Hiking the Maʻakua Ridge Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 3.7 miles / 6.0 km
The Maʻakua Ridge Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu is one of the least-trafficked, state-managed trails on the island.
That being said, the Maʻakua Ridge Trail is best known for trail running, a quick and easy viewpoint within the very beginning of the hike, and as an access trail to some of Oʻahu’s most remote miles on the Koʻolau Summit.
Hauʻula Loop vs. Maʻakua Ridge
If you’re trying to decide between the Hauʻula Loop Trail or the Maʻakua Ridge Trail, I personally recommend the Hauʻula Loop.
The Hauʻula Loop is, by far, the better choice, and that’s mainly because it’s a much more beautiful trail, offering better views of both the trail and Kaipapaʻu Gulch.
Read My Separate Post: Hauʻula Loop Trail
Maʻakua Ridge Trailhead Parking
Since parking is limited in the neighborhood leading up to the Maʻakua Ridge Trail, it is best to park at the Hauʻula Beach Park, located directly across the street from where the trail begins on Hauʻula Homestead Road.
Note that the distance above is not the distance from the Hauʻula Beach Park, but rather, from the start of the first trail sign on Maʻakua Road.
Google Maps Directions: Hauʻula Beach Park
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 Maʻakua Ridge Trail
The Maʻakua Ridge Trail begins at the end of Hauʻula Homestead/ Maʻakua Road, which is marked by a Nā Ala Hele trail sign for both the Hauʻula Loop and Maʻakua Ridge Trail.
Shortly after passing the sign in the photo above, the road will lead through two sets of gates before reaching the true trailhead, located about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away on the left-hand side of the road.
Maʻakua Ridge-Hauʻula Loop Trailhead
At the joint trailhead, go left to begin Maʻakua-Papali Trail, as the trail on the right begins the separate Hauʻula Loop.
Read My Separate Post: Hauʻula Loop Trail
Maʻakua Stream
Shortly after leaving Maʻakua Road, the trail will come to a large stream crossing.
However, the these lower elevations of Maʻakua Stream will almost always be dry unless it has been raining heavily further up in the mountains.
That said, look across the stream to the right to find the trail that continues on.
After the Maʻakua Stream crossing, the trail will climb about 200 ft. (61 m) up handful of switchbacks to the start of the Maʻakua Loop.
Maʻakua Bench Shortcut
This side trail, branching off the switchback in the photo below, is a shorter but steeper shortcut to the Maʻakua Bench shortly ahead.
This shortcut is shown at the end of this post.
Maʻakua Ridge Bench
It’s no secret that this bench is the best—and only—viewpoint on the Maʻakua Ridge Trail.
I say it like this because the rest of Maʻakua Ridge is more or less a walk in the woods, meaning that most hikers choose to turn around after reaching this point.
Maʻakua Loop Trail
Behind the bench is the start of the Maʻakua Loop.
Here, I typically choose to go right toward Papali Ridge because most of the uphill is on this side—the Papali side—of Maʻakua Ridge, which is exactly the direction this article is written.
Maʻakua-Papali Ridge Junction
At almost exactly 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the Maʻakua Ridge Trail splits with the beginning of the Papali Ridge Trail.
Essentially, Papali Ridge is a much longer, more difficult hike that leads into a few of the most remote parts of the island, like the north KST and Castle.
That being said, do not hike up Papali Ridge if you were only prepared to hike the Maʻakua Loop. I say this because Papali Ridge takes significantly more knowledge and preparation in order to keep safe on the long, tedious trail.
In any case, go left to continue on the Maʻakua Ridge Trail.
Read My Separate Posts: Papali Ridge Trail / Castle Trail
Not long after the Papali Ridge junction, the Maʻakua Loop descends down to a small, intermittent stream before climbing back up again on the far side.
Once back on the ridge, the far side of the Maʻakua Loop gets a bit easier, as it slowly descends, eventually crossing back over the intermittent stream once again.
Once back on the Papali side of the loop, the Maʻakua Ridge Trail climbs back up a few switchbacks before completing the loop at the bench shortly after.
Maʻakua Bench (Maʻakua Loop Junction)
Overall, I prefer the Maʻakua Ridge Trail as a workout hike more than anything else.
That being said, Maʻakua can make for a challenging trail run, but I personally recommend running the Hauʻula Loop over Maʻakua, as the trail is typically in better condition.
To see what I use in terms of train running shoes, check out the links below.
Maʻakua Bench Shortcut
On the way back down, I usually take the bench shortcut along the ridge, which meets back up with the switchbacks below.
Native Plants on the Maʻakua Ridge Trail
Since Maʻakua is such a low-elevation trail in Hawaiʻi, most of the plants along the hike are non-native/ invasive species, like the Autograph and Parasol Leaf trees.
However, ther are a few native plants along the trail, such as the Hala trees, ʻUkiʻuki, and ʻĀkia.
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
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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