15 Best Sunset Hikes on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
From the easiest trails to the most remote, Oʻahu has best and most variety of sunset hikes of any island in Hawaiʻi.
Take it from someone who has who has lived and hiked to the most remote locations on Oʻahu to catch sunset,
15 Best Sunset Hikes on Oʻahu
Keep in mind that the best sunset hike for one person may not be the best sunset hike for another. What I’m really saying is that it all depends on how much time and effort you want to spend on your hike back in the dark.
Some of my favorite sunset moments on Oʻahu have meant hiking countless miles back through the night. But I can promise you that these nights, like the image you see below, have created some of my most favorite memories that I have on this island!
All said, the following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but instead, grouped by the easiest trails first, followed by the ones that require longer hikes down after.
1. Puʻu O Hulu Trail (Pink Pillbox)
Distance: 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
The Pink Pillbox Trail is undoubtedly one of the best sunset hikes on Oʻahu!
I say this because the hike back after sunset is very manageable, the hike itself is very straightforward, and the panoramic coastal and mountain views from the top are truly second to none for how easy the Pink Pillbox hike is!
There’s truly not another hike on Oʻahu that I consider solely as being a sunset kind of trail.
Read My Separate Post: Puʻu O Hulu Trail (Pink Pillbox)
2. Puʻu Pia Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Puʻu Pia Trail is a bit different from a traditional Hawaiʻi sunset hike in that I don’t recommend Puʻu Pia for the views you get of the sunset. Instead, I recommend the trail for the views you get as the sun lights up the mountains in the back of Mānoa Valley on a clear night.
Generally speaking, sunset from Puʻu Pia is better in the winter over the summer months. However, it’s worth noting that winter is typically the wetter time of the year. So I say, don’t let the time of year dictate your decision. Puʻu Pia is just as beautiful when the clouds are hanging over the valley as it is on a clear night!
In either case, the trail back down is short, but be prepared for a muddy hike at any time of the year.
Read My Separate Post: Puʻu Pia Trail
3. ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
Without a doubt, the ʻEhukai Pillbox is the best North Shore sunset hike on Oʻahu!
Overall, the trail is very short each way, and sunset is typically the time of day when other locals choose to get out on the trail because of how beautifully the sunset lights up the beaches across Pūpūkea.
Read My Separate Post: ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail
4. Kaʻena Point Pillbox Trail
North Shore Distance: 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
West Side Distance: 2.1 miles / 3.4 km
If you read my best Oʻahu sunrise hikes post, you’ll quickly notice how the next three trails on this list reflect on that list as well.
However, when hiking the Kaʻena Point Trail at sunset, I recommend the pillbox specifically, as it’s one of the most unobstructed and panoramic sunset views you can get on Oʻahu!
All said, the Kaʻena Point Trail can either be hike from the North Shore or West Side of Oʻahu. I don’t recommend one over the other, but whichever is most convenient for you.
Read My Separate Post: Kaʻena Point (North) / Kaʻena Point (West)
5. Pali Notches Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The Pali Notches is one of the best all-around sunrise and sunset hikes on Oʻahu!
It’s for this reason that I recommended the Pali Notches in this post, as well as my best Oʻahu sunrise hikes article.
That being said, if you’re going to hike the trail for sunset, make sure to read the details about where to park in my separate post. Cars have been known to get ticketed for parking at the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout after the parking area has closed at sunset.
Finally, it’s important to be aware that the Pali Notches hike is NOT an established or maintained trail, and you accept all potential consequences should you choose to hike a closed trail.
Read My Separate Post: Pali Notches Trail
6. Koko Head Stairs
Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
Elevation Gain: ~930 ft. / 283 m
The challenging Koko Crater Stairs round out the only three trails that I recommend for both sunrise at sunset on Oʻahu, which is a popular sunset hike for a few reasons.
First, like sunrise, it’s important to hike Koko Head while it’s cooler out because of the lack of shade. But perhaps more importantly, Koko Head is popular in the last hour of the day because locals treat the Koko Head stairs like a post-work workout. This is typically the time of day when the best times recorded have been put up, which you can read more about in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Koko Crater Stairs
7. Mauna Lahilahi Trail (Turtle Rock)
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Mauna Lahilahi Trail is the easiest hike on this list, but I would only recommend the trail if you’re staying somewhere on the West Side of Oʻahu, like in Ko ʻOlina or Mākaha.
I say this mostly because the trail, more like a scramble, up to the viewpoint is so easy. So, the hike wouldn’t feel like it’s worth the drive if you’re just in the area for Turtle Rock.
However, when you’re not looking for something too adventurous, Mauna Lahilahi can be the perfect quick and easy sunset mission!
Read My Separate Post: Mauna Lahilahi Trail
8. Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail
Distance: 3.2 miles / 5.1 km
The Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail is not about the rock bridge when it comes to sunset, but the ridge at the beginning of the trail.
On the initial ridge, there are a handful viewpoints and one panoramic viewpoint all the way at the top of the road that makes for a great spot to watch sunset!
