Hiking the Pride Rock Trail: The Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Pride Rock Trail on the east side of Oʻahu is a beautiful and quiet local ridge hike above Kualoa Ranch, Mokoliʻi (Chinaman’s Hat), and Hakipuʻu Valley—especially among those looking to branch out from other, more popular east Oʻahu adventures, like the Crouching Lion Trail or the Lanikai Pillbox Trail.
For all these reasons, the Pride Rock Trail is one of the best sunrise hikes on Oʻahu, as it’s almost always a guarantee that the viewpoint will be completely empty!
However, this is all without saying that Pride Rock is not a designated or maintained trail, and I say this to emphasize that local hikes, such as Pride Rock, do not need to direct negative attention toward the hiking community. Therefore, please be quiet in the neighborhood, do not leave trash, park legally, and most of all, don’t do anything that would draw negative attention to this local adventure!
Pride Rock Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pride Rock Trail is located near the end of Haupoa Street in Waikāne.
Again, please be quiet and respectful in this residential neighborhood, as too many trails in Hawaiʻi draw too much negative attention because people just don’t understand this.
Google Maps Directions: Pride Rock 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 Pride Rock Trail
The Pride Rock Trail begins at this unmarked trailhead at very end of Haupoa Street.
After a very short distance, the Pride Rock Trail splits, where you want to go right to begin the climb up to Puʻu Pueo.
If it has rained recently some of these uphill sections can be quite slippery.
On a different note, the Pride Rock Trail traverses through the lower forest for about half of the overall hike to the top.
I say this to point out that the mosquitoes can be quite annoying if you plan on taking your time on the way up, which is why I recommend wearing my favorite Hawaiʻi hiking pants below, as they can be great for not only the mosquitoes on Pride Rock but other, more overgrown trails across the island.
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!
These sections can be particularly challenging when it’s muddy!
Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule
When the Pride Rock Trail reaches the ridge’s crest, go left to begin the Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule, leading to the main Pride Rock viewpoint.
It’s always nice to see a handful of natives growing along these low-elevation Hawaiʻi trails.
As the Pride Rock Trail nears the main viewpoint, the ridge reaches the steepest scramble of the entire hike.
That being said, I think these photos make the short class 2/ 3 scramble look worse than it is.
However, the Pride Rock Trail has many spots along the Southeast Ridge where falling is simply not an option because the cliffs are just that steep and dramatic over the side. I say this to say, take your time and be careful, as there is a lot of loose rock on the ridge, which can make it easy to slip!
Pride Rock (Puʻu Pueo)
This rock that sticks out toward Kualoa Ranch and Mokoliʻi, located just offshore, is Pride Rock, and it’s the main viewpoint on the Pride Rock Trail.
That said, the Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule doesn’t stop here; rather, it continues all the way up to the summit of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule.
However, the Southeast Ridge quickly becomes far more technical and challenging than everything on the Pride Rock Trail up to this point, which is why I recommend turning back if you are not prepared for the much longer and more involved hike up the mountain.
Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule
As previously mentioned, the Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule quickly becomes one of the more advanced hikes on the island, meaning it should only be attempted by those who are prepared and aware of exactly what they are getting into.
In comparison, Pride Rock is 100% a beginner trail, meaning if you had any difficulty with the ridge up to this point, I recommend turning back here. I can promise that the Southeast Ridge is not meant for 99.9% of hikers.
That being said, if you are hiking up the Pride Rock Trail to continue further up the ridge, I would say you should have already completed the Puʻu ʻŌhulehule Trail from the main route through Kahana Valley, as this will more than likely be your exit trail off the mountain.
Read My Separate Post: Puʻu ʻŌhulehule Trail
To learn more about the Southeast Ridge, you can read about the entire hike that I completed with my friend Jackson on his website linked below.
Read My Friend’s Post: Southeast Ridge of Puʻu ʻŌhulehule
Native Plants on the Pride Rock Trail
The Pride Rock Trail passes through a relatively low-elevation forest for Hawaiʻi, which typically means that very few native plants can be found along the trail.
However, on the ridgeline, I noticed a number of native species, including ʻĀkia, ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Pūkiawe, ʻIlima, ʻAlaʻala wai nui, and ʻUhaloa, to name just 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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