The Hiking HI

Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED

Time: 3-5 HOURS

Distance: 4 MILES

Elevation Gain: 1900 FEET

Foot Traffic: LOW

Challenges: Narrow Ridges, Steep Scrambles, Possible Mud

Sights: Windward Side, Honolulu, Diamond Head

What to Bring: Water (>2L), Snack, Sunscreen, Long Pants

A lesser known hike near Honolulu, Manoa Middle is a classic ungraded Oahu ridge. A physically demanding trail coupled with steep scrambles and narrow ridges are the challenges you will face if you want to reac...

Difficulty: BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE

Time: 1-2 HOURS

Distance: 2 MILES

Elevation Gain: 700 FEET

Traffic Density: MODERATE

Challenges: Shadeless, Some Narrow Ridges

Sights: Pillboxes, Waianae Range, Mount Ka'ala

What to Bring: Water, Sunscreen

This short and sweet hike in Waianae is a great way to experience the beauties of the west side of Oahu without straining yourself too much. You follow a series of switchbacks until you reach a small ridge that runs parallel to the coast. Fro...

Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED

Time: 5-7 HOURS

Distance: 9 MILES

Elevation Gain: 2000 FEET

Foot Traffic: LOW

Challenges: Somewhat Overgrown, Narrow Ridges, Potentially Muddy

Sights: Windward Side, Waianae Range, Honolulu

What to Bring: Water (>2L), Snack, Sunscreen, Long Pants

A conveniently located hike near Honolulu, this ridge is a great option for those looking for a low traffic challenging hike, but still with epic views. The ridge can be travelled from two locations--...

Difficulty: BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE

Time: 1-2 HOURS

Distance: 2 MILES

Elevation Gain: ~600 Feet

Foot Traffic: LOW (HIGH on Manoa Trail)

Challenges: Muddy and slippery, Climbing up tree routes, Crowds

Sights: Lower and Upper Falls, Honolulu

What to Bring: Swimsuit

An alternate adventure from the touristy Manoa Falls Trail, this hike takes you to the secluded upper portion of Manoa Falls. Getting up there has it challenges, as you will have to scramble up some steep and muddy slope...

Difficulty: BEGINNER

Time: 3-5 HOURS

Distance: 8 MILES

Elevation Gain: 1500 Feet

Foot Traffic: MODERATE

Challenges: Muddy, Several possible routes to take, Buggy

Sights: Honolulu, Bamboo Forest, Ko'olau Range

What to Bring: Water (>1L) Snack, Bug Spray

A more traditional hike, this hike takes place along the Mauka Trail system up in Mount Tantalus. The Makiki Tantalus loop covers a large portion of this trail system, hitting many of the highlights. Along the way, you will see b...

Difficulty: ADVANCED

Time: 8+ HOURS

Distance: 12 MILES

Elevation Gain: 1800 FEET

Foot Traffic: LOW

Challenges: Overgrown, Muddy, Narrow Ridges with Steep Dropoffs, Shadeless

Sights: Stairway to Hell, Windward Side, Honolulu

What to Bring: Sunscreen, Long pants and sleeves, Water (>2L), Lunch

The lesser known of Oahu's staircases, the hike nicknamed "Stairway to Hell" is just like it sounds--- an old sketchy set of abandoned stairs that lead downhill to nowhere. Getting to these...

Difficulty: ADVANCED

Time: 5-6 HOURS

Distance: 5.5 MILES

Elevation Gain: 1900 FEET

Foot Traffic: LOW

Challenges: Narrow Ridges, Overgrown, Potentially Muddy, Rock Scrambling and Free Climbing 

What to Bring: Water, Snack/Lunch, Long Pants

Sights: Windward Side, Makaua Falls, Kahana Valley

A fun and challenging hike on the windward side of Oahu, Kahekili Ridge has a little bit of everything. Challenging climbs and scrambles, narrow ridges, spectacular views, and even the chance...

Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE

Time: 1.5-3 HOURS

Distance: 1 MILE

Elevation Gain: 700 FEET

Challenges: Muddy, Slippery Rocks, Waterfall Climb, Stream Crossings

Sights: Makaua Falls

What to Bring: Shoes to get muddy, Towel

Visible only after heavy rains, Makaua Falls is a tall waterfall located on the eastern shore of Oahu, near the town Kaaawa. It's a short trek into the valley, but it has plenty of fun and challenging obstacles. You will hop rocks, slip through mud, and even climb...