Oahu, The Big Island, and Kauai each have unique aspects for hiking.
The next four blogs will be about some of these hikes. Lots of people enjoy Oahu hiking, but don’t let that stop you!
Oahu is congested, with a population of one million and monthly tourists swelling that number by half a million more. Honolulu has just over 375,000 residents in 68, relatively flat, square miles. Getting away from the metro areas of Honolulu and Waikiki Beach, it’s relatively easy to reach rural turf. What can be a challenge is finding the hiking trails. Check the Hawaiian Division of State Parks site before going and carefully follow their directions. The GPS is not going to do the trick.
Easy to Locate Oahu Hiking Spot
The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
This is an easy 2-mile, paved hike. Go at dawn or late in the afternoon. Walking at the height of day, with no shade, is hot. The lighthouse is not open to hikers. Nor, with work being done on the trail and the last segment was closed off, is it visible from the path. When you finish the walk, if you drive north, pull over and see the lighthouse from that vantage point. The hike is enjoyable and the views are worth it. Take lots of water and a hat! Meandering up and back, soaking in the views, can take about 1.5 hours to do the four miles.
There is also a meadow hike that takes you to the shore. It is unpaved and can be very muddy. Puppies love it.
Aqua water at Makapuu Beach Park, Waimanalo Summit trail at Makapu’u Makapu’u Summit trail Waimanalo Makapuu Beach Park
The Waimea Valley is made for Oahu Hiking
Here, you can opt to walk around the visitors’ center and the adjacent grounds. It costs $16 per person for a pass to hike the 1.5 miles roundtrip through the botanical gardens to the waterfall. Swimming is permitted there, at times, but you have to wear a life jacket—no real explanation available. Just across the highway from the entrance is a small beach that seems a place locals go to lay out and enjoy the sun and crashing of the waves.
Hike Diamond Head State Monument
This trail is less than one mile, but it is vertical. There is little shade along the way, so a hat and lots of water are both vital, along with a good pair of walking shoes. While optional, trekking poles come in handy in certain spots. The trail is packed earth, metal steps and stone steps. It is not a walk for the faint-hearted. If you are claustrophobic or have problems with narrow stairs, don’t venture into the former gun turret. It’s a tight fit and the views are just as stunning outside.
Diamond Head is a State Park and there’s either a $1 fee per person or a $5 fee per car to enter. If the parking lot is full, park outside the tunnel and walk in. Although the hike takes between 1.5 and 2 hours, turnover is rapid with the average 3,000 visitors a day rotating fairly quickly.
Inside the turret, Diamond Head View from Diamond Head
Beauty Covers Oahu
Oahu hiking is beautiful. If you’re there at the time of year when the North Shore is hopping, watching the surfers is a treat. Being as crowded as any other big city makes getting around the Honolulu area a bit more difficult, but not impossible with the local drivers having infinite patience with the tourists.
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Read: Hawaii blogs
We’re going to Oahu in a few weeks – can’t wait to take these hikes. Thanks for the info.
Hope the Oahu blogs help with your trip fun, Jan.
Hi Rose. I’m glad that you, like me, look for something outside of the hustle and bustle of the busy parts of Oahu. We enjoyed our exploration of the North Shore, and had the pleasure of visiting a cocoa plantation while on Oahu. There are some excellent chocolate makers on the island.
If I ever make it to Hawaii, I’m definitely going to hike. Those views are beautiful. My husband and I talk about going but we haven’t done it yet. I imagine if we ever get ourselves together for a big vacation, Hawaii will be near the top of the list.
It’s so pretty there, Erica. We watch the eternally stupid Hawaii 5-0 just for the scenery. We call out, “We were there!” every time there is a scene someplace we recognize. Ha ha. It is one of those places that is simple beautiful. I’m always thinking of God when I’m hiking there!
Hawaii looks like such a wonderful place. I have to visit within the next couple of years.
It’s gorgeous and the people really are nice.
From the images you have shared, it seems these places are ideal to Hike!
Can there be a better way to spend a fresh day amidst nature in such picturesque locations!
The next blogs are hiking on Hawaii and on Kauai–I don’t know…can it get more beautiful? 🙂
I agree Rose, Honolulu is too crowded. But get out of the city, which is just a short jaunt, and you’re in a remote beautiful area. Haven’t done the hikes but they sound fun.
So true, Susan. And getting around the side streets off peak is pretty easy. There are still so many places I’d like to hike on Oahu. So much to see and do!
I have not been to Hawaii and admit hiking trails aren’t one of the things I associate with Hawaii. Have to change that perception. I think I would enjoy both the lighthouse trail and the walk through the gardens.
Donna, There’s a big difference between Honolulu and the rest of Oahu as well as the rest Hawaii–from what I have seen so far of the Big Island and Kauai. Honolulu is a big city–like any big city anywhere. But when you drive out of that area, you discover all these other aspects. Then the Big Island and Kauai are so utterly calmer! Love them–upcoming blogs will reveal a bit about hiking there.
Did you leave your heart not in San Francisco but in Hawaii? Gorgeous photos – I love the way you set them up with a main photo and thumbnails to click on underneath. The way you tell the story makes me feel I’m on the hike with you. Look forward to next week’s post – really enjoying this series.
Lenie, San Francisco is on my bucket list! I’m glad you like the new photo setup. I’ve been test running a new program. It has a few quirks, but I think I’ve figured them out.
Just wait for the Kauai NaPali Hike. Oh my! I didn’t want to be on that one with me. HA.
Great hikes Rose! There were recently some pretty impressive images of President Obama making that Diamond Head hike. I’ve hiked all over Maui and done a fair amount on the other neighbor Islands, but must admit I’ve never hiked Oahu. No question, the traffic can be a pain but there really are wonderful things to do and see on the Island, and of course they have amazing restaurants and shopping! Looking forward to the rest of your series!
Marquita, I think we’re going to Molokai next, not sure when we’ll get to Maui. I’m glad to hear there is good hiking there. Oahu…it really is hard to find the trails! Oh yes to the restaurants in Oahu. There’s no bad eating there!
I’ve not been to Hawaii, but I do always try to find a hike (even if it’s a short one) when I take a trip somewhere.
I hope the pictures show you how gorgeous it is, Jeri. I’m not a backpacker (my camping days are long gone), but I love day hikes. It’s such a good way to get a sense of place.
Sounds like a great time. I need to write these places down to visit in the future. Probably after the kids are in college. =) Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures.
Yes, Sabrina, get the kids out of the house! Ha ha! It truly is a beautiful place. I find my heart relaxes when I’m there. Sigh of contentment.
I’m sure Hawaii must be an amazing place to hike. I’ve been to Maui and to Haleakala but not to the other islands. Your post and some cold weather has me thinking it might be time to check out air fares to Hawaii.
Get on that, Ken! I haven’t been where you’ve been–we can trade stories. Kauai blogs is coming up soon.
I’ve only done Waimea Valley and Diamond Head. Can’t imagine how I missed the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail. Oh well…guess now I have to go back:)
Any excuse, right Jacquie? The Makapu’u was really pretty, even though it was an easy and paved walk. The setting is so pretty…