Hiking the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
The Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail in the back of Mānoa Valley is the best trail to hike to the Koʻolau Summit between Puʻu Kōnāhuanui to the north and Waʻahila Ridge to the south.
That being said, a distance of 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the valley floor to the summit should indicate that Mānoa Middle is a very steep hike.
On top of this, the first 0.5 miles (0.8 km) of Mānoa Middle is relatively flat, leaving about 1,850 ft. (564 m) of elevation gain in just the remaining 1.3 miles (2.1 km).
Mānoa Middle Ridge Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mānoa Middle Ridge is on Waʻaloa Place in the back of Mānoa Valley, with the trailhead located around the corner from where this photo was taken.
It’s important to mention that this area in Mānoa Valley is a very quiet corner of Mānoa compared to the adjacent Mānoa Falls Trail. I say this to emphasize the importance of parking legally and being quiet and respectful, so as not to do anything that would draw negative attention to the trail.
Google Maps Directions: Mānoa Middle Ridge Trailhead
Hiking the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail
The Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail begins at the Seven Bridges Trailhead, located at the very end of Waʻaloa Place, where there is a bridge to cross over the Waihī Stream almost immediately after the gate.
After the gate, getting to the Mānoa Middle Ridge is all about making the correct turns through the Seven Bridges.
That said, there are four important turns to remember, and taking a wrong turn at any one of these junctions could easily get you lost in the valley.
In any case, go right at the first split in the photo below.
At this second split, go left.
This third split will look less obvious, but it’s the difference between making it to Waiakeakua/ Mānoa Middle to the right and Naniuapo Falls to the left.
At this split, stay on the more obvious trail to the right.
Then, the service road will eventually become a trail, which is the route for both Mānoa Middle and Waiakeakua Falls.
Mānoa Middle-Waiakeakua Junction
This split in the photo below is one of the most important, as well as one of the easiest turns to miss.
That being said, you can go either way, but the most straightforward route is to the left.
However, should you choose to go right, you will be on the Waiakeakua Falls Trail that will climb high above the stream. Still, there is a way to link up with Mānoa Middle further up the trail, but it is not as straightforward in my opinion.
Waiakeakua Stream
Immediately after the split, the trail should cross over the Waiakeakua Stream, which is a good indicator that you’re in the right direction.
In the photo below, the Waiakeakua Falls Trail, is across the stream and up the hill. You would be looking down at the trail here if you made the turn to the right.
A short distance later, the trail immediately starts climbing up to the crest of the Mānoa Middle Ridge.
This route is a very steep and direct route to meet the ridge through the bamboo, but I prefer it over spending more time in the valley on the Waiakeakua Falls Trail.
Toward the top of the hill, the bamboo stops, and the remaining trail to the ridge will likely look a little confusing.
However, simply keep going up until the cutover to the left on the little path in the trees, which will eventually top out on the ridge.
Mānoa Middle Ridge
Once on the ridge, go left to continue up Mānoa Middle.
Had you come up from the alternate route from Waiakeakua, you would have passed by this spot from the trail on the right.
From here, the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail is much more self-explanatory compared to the trail through the valley to get to this point.
The peak in the photo below is a false summit.
The true Mānoa Middle Summit is a short distance past this first peak.
Mānoa Contour Trail (MCT)
There will be a point where the Mānoa Middle Ridge passes by the Mānoa Contour Trail (MCT), which may or may not be obvious.
Regardless, don’t follow the contour trail if you’re hiking up Mānoa Middle for the KST, but rather, continue on to the Mānoa Middle Summit before moving north or south on the KST.
I say this because the contour is very overgrown to the north of Mānoa Middle toward Puʻu Kōnāhuanui, and I only recommend taking the contour trail to the south once the KST reaches the Waiakeakua Summit.
Mānoa Middle Summit
From the summit on a clear day, you can see across the east side of Oʻahu to include Maunawili, Kailua, the Lanikai Pillboxes, and much of Kāneʻohe.
However, I took these photos on a typical wet winter Hawaiʻi day, meaning that a socked-in summit can be pretty typical this time of year.
Native Plants on the Mānoa Middle Ridge
On the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail, there aren’t many native Hawaiian plants to talk about in the lower valley beside the Hau trees.
However, once on the ridge, you can start looking out for various native plants, including ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Kōpiko, ʻAhakea, Akaʻawa, and Hame, 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