Almost every night of the week, locals hike the Hanauma Bay Ridge at sunset for an evening workout, and it’s favorite of mine because of how easy the return hike is to get back down.
Read My Separate Post: Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail
9. Mauʻumae Ridge Trail (Puʻu Lanipō)
Distance: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
Up until now, all of my sunset recommendations have been fairly easy because the distances to hike back in the dark have been relatively short.
However, if you think you’re the more adventurous type of person, the island really opens up to you in terms of sunset hikes because there is such a vast number of trails that make for amazing sunset hikes. Keep in mind, these will not be easy miles in the dark, as hiking across Oʻahu is very rugged.
That being said, the Mauʻumae Ridge Trail is a spectacular Oʻahu sunset hike because there are so many views to be had from the first few minutes of the trailhead to the summit.
If your plan is to see sunset, my recommendation is to hike up in the early to mid-afternoon so that you will know how far down you want to get by the time the sun is setting.
Read My Separate Post: Mauʻumae Ridge Trail (Puʻu Lanipō)
10. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.7 miles / 7.6 km
Generally speaking, Wiliwilinui Ridge is not a sunset hike, and if you are driving up late in the afternoon, the security will tell you the same prior to entering the private neighborhood.
However, as long as you arrive with more than two and a half hours to go before sunset, you can hike up the ridge and take your time on the way back down while enjoying the sunset. Just don’t forget to drop your parking pass off with security on your way out.
Read My Separate Post: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
My Print - Wiliwilinui Ridge
11. Wailupe Loop Trail
Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
The Wailupe Loop Trail is the most challenging hike, both directionally and physically, that I have on this list.
This is because of the inevitable long trek off the ridge and back through the valley that will have to be hiked in the dark.
However, if you think you’re up for something this involved, I encourage you to read through my separate post and take notes of the valley extensively, as I can promise it can be very easy to get turned around if you miss one of the important turns.
Read My Separate Post: Wailupe Loop Trail
12. Waʻahila Ridge Trail (Mt. Olympus)
Distance: 5.9 miles / 9.5 km
Waʻahila Ridge may be the best sunset hike near Waikīkī, and in fact, some locals favor the trail as an evening trail run.
However, to see the best sunset views on Waʻahila Ridge, it would require at least two miles or more of hiking back in the dark. While that may sound like a lot, directionally it’s one of the easier trails to follow, which I can’t say the same regarding Wailupe or Kūlepeamoa Ridge below.
Read My Separate Post: Waʻahila Ridge Trail
13. Kūlepeamoa Ridge Trail
Distance: 5.3 miles / 8.5 km
Just like the Wailupe Trail above, Kūlepeamoa is one of the longer hikes back in the dark. The difference is that Kūlepeamoa is not as confusing of a return hike in the dark compared to Wailupe, as long as you make the correct turn back off the ridge.
Before visiting, I highly encourage you to read more about the entire trail in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Kūlepeamoa Ridge Trail
14. Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.5 miles / 7.2 km
Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge is most similar to Wiliwilinui on this list.
Both trails have similar access situations atop private residential neighborhoods, and both trails have very similar sunset views. The main difference in my opinion is that Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge is slightly more challenging.
In either case, I’d say it’s truly a toss-up if you’re trying to decide which trail is better.
Read My Separate Post: Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge Trail
15. Mokulēʻia Access Road & Trail
Access Road Distance: 7.2 miles / 11.6 km
Mokulēʻia Trail Distance: 6.2 miles / 10.0 km
The Mokulēʻia Trail may be one of the longer suggestions on this list, but in terms of hiking and navigating back after dark, it’s one of the easiest!
This Mokulēʻia Trail sunset spot is NOT the combination of these two distances. These two distances represent both individual trails separately, and the sunset spot (the bench) is only halfway on the Mokulēʻia Trail at 11.2 miles (18.0 km) roundtrip.
While this may sound like a lot, 3.6 miles (5.8 km) each way or 7.2 miles (11.6 km) roundtrip is entirely on the Mokulēʻia Access Road, which is the largest contributor to the trail’s distance.
Make sure to read through my separate Mokulēʻia post below in order to reach the sunset spot shown below. Otherwise, this suggestion would not make much sense if you didn’t know where to turn.
Read My Separate Post: Mokulēʻia Trail
Best Sunrise Hikes on Oʻahu
If you’re interested in reading more, I wrote a very similar list about the best sunrise hikes across Oʻahu in an entirely separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Best Sunrise Hikes on Oʻahu
Native Hawaiian Plants on Oʻahu Trails
Since this is a subject that is close to me, I want to always encourage that you do your part to minimize your impact when hiking on any Hawaiʻi trail.
So many of our forests and our native plants are presented with challenges as a result of invasive species, and I want to ask that you do your part on all trails.
This plant particularly can be seen when hiking on the Mokulēʻia Trail.
If this is a subject that interests you, click below to learn more about native Hawaiian plants found across the islands.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
