Hiking the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 4.7 miles / 7.6 km
In terms of difficulty, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is often regarded as one of the easiest and best introductory hikes to reach the beautiful Koʻolau Summit.
To this point, I also feel the same about the neighboring Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge Trail, but in my opinion, Wiliwilinui is the easier of the two, with similar views that span across Oʻahu’s east side from the summit.
My Print - Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
Wiliwilinui Ridge Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is located at the very end of ʻOkoʻa Street at the top of Wiliwilinui Ridge; the private neighborhood at the base of the trail.
That being said, you will need to present your ID to the security in order to obtain a parking pass for the parking lot at the top. Passes are limited, and I have been denied in the past because the parking lot was full.
On top of this, you may also be turned away if you arrive too close to sunset, so my advice is to arrive no later than two and a half hours before sunset.
All said, don’t forget to place the parking pass on the dash of your vehicle before you hike.
Google Maps Directions: Wiliwilinui Ridge 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 Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
The Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail begins on a long gravel/ dirt service road for the power lines located along the ridge.
These power line poles will continue for about two-thirds of the trail until you get near the steeper sections that climb up to the summit.
This left-hand turn in the photo below, followed by the hill in the next photo, is notorious for being very muddy and slippery following periods of wet weather.
After a certain point, the service road turns into an true trail for the remainder of the hike.
The open area in the photo below is where Wiliwilinui Ridge starts climbing the first set of stairs.
In total, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail gains about 1,300 ft. (396 m) of elevation from the trailhead to the summit, but the final summit ridge is where it’s most noticeable.
As previously mentioned, the last mile of Wiliwilinui up to the summit is where most of the significant elevation gain is located, with about 840 ft. (256 m) of climbing from the start of the stairs to the summit.
As Wiliwilinui climbs up the final steep section, the trail passes by this fenced in set of buildings.
However, this is not the true summit, which is located just beyond.
Wiliwilinui Summit
On a clear day from the summit, you can see great views across much of the east side of Oʻahu, including Mt. Olomana, the Lanikai Pillboxes, and even as far as Mokoliʻi to the north!
If you are continuing further past Wiliwilinui on the Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST), Puʻu Lanipō is the next notable summit to the north and Wailupe to the south.
Read My Separate Post: Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
Native Plants on Wiliwilinui Ridge
The Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is full of typical native Hawaiian plants, like Uluhe, Koa, ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Alani, and Kōpiko, to name a few. However, the most significant find that stood out to me was a species of ʻŌhiʻa that is more typically found on trails across central Oʻahu.
Metrosideros macropus is one of three ʻŌhiʻa species that is only found on Oʻahu, and in my experience, I always see this species of ʻŌhiʻa much less than the other two Oʻahu endemics.
Alternatively, you can see the yellow ʻŌhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha var. glaberrima), also found on the Wiliwilinui, which is why identifying ʻŌhiʻa based on color alone is not a safe bet.
If you would like to know more about these, as well as tons of other native Hawaiian plants, 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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My Print - Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
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