Hiking the Lualualei Lookout Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
The Lualualei Lookout Trail on the West Side of Oʻahu is a little-known adventure off the popular Mt. Kaʻala Trail in Waiʻanae Valley.
That said, hiking to the Lualualei Lookout is not nearly as straightforward as other West Oʻahu adventures, because so few people venture up or even know about this hidden trail.
However, I think this is what sets the Lualualei Lookout apart from other similar day hikes, because you are almost always guaranteed to be the only group on the trail—especially if you hike it for sunset during the winter months, which is the time of year I recommend to best enjoy the colors across Waiʻanae and Lualualei Valley.
Lualualei Lookout Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Lualualei Lookout Trailhead is located in the same parking lot as the Mt. Kaʻala Trail in the back of Waiʻanae Valley.
Out of caution, consider the Mt. Kaʻala/ Lualualei Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft. Never leave bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Lualualei Lookout 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!
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!
Hiking the Lualualei Lookout Trail
Don’t forget to pack a headlamp for a sunset hike.
The Lualualei Lookout Trail starts on the same trail as Mt. Kaʻala for a short distance only.
Lualualei Lookout Junction
Within the first 0.1 miles (0.2 km) of the trailhead, look for the Lualualei Lookout split on the right side of the road.
It will be the first and only trail branching off the road this close to the trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Mt. Kaʻala Trail
At the next split, go right.
Then, the Lualualei Lookout Trail will follow an old road that is typically only used by hunters today.
Through this section, I have seen the grass cut back, and I have also seen it as overgrown as these photos show. In either case, I recommend hiking pants on the Lualualei Lookout Trail for both the overgrowth and mosquitoes in the lower forest.
The pants below are my recommendations that hold up the best with the overgrowth here in Hawaiʻi, but with any hiking pants that need to be durable, make sure that they are at or near 100% nylon. This is really the most important factor!
When the abandoned road makes a hard left turn toward mountains, take the trail heading downhill on the right side of the road.
The trail will come to a spring-fed stream shortly after.
This stream crossing may be the most confusing part of the entire hike.
Once on the far side of the stream, go left along the stream until you see another trail branching away from the stream on the right side.
This is the Lualualei Lookout Trail that continues on from the stream.
Not long after the stream crossing, the Lualualei Lookout Trail comes to a stream bed that’s typically dry.
Do not cross over to the other side, but rather, make a hard left turn to stay on the easiest path on the left side of the dry stream.
More than likely, this left turn will be easy to miss because of all the grass.
From this point on, the trail gets significantly easier to follow compared to all the turns in the beginning.
The best advice I have is to look for trail markers and/ or bottle caps, as well as follow the AllTrails GPS for the entire hike. This is the best way to know if you’re on track because the Lualualei Lookout Trail can be vague, since so few groups hike it.
Toward the end of the lower forest, the Lualualei Lookout Trail will follow along the cliff, as shown in the photos below.
In my opinion, this cliff is one of the best mental checkpoints, and it’s a great way to know if you’re on the correct trail.
When the Lualualei Lookout Trail reaches the ridge, you have two options: you can go left for the shorter and easier lookout, or you can go right for the slightly longer but more expansive viewpoint.
The photos below show the ridge to the right. However, in my experience, this section of the trail can be very overgrown in order to reach the best viewpoint.
Lualualei Lookout
I love the Lualualei Lookout at golden hour, but since the neighboring Puʻu Kamaileʻunu blocks the horizon, it doesn’t make for the best spot to stick around for the true sunset.
That being said, I think it’s best to return while there’s still daylight because of how confusing the lower forest can be, as shown by all the turns mentioned throughout this post.
Native Plants on the Lualualei Lookout Trail
For the most part, the Lualualei Lookout Trail is covered with non-native/ invasive grasses and other plants, but there are still a few natives to find if you know what you’re looking for.
Specifically, ʻUhaloa, ʻIlima, and ʻAʻaliʻi can all be found on the Lualualei Lookout Trail.
To learn more about identifying these and other native plants around Hawaiʻi, check out my separate post 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.
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