Oahu is perfect for hiking because it offers diverse landscapes, including rainforest, rugged coastlines, and volcanic craters, providing a variety of trails suitable for all skill levels.
Additionally, the island’s mild climate and stunning scenery makes hiking an enjoyable experience year-around.
Many hiking trails offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and iconic landmarks like Diamond Head Crater, making a memorable adventure for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Some of these hikes can become crowded during peak tourist season. Therefore, start your hike early to ensure that you find parking and to find relief from the intense Hawaiian sun.
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail is one the most popular hikes on Oahu. This trail is very family, stroller, and dog friendly. The paved trail is roughly a two-mile round trip with a slight incline at the beginning of the trail.
The trail takes about an hour to complete and is about 45-minute drive from Waikiki. The drive to Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail is worthwhile. The drive along the Kaiwi scenic shoreline is one of the most photographed locations on the island.
This trail is an ideal location to view humpback whales breach during their migration season, normally the end of November through May. On a clear day, you can see the neighboring islands.
Although, the Makapu’u Lighthouse is off limits to the public, it is still operable and shines throughout the night. The end of the trail rewards you with breathtaking views of Rabbit Island.
This trail is exposed to the sun with limited shade. While parking is always a challenge for most hikes on Oahu, it is best to start your day early.
Manoa Falls Trail
Manoa Falls is an impressive waterfall, standing tall at 150 feet. Besides the waterfall, the main attraction of this hiking trail is the lush rainforest. The jungle-like scenery looks like it was designed for a movie set. Hollywood must have thought the same! Movie scenes from Jurassic Park, Catching Fire (Hunger Games), and LOST were filmed at Manoa Falls.
Manoa Falls Trail is 1.6 miles (out and back) and takes about an hour to complete, depending on how crowded the trail is.
This trail is buggy with lots of mosquitos, especially during the rainy season. It typically rains almost every day in Manoa Valley. This rain keeps the waterfall flowing. However, the Manoa Valley is prone to heavy rainfall. Therefore, this trail tends to be very muddy. The rainy season runs for November through March.
This popular hiking trail is located in the Koolau Mountains and is part of the Honolulu Makau Trail System.
Manoa Falls is a short drive from Honolulu and is a family-friendly hike.
Diamond Head State Monument
Diamondhead is the perfect backdrop for Waikiki. Diamondhead is one of Oahu’s iconic landmarks. The Diamondhead Summit Trail attracts over 3,000 visitors a day and requires entry and parking reservations for non-residents (as of May 2022). There is an entrance and parking fee.
Diamondhead has an important military significance because of the summit’s panoramic view. Diamondhead was prepared to defend Oahu from any military attacks.
This trail ascends 560 feet and consists of switchbacks that become very crowded during peak hours.
This is an out and back paved trail. Diamondhead trail is less than a mile each way but feels longer because of the 99 stairs at the end of the trail. Near the summit. is a narrow tunnel that is quite impressive. This is probably the only shade you will find on this trail.
Once at the summit, the breathtaking views overlook the deep blues of the Pacific Ocean, and the beautiful Honolulu skyline.
Ehukai Pillbox Hike
Are you looking for a north shore hike? The Ehukai Pillbox Hike is located high upon the north shore’s iconic beach, Ehukai Beach (better known as the Banzai Pipeline Beach). This beach is one of Oahu’s famous beaches, it is known for hosting the international surf competition.
The trailhead is not visible from the highway and tucked away behind Sunset Elementary School.
This is a shaded hike but stays somewhat muddy during the rainy season. As you hike to higher elevation, the scenery is no longer tropical. This trail becomes a layer of pine needles.
At the top of the Ehukai Pillbox Trail is the first military pillbox. This pillbox is an old military bunker. These military pillboxes are symbols of Hawaii’s military past. These pillboxes were strategically built with the best views of the ocean. They were built to shelter soldiers with the sole purpose of watching for enemy activity.
If you want a bird eye’s view of the island’s coastline, then find a hiking trail with military pillboxes.
The north shore is an hour from Waikiki, of course, depending on traffic. I would plan to spend an entire day exploring the north shores of Oahu.
Kokohead Trail
I am impartial about Kokohead. This hiking trail was basically in my backyard. Kokohead is a challenging trail and is the ultimate outdoor workout. Conquering Kokohead comes with its own bragging rights.
Kokohead is an abandoned railroad track. This railroad was used by the military during WWII as part of an incline tram system to transport supplies to a lookout post located at the top of the crater.
This trail consists of 1,048 stairs that consists of railroad ties and is the ultimate stair-challenge.
The Kokohead hiking trail is about 1.8 miles, up and down, and is heavily trafficked. The make-shift stairs are uneven and there is an open-bridge with a 10–15-foot drop.
Once you are at the top of Kokohead Crater, you will have a picturesque view of Hanauma Bay. This makes the trail worth the climb.
Hiking in Oahu offers stunning views of lush landscape, majestic waterfalls, and breathtaking coastal vistas. Hiking in Oahu is an opportunity to explore the island’s natural beauty, discover hidden gems off the beaten path, and experience the tranquility of nature away from the crowds. Hiking is a great way to stay active while on vacation and immerse yourself in the island’s beauty and culture.
