Hawaii Vacations

Activities

O`ahu and Honolulu offer exciting adventure activities, from casual to challenging and limited only by your own interests. The following are some of the best adventures on O`ahu.

On Foot

Honolulu and the island of O`ahu have many fine hiking trails along isolated beaches, through valleys and along mountain rain forest ridges. The trails provide panoramas of city, coastline and mountains. They are maintained by the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife under the Na Ala Hele Trail and Access Program. 

Trail Safety Rules

-    Stay on marked trails; hike with a companion.

-     Tell someone your plans.

-     Abide by posted warnings.

-     Use common sense.

-     Wear appropriate shoes and clothing.

-     Take plenty of water and food.

-     Do not drink stream water due to harmful bacteria. 

Waikiki Area

Diamond Head State Park Hiking Trail is a relatively easy .7-mile trail beginning inside Mount Leahi (Diamond Head) and leading to its upper ridge summit. It's a 1½-hour round-trip. Allow time at the top to enjoy the views. There are two long staircases and a 300-foot tunnel leading to 360° panoramic views of O`ahu's interior mountains, suburban areas, Waikiki Beach, downtown Honolulu and coastal areas. There are old World War II bunkers and gun emplacements at the summit. Access the trail by entering Diamond Head Crater from Monsarrat Avenue. First part of the trail is steep, with several switchbacks and then a gradual rise to the steps. Good hiking shoes recommended. 

Manoa Cliffs Trail is one of several tropical jungle trails in the area and is 3.4 miles long. This moderate trail follows the contours of the Manoa Valley and goes around Tantalus Crater to Pauoa Valley. The trailhead is off Round Top Drive in Manoa Valley above the University of Hawai`i. Take McCully Street to Wilder Avenue and turn left, then take a right onto Makiki Street. Proceed on Makiki until it becomes Round Top Drive. The area gets frequent rain showers and the trail is often muddy and slippery.

Manoa Falls Trail lies just behind Waikiki in the Manoa Valley above the University of Hawai`i. This moderate .8-mile trail passes through the lush tropical vegetation of Manoa Valley and crosses the stream, finally leading to the base of small but picturesque Manoa Falls. Access the trail by taking Manoa Road all the way to the entrance of Lyon Arboretum. At the sharp left bend in the road, proceed straight on the dirt road and park. 

Kanealole Trail is .7 mile long. From Nehoa and Makiki Streets proceed toward the mountains and turn left on Makiki Heights Drive. Go .5 mile to sharp left bend in road. There, proceed through iron gate past Makiki Forest Recreation Area sign and park on right. Trail begins behind parking lot and proceeds up Makiki Valley. The trail intersects Makiki Valley Trail; go left to Nahuina Trail/Tantalus Drive or take two rights back to parking lot.

Makiki Valley Trail is 1.1 miles long and is accessed about halfway up Tantalus Drive. Look for trailhead sign on right. Park in small corner lot. Trail goes into Makiki Valley for 1.1 miles to Round Top Drive, intersecting several other trails along the way.

Moleka Trail is .7 mile and is accessed at 4005 Round Top Drive. Park in small lot on left. On upper side of road is Manoa Cliffs trailhead. This route follows contours of upper east edge of Makiki Valley, traversing a bamboo grove with panoramic views of Honolulu.

Nu`uanu Trail is 1½ miles long and is accessed on Tantalus Drive, past the Nahuina trailhead sign. Look for Manoa Cliff trailhead sign on left. Proceed on foot to just below first switchback where a connector trail meets Pauoa Flats Trail. Nu`uanu Trail intersection is on left, just after the Pauoa Flats Trail.

Kolowalu Trail is one mile long and is accessed on East Manoa Road above the University of Hawai`i in Manoa Valley. Proceed on East Manoa Road to Woodlawn Drive. Turn left and go .75 mile to sharp right. Proceed to Alani Lane to limited parking area. Walk past cable gate to Forestry and Wildlife picnic shelter. Trail climbs a very steep finger ridge to Wa`ahila Ridge.

Central O`ahu

Historic Downtown Honolulu is a leisurely one-mile stroll that will take about an hour. This walk covers Honolulu's most important historic buildings and sites near the downtown commercial center. The Mission Houses Museum at King and Kawaiahao Streets is a good place to start. The museum provides a glimpse of early missionary life in Hawai`i from the 1820s on. The nearby Missionary's Cemetery holds the remains of many of the early missionaries and their families. The Kawaiahao Church here, built in 1842, was one of the first permanent churches and was constructed of coral stone blocks. Visitors can walk through this historic church. In front of the church is King Lunalilo's Tomb. He died in 1874 after a short one-year reign as monarch. Across King Street is Honolulu Hale, or city hall. The building has a beautiful open courtyard and stairways designed after a 13th-century Italian palace. 

