Hiking the Lulumahu Ridge Trail to Puʻu Kōnāhuanui on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 4.6 miles / 7.4 km
Distance (Lulumahu Ridge to Nuʻuanu Trail): 9.0 miles / 14.5 km
The Lulumahu Ridge Trail to Puʻu Kōnāhuanui is, without a doubt, the least-popular route to reach the summit of K1, the top of the Koʻolau Mountain Range.
In comparison, the KST by way of the much more difficult Pali Notches Trail tends to be more popular, as hikers attempt to piece together sections across the entire summit trail.
In any case, I recommend against using the distances above as the deciding factor regarding which route you choose to take back down, as the Lulumahu Ridge Trail will more than likely be the slower and more challenging of the two routes because of how steep the climb is, with a total elevation gain of about 2,200 ft. (671 m) in just 2.3 miles (3.7 km).
Lulumahu Ridge Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Lulumahu Ridge Trailhead is located in the same dirt parking area as the Lulumahu Falls Trail, adjacent to the intersection for the Pali Highway and Nuʻuanu Pali Dr.
Out of caution, consider the Lulumahu Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Lulumahu Ridge Trailhead
Hiking the Lulumahu Ridge Trail
Starting from the Lulumahu Falls Trailhead, the Lulumahu Ridge Trail begins here at either one of two entrances.
If you start at the entrance with the hunters log, you will begin in the bamboo forest before ending up on the gravel road. Alternatively, if you start at the entrance with the gate, you will begin on the gravel road and avoid the bamboo forest altogether.
For obvious reasons, I recommend the gate.
When the Lulumahu Falls Trail reaches the opening in the photo below, go straight.
Then, when the trail reaches the dam, you can either cross the stream and then cross again shortly after, or simply follow the stream up a short distance to the trail that’s located on the left-hand side.
Lulumahu Ridge-Lulumahu Falls Junction
After 0.6 miles (1.0 km), go left to begin the Lulumahu Ridge Trail, which will branch off from the popular Lulumahu Falls Trail.
A good indicator for finding the split is that the stream crossing in the photo above will be the last time you will cross the Lulumahu Stream for the rest of the hike.
That being said, many Hawaiʻi visitors trying to reach Lulumahu Falls end up on Lulumahu Ridge by mistake, but to know if you’re heading the right direction, the trail should start getting steeper in just a few minutes after leaving the Lulumahu Falls Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Lulumahu Falls Trail
In my experience, the lower sections of Lulumahu Ridge may be a little more vague than the rest, but try to follow the most obvious trail heading up the ridge.
Then, when the trail starts getting steeper, like the photo below, it will be a lot less confusing, as there is only one real path to follow.
On a different note, hiking pants are a must for the overgrowth once you leave the Lulumahu Falls Trail behind.
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!
Upper Lulumahu Falls Junction
While there is technically more than one Upper Lulumahu Falls, this is generally the one that most refer to, as it’s the route to rappel down the main Lulumahu waterfall.
That said, most hikers hiking up Lulumahu Ridge leave the ridge trail at this split to go down to the Lulumahu Stream.
However, stay straight on the ridge to the left to continue hiking up to Puʻu Kōnāhuanui.
Once above the lower canopy, the rest of Lulumahu Ridge to the summit is very straightforward.
However, these sections past the Upper Lulumahu Falls junction are where quality hiking pants become the most useful.
These views of the upper mountain in the do not show the true summit, but in terms of the entire hike, getting to the top of the false summit is roughly 99% of the way to the top.
This photo below is the part of Lulumahu Ridge where the views of K1, the true summit of Puʻu Kōnāhuanui, start to become visible.
Puʻu Kōnāhuanui (K1)
After 2.3 miles (3.7 km), the Lulumahu Ridge Trail ends at the summit of Puʻu Kōnāhuanui, also known for being the highest peak in the Koʻolaus at 3,150 ft. (960 m) tall.
Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Ridge
As previously mentioned, there are some things to consider regarding the route you choose to take back down. However, it is always my personal preference to return by way of the Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Ridge Trail followed by the Nuʻuanu Trail, which is exactly what’s shown below.
This route completes the roughly 9.0-mile (14.5 km) loop trail mentioned previously, utilizing Nuʻuanu Pali Drive to walk the final stretch back to the Lulumahu Falls Trailhead.
Pauoa Flats-Nuʻuanu Junction
Once past the Pauoa Flats Bench, look for the Nuʻuanu Trail on the right-hand side, which descends the final stretch back down to Nuʻuanu Valley.
Read My Separate Post: Nuʻuanu Trail
Nuʻuanu Stream
The last part of the Nuʻuanu Trail finishes on the Judd Loop Trail.
That being said, go right at the Judd Trail junction to hike out to Nuʻuanu Pali Drive on the shortest route.
Judd Trailhead
Once at the Judd Trailhead, go right to begin the final 0.8-mile (1.3 km) walk back to the Lulumahu Falls Trailhead.
Native Plants on Lulumahu Ridge
The Lulumahu Falls Trail is not the best place to look for native plants beyond the many Hau trees; however, once Lulumahu Ridge ascends above the lower canopy, there are tons of different native plants to find for the rest of the hike up to the summit.
Some of these include Kōpiko, various ʻŌhiʻa species, ʻAhakea lau nui, Alani, Kokolau and Kōlea, to truly only name a few.
If you would like to know more about these and tons of 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
