5 Best Trails Near Waikīkī on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
While there are many beautiful hiking trails across Oʻahu, some of the best and most accessible span the ridges and valleys across southeast Oʻahu, which is exactly where Waikīkī is located!
Therefore, if you’re visiting Oʻahu without a rental car, I highly recommend considering some of these nearby trails, as they can all be reached using either the bus or an Uber/ Lyft.
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
5 Best Trails Near Waikīkī
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but rather, it’s written based on how far away each trail is from Waikīkī, with Waʻahila Ridge being the closest.
That being said, I don’t consider most of these options to be the best kid-friendly trails on the island, which is why, if that's something you need to consider, I encourage you to read my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Best Kid-Friendly Trails on Oʻahu
1. Waʻahila Ridge Trail (Mt. Olympus)
Distance: 5.6 miles / 9.0 km
When you look up at the mountains from Waikīkī, Mānoa Valley, home to the popular Mānoa Falls, is one of the first places that you’ll see.
However, what many visitors don’t know is that the ridge paralleling the right side of the valley is actually one of the best places to hike near Waikīkī.
This ridge is Waʻahila Ridge, and it makes for a great day hike, climbing up to one of the more popular peaks in the southern Koʻolau Mountains, called Mt. Olympus.
From the trail, you’ll get great views of Mānoa Valley as well as Waikīkī. But when you get to some of the upper elevations of the trail, you’ll start to see some amazing views of the beautiful Kaʻau Crater to the east, which is one of the main reasons I would highly consider hiking the Waʻahila Ridge Trail if you’re looking for a fun and beautiful trail near Waikīkī.
Read My Separate Post: Waʻahila Ridge Trail
2. Mauʻumae Ridge Trail (Puʻu Lanipō)
Distance: 6.6 miles / 10.6 km
Like Waʻahila Ridge mentioned above, Mauʻumae Ridge to Puʻu Lanipō is similar in that they both begin high up in a residential neighborhood and climb even higher up to the beautiful Koʻolau Summit.
That being said, Waʻahila and Mauʻumae Ridge are two of the more challenging trails on this list, with Mauʻumae Ridge being slightly more difficult, in my opinion.
Nevertheless, while Mauʻumae Ridge to Puʻu Lanipō may be one of the more challenging Oʻahu trails near Waikīkī, the hike is incredibly scenic, and the expansive views open up within only a few minutes of the trailhead and continue all the way to the summit, which, in my opinion, is even more scenic than Waʻahila Ridge mentioned above!
Read My Separate Post: Mauʻumae Ridge Trail
3. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.7 miles / 7.6 km
Without a doubt, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is the easiest hike on this list!
I say this because, while some of the hikes listed here have similar or shorter distances, most are much higher in intensity, including the Koko Crater Stairs mentioned below, even though it’s by far the shortest trail here.
Overall, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is one of the best hikes near Waikīkī if you're interested in a similar ridge as both Waʻahila and Mauʻumae but not the same difficulty. I personally recommend beginning the trail in the mid to late afternoon, but that’s only because I prefer the beautiful golden light that you can see from the trail, like this photo here.
Read My Separate Post: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
My Print - Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
4. Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.7 miles / 7.6 km
Of all the trails on this list, the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail is easily my favorite!
I say this because the views from the summit on a clear day, especially at sunrise, are like none other, which is exactly when the photo below was taken.
However, be aware that Kuliʻouʻou Ridge and the Koko Crater Stairs, listed below, are the two furthest hikes from Waikīkī. If you’re without a car, Uber and Lyft can both be great options, but don’t take the bus to Kuliʻouʻou Ridge, as the nearest bus stop is nowhere near the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail
5. Koko Craters Stairs
Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
Elevation Gain: ~930 ft. / 283 m
The Koko Crater Stairs may be the shortest hike on this list, but the trail is, without a doubt, one of the more difficult options to attempt.
This is because the stairs are very steep, climbing just under 900 ft. (274 m) of elevation in just 0.45 miles (0.7 km) to the summit of a beautiful stand-alone peak overlooking southeast Oʻahu.
All said, if you think you’re up for the challenge, I recommend going either early or late in the day, which is when most local residents frequent the stairs in order to avoid the heat of the day.
Read My Separate Post: Koko Head Stairs
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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