Hiking the Pali Puka Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.7 miles / 1.1 km
Elevation Gain: ~500 ft. / 152 m
The Pali Puka Trail on Oʻahu is a short, steep, and—most of all—exposed day hike off the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, where hikers can climb to a natural puka, or hole, in the cliffside above the island’s east side.
The short 0.35-mile (0.6 km) trail follows just a very small section of the much longer, more involved 56-mile (90.1 km) Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST) below Puʻu Lanihuli. However, hikers should know that the short distance is not a good indicator of the trail’s difficulty.
By this, I mean that falling is simply not an option, as it would more than likely be fatal. This is why I do not recommend the Pali Puka Trail for all people, of all abilities. The high level of exposure and danger the trail poses is considerably greater than that of the neighboring Pali Notches Trail up to the first notch, as the views on the Pali Puka Trail are just as beautiful as they are dramatic—not to mention that the short hike to the puka is truly the 'easiest' section of the full ridgeline up to Puʻu Lanihuli.
All this to say, the Pali Puka Trail can be a fun, quick, and beautiful day hike or sunrise hike on Oʻahu, but the risks associated with the trail need to be taken seriously before attempting.
Pali Puka Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pali Puka Trail is located in the same parking lot as the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout.
However, for those trying to visit the trail at sunrise and sunset specifically, parking is not recommended in the normal parking lot shown below, as fines have been known to be issued to parked cars outside of the normal Hawaiʻi State Park hours.
Therefore, if you plan on visiting outside of the posted hours, be sure to park elsewhere off the Pali Highway to avoid receiving a fine.
Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout Parking Fee
Hawaiʻi Residents/ Military - This is your home, and you are free to park and enjoy the lookout by simply showing your Hawaiʻi State or Military ID to the attendant working when you park.
Visitors/ Non-Hawaiʻi Residents - All non-residents wishing to park at the lookout are required to pay the small fee at the kiosk in the parking lot.
Google Maps Directions: Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout
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 Pali Puka Trail
By hiking this trail, you accept all the risks and potential legal consequences for entering a closed area.
The Pali Puka Trailhead is located on the opposite side of the lookout from the popular lookout viewpoint.
It’s not obvious, but there will be a small opening in the forest for the unmarked trailhead.
Immediately after passing the trailhead, the hike starts climbing up a steep hill to the ridgeline.
Once on the ridgeline, you need to be sure of every step, especially after it has been raining lately.
A fall over the Pali would certainly be fatal, and hikers have died on this trail before.
Take your time, and be careful.
If you find the narrow ridgeline trail in the photo below on the left, look for the trail down in the trees. It’s significantly safer than walking on the narrow ridge here.
Right before the Puka, you have the option of either climbing up to the ridge and down to the Puka, or you can scoot along the side of the ridgeline to reach the same viewpoint.
I personally think going up and then down is either than scooting across.
The photo below on the right makes the part to climb down look worse than it is.
Pali Puka
After just 0.35 miles (0.6 km), the Pali Puka Trail ends at the Puka that can be seen from areas across Kāneʻohe, Kailua, and a number of the trails on Tantalus.
Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
The Pali Puka Trail is a part of the much longer KST, but if you only prepared to hike the Puka, don’t proceed past the area in the photos above.
The KST gets considerably more difficult as the summit trail climbs up to Puʻu Lanihuli.
Read My Separate Post: Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
Native Plants on the Pali Puka Trail
The Pali Puka Trail has a number of native plants to find, including ʻŌhiʻa lehua, ʻĀkia, ʻAlaʻala wai nui, and Hau, to truly only name a few.
If you would like to learn more about these and many 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.
Disclaimer
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