Back along King Street is the attractive Ali`iolani Hale, or Judiciary Building, with a handsome statue of King Kamehameha the Great in front. The building was built as a home for King Kamehameha V, but he didn't like it and turned it into an administrative office building instead. The statue of Kamehameha the Great is a duplicate of the one at North Kohala on the Big Island and one in Statuary Hall in the national capitol at Washington, DC. 

Directly across King Street is Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on US soil. The palace is open for tours daily. It was built by King Kalakaua in 1879 and was the home of Hawaiian monarchs until Queen Lili`uokalani was deposed in 1893. Next to the palace is Iolani Barracks, which housed the royal house guards. The Coronation Pavilion/Bandstand is on the front lawn of the palace. Behind the palace is the modernistic State Capitol Building of Hawai`i, with reflecting pools and stylish decor. 

On the Beretania Street side of the Capitol is a statue of Father Damien, the Belgian priest who ministered to the abandoned lepers at Kalaupapa on Moloka`i in the 1870s-80s. Across Beretania Street from the Capitol is Washington Place, a beautiful old estate that is now the official home of the Governor of Hawai`i. It was built in 1846 by John Dominis, a Boston merchant. His son later married High Chiefess Lydia Kamakaleha Kapalakea, who became Queen Lili`uokalani in 1891 and was deposed when the monarchy was overthrown in 1893. She later lived at Washington Place until her death in 1917. 

Manana Trail is six miles long. Go inland toward the mountains on Waimano Home Road in Pearl City and turn left onto Komo Mai Drive to Pacific Palisades. Go to the end of Komo Mai Drive. Proceed on foot through the pedestrian passageway to water tank at end of road. The trail starts straight ahead on ridge, winding up to the Ko`olau Mountain Range summit. This is a very difficult trail only recommended for the toughest, seasoned hikers. 

Waimano Trail is 7.2 miles long. From the junction of Waimano Home Road and Kamehameha Highway 99 in Pearl City, go inland two miles to Waimano Home grounds. Two trail routes are on the left of the chain link fence. The Lower Valley Route follows an old jeep road to the valley floor and along a stream. About .5 mile from the end of old road, a side trail climbs the valley. The Upper Valley Route goes along the main road outside a chain link fence for .5 mile. The trail turns left and follows a ditch and tunnels to the east branch of Waimano Valley. It climbs over a ridge along the stream to an old abandoned dam. The trail continues to the right, making several switchbacks to the summit. The trail passes through the Ewa Forest Reserve.

Windward O`ahu

Nu`uanu Pali State Wayside is about six miles above downtown Honolulu on the Pali Highway 61, which crosses the Ko`olau Mountains to Kailua on the windward coast. There is ample parking at the site. It's just a short walk to the incredible vista of the 1,200-foot pali lookout, which provides an expansive view of the windward coast and mountains, including the Waimanalo, Kailua and Kane`ohe areas. Interpretive signs relate the story of the invasion of Kamehameha the Great from the Big Island about 1795.

Kamehameha's invading forces battled the defending O`ahu warriors, chasing them up into the Nu`uanu Valley and forcing some 400 warriors over the pali to their deaths. This victory consolidated Kamehameha's hold on O`ahu and eventually led to the unification of all the islands of Hawai`i under one kingdom. Caution: the winds are usually so strong here that you can literally lean into the wind without falling over.

Maunawili Trail is a moderate to difficult nine-mile trail that takes you into some fairly untouched areas of O`ahu's windward eastern side. Begin from the Pali Highway 61 side, hike about an hour in and then turn back. Otherwise you will end up in Waimanalo far down on the southeast coast of O`ahu. Take Pali Highway to Nu`uanu Pali State Wayside and follow Old Pali Road at right of lookout to the trailhead. There is also trail access just past (east) the Pali Tunnels at a scenic pullout on a sharp turn heading down to Kailua. The trail has some steep rises but is mostly level walking through rain forest and some open grassy areas. There are a few streams to cross. Beautiful views of east O`ahu coastal areas, mountains, ridges, sheer cliffs and valleys below. Good hiking shoes recommended. Take water and snacks.

Kailuwa`a Falls is in Sacred Falls State Park on the northeast coast, one mile north of Hau`ula town on the Kamehameha Highway 83. This is a moderate 4½-mile round-trip hike to the base of the 80-foot-high Sacred Falls and swimming hole. The trail begins on an old cane haul road and crosses the Kaluanui stream twice as it goes into the narrow valley. The canyon is rich in lore of the legendary demigod, Kamapua`a. Closed and dangerous! Do not attempt!  Danger! This trail was permanently closed by the State of Hawaii because 11 hikers were killed during a rockslide on May 9, 1999. This closure also applies to a nearby trail: Maakua Gulch This canyon is susceptible to flash floods and falling rocks and is closed permenantly. 

Hau`ula Trail System consists of three separate trails. From Kamehameha Highway 83 at Hau`ula, turn onto the northern access of Hau`ula Homestead Road across from Hau`ula Beach Park. Go .2 mile to a left bend in road. Trails begin straight ahead; park on gravