Hiking the Nākoa Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 4.8 miles / 7.7 km
The Nākoa Trail, also called the Nākoa Loop Trail, on the east side of Oʻahu is a long, remote loop through the heart of Kahana Valley, but compared to hikes of similar lengths, like ʻAiea Loop Trail or Hauʻula Loop Trail, the Nākoa Trail is a bit more challenging.
This is because the Nākoa Trail doesn’t receive nearly the same amount of traffic as other, more popular Oʻahu loop trails, and it’s one that I would more similarly compare to the Wahiawā Hills Trail—granted that it’s almost always wetter and muddier than all three of these adventures listed, because of its location on the east side of the island.
Be aware that the distance above includes the 0.6-mile (1.0 km) walk each way from the parking area to the trailhead, as well as an additional 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to get to and from the Kahana Pools at the back of the loop.
Nākoa Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Nākoa Trail is located on the side of Kahana Valley Road just before the residential community in the valley.
However, if you have a valid hunting permit and parking pass, you can drive as far as the Nākoa Trailhead.
Google Maps Directions: Nākoa 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 Nākoa Trail
From the parking area, the Nākoa Trail doesn’t begin for another 0.6 miles (1.0 km) up Kahana Valley Road.
Please be quiet and respectful when walking through the Kahana community.
Continue up the road past the gate.
This is the parking area for hunters only.
Nākoa Loop Trailhead
At the Nākoa Trailhead, you can either go right on the contour trail or left toward the Puʻu ʻŌhulehule Trail.
If you’re going to hike the loop, I recommend going right first because the contour trail is more challenging than the southern half of the loop, which is exactly the direction the photos below show.
Hawaiʻi Hiking Pants
For any hike in Kahana Valley, I recommend the hiking pants below for the mosquitoes alone.
That being said, they can not only can they be used on the Nākoa Loop for the mosquitoes, but there are tons of other ridge hikes in this blog where you would find them useful.
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!
In certain sections, the Nākoa Trail can be very muddy because Kahana Valley receives so much rain.
Other than this, the Nākoa Trail should be fairly self-explanatory, with the exception of the trail down to the Kahana Pools.
Four-way Intersection
At the back of the contour trail, the Nākoa Loop comes to a four way intersection with the Water Tank Road, the Kahana Pools Trail, and the southern half of the Nākoa Trail that leads back to the start.
I took the 0.25-mile (0.4 km) trail on the far left that leads down to the Kahana Pools, but what’s nice about making it this far is that the four-way intersection is a sign that the hardest hiking is behind you.
Kahana Pools Trail
The Kahana Pools Trail is only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) roundtrip to get back to the four-way intersection.
At the split in the photo below, go left.
This is the trail that leads down to the Kahana Pools.
Kahana Pools
The Kahana Pools is a beautiful calm swimming spot in the stream, but when there’s no breeze, the mosquitoes can make it a little hard to enjoy.
However, I still think it’s worth checking out if you have the time.
Four-way Intersection
Back at the four-way intersection, I continued on the easier southern half of the Nākoa Trail.
The return loop will go much quicker than the contour trail up to this point.
First Kahana Stream Crossing
At both of the Kahana Stream crossings on the southern half, it’s nearly impossible to keep your shoes dry, which is why I always walk right through.
This first intersection is not the trail up to Puʻu ʻŌhulehule.
Nākoa-Puʻu ʻŌhulehule Junction
This second more defined split is the Puʻu ʻŌhulehule junction, but that’s a hike for another day.
Read My Separate Post: Puʻu ʻŌhulehule Trail
Second Kahana Stream Crossing
This is the deepest that I’ve ever seen this stream crossing, and it was a challenge for me at 6’ 4’’ when it got up to my waste at the deepest.
That being said, this is probably the Kahana Stream at its worst, and you’re experience will likely be easier as all of my others have been.
Nākoa Trailhead
On the far side of the second stream crossing, there isn’t much more left on the loop before reaching the Nākoa Trailhead.
Native Plants on the Nākoa Trail
The Nākoa Loop Trail through Kahana Valley is a relatively low-elevation trail for Hawaiʻi, meaning that the hike is predominately non-native/ invasive plants like Shoe Button, Strawberry Guava, and Octopus Trees.
However, there are still a few natives to look out for such as Hala, Uluhe, and Hau to name a few.
If you would like to learn more about identifying these and other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, 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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