Hiking the Mauna Lahilahi Trail (Turtle Rock) on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
Mauna Lahilahi, commonly referred to as Turtle Rock, is a short but steep day hike in Mākaha on the West Side of Oʻahu, above Papaoneone Beach.
The short 0.3-mile (0.5 km) Mauna Lahilahi Trail is most commonly hiked in the late evening, as the panoramic views from the summit make it one of the best relatively easy hikes to enjoy the sunset on Oʻahu—not to mention that hiking Mauna Lahilahi is almost always enjoyed without the crowds that other nearby adventures attract, like Puʻu O Hulu.
Mauna Lahilahi Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mauna Lahilahi Trail is located on Lahilahi Street in Mākaha.
Out of caution, consider the Mauna Lahilahi Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft. Never leave bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Mauna Lahilahi 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 Mauna Lahilahi Trail
Don’t forget to pack a headlamp for a sunset hike.
The Mauna Lahilahi Trail begins at the same path on Lahilahi Street as Papaoneone Beach.
At the first intersection, go left.
The trail to the right is the path for Papaoneone Beach.
After a short distance, the trail for Mauna Lahilahi will be on the right.
At the base of the ridge, there are essentially two paths up the first part of Mauna Lahilahi.
The first is to stay directly on the ridge, which is the easiest of the two paths, and it’s route shown below. Additionally, there’s the 'Mountaineers Route,' which is the path to the right of the ridge shown at the end of this post.
I don’t recommend the 'Mountaineers Route' just for the sake of making an easy hike more difficult. It’s truly an unnecessary risk, but I thought I’d show both routes because they may not look like much of a difference at first, until the climbing section.
After a short climb up the ridge, Mauna Lahilahi levels off for the rest of the hike to the top.
Mauna Lahilahi
Looking back from the summit, you can see Waiʻanae to the right and Mākaha Valley nearly straight back.
The peak directly behind Mauna Lahilahi is Puʻu Kamaileʻunu, with Keaʻau Ridge to the left.
Hawaiian Princess Resort (Papaoneone Beach)
Mauna Lahilahi sits directly above the beautiful Papaoneone Beach, more commonly known as Turtle Beach.
If you’re looking for a less common local place to stay on Oʻahu, consider the Hawaiian Princess Resort on Papaoneone Beach. Compared to busier places, such as Turtle Bay, this hidden west Oʻahu gem sees far fewer visitors!
Papaoneone Beach
Lahilahi 'Mountaineers Route'
In hiking terms, a 'Mountaineers Route' can either mean one of two things.
First, it’s truly a route meant for mountaineers only; or second, it’s a joke commonly referred to routes that are slightly more difficult than the main trail just for the sake of making something more challenging, which is exactly what this route up Mauna Lahilahi refers to.
The alternative route to the side leads to this small scramble, but like I said, it’s not worth making the straightforward ridge trail up Turtle Rock more difficult.
Native Plants on the Mauna Lahilahi Trail
Mauna Lahilahi is a low-elevation, coastal trail, which typically mean that most of the plants are non-native/ invasive, like the Fountain grass that covers this hike.
However, there are still a few native plants that you can find, such as ʻIlima, Maʻo, the Hoary Abutilon, and ʻUhaloa.
If you would like to learn more about these and tons of other native Hawaiian plants, 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.
Disclaimer
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