mountain side.
Ehukai Pillbox
Located on the North Shore, this is another hidden gem. This pillbox hike is located across from Banzai Pipeline Beach. The trailhead is across from the parking lot of Sunset Elementary School. This trail is straightforward to navigate and is a quick hike (approximately 45 minutes round trip) with rewarding views!
Bonus Tip: Check the local news for surf competitions on the North Shore! Banzai Pipeline Beach was holding a Volcom sponsored Surfing Competition that day, so we headed there after our hike to watch some of the action!
Lanikai PillBox
Located in close proximity to Lanikai Beach, this hike is very popular and can be busy at times. The trailhead is located across the street from the Mid-Pacific Country Club gates. It is well signed and you will likely see plenty of people entering and exiting this hike! The views are spectacular. It is hard to believe that water can really be that blue. You also get a great view of the Mokes! This is well worth the visit. And it is super quick, it only took us about 20 minutes to complete!
Bonus Tip: Make a whole day out of it! This pillbox is very popular for sunrise. Afterwards, you can pop over to Lanikai beach and spend the day here soaking up some sun!
Well there you have it! The 10 most epic hikes in Oahu. It was so hard to narrow down this list. There are just so many great hikes in Oahu! Have you been to Oahu? Let us know what hikes are your favorite!
BEFORE YOU GO!
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