Hiking the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 3.2 miles / 5.1 km
The Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail on the southeast side of Oʻahu is a local favorite that can make for a great day hike at any time of the day—especially at sunrise!
I say this because the Hanauma Bay Rim Trail faces east toward Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi—not to mention it’s one of the least-crowded times to enjoy the trail. However, sunset from the rim/ summit is also a favorite, and many who live in the Hawaiʻi Kai area prefer to hike Hanauma Bay for sunset over sunrise, as it offers a great alternative after-work adventure to the adjacent and often busier Koko Crater Stairs.
Now, this all goes without saying that there is very little shade on the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail, which is why I strongly advise against hiking during the heat of the day or, at the very least, I recommend hiking in one of my favorite hooded sun shirts, which work great here and on countless day hikes across Oʻahu!
Hanauma Bay Rim Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge is at the beginning of Nāwiliwili Street, just after turning off Kalanianaʻole Highway.
That said, please be quiet and respectful in this residential neighborhood, as too many local trails in Hawaiʻi draw too much negative attention because people just don’t understand this.
Google Maps Directions: Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trailhead
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!
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)
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge
After parking, walk toward Kalanianaʻole Highway and up the hill toward Hanauma Bay to find the trailhead.
Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trailhead
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trailhead will be found on the far side of this drive way and the small canal.
Hanauma Bay Rim Junction
After climbing a short hill, the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail meets the road that leads up the Hanauma Bay Rim.
Here, go right to continue up Hanauma Rim to the Rock Bridge junction, located further ahead.
Hanauma Bay Rim-Rock Bridge Junction
When the road starts to level off toward the top, start looking for either one of two left-hand turns off of the road.
Either of these paths leads in the right direction to continue on along the south side of Hanauma Bay Rim.
Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail
After either of these turns, take the most obvious trail down the steep hill along the rim of Hanauma Bay, but be careful, as there are many loose rocks that make it easy to slip!
ʻIhiʻihelauākea Crater
At the bottom of the steep downhill alongside ʻIhiʻihelauākea Crater, there’s just a few smaller hills until the final descent that leads down to the rock bridge.
This is exactly what I mean about the loose rocks!
I stepped on some that acted like golf balls under my feet, and that’s how I got this cut. However, this could have happened on any steep part of the trail, so just be careful.
Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge
The Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge is located just to the right of these tide pools at the bottom of this final hill.
That being said, under no circumstances—and I mean ocean conditions—should you walk out on the rock bridge! Horror stories have happened here before, and that’s why the city has this float here.
With that in mind, rescue services would be extremely slow to get over here, and on any average day with the waves crashing along the coast, I don’t see how it would be possible to climb back up the cliffs without seriously injuring yourself. My best guess would be that one would have to swim around to Hanauma Bay Beach for safety, which is all to say that getting a photo on the rock bridge is not worth it!
Native Plants on the Rock Bridge Trail
There are a number of native coastal plants along the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail, which includes ʻIlima, Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka, ʻUhaloa, Alaheʻe, Alena, and the Hoary Abutilon, to name just a few.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
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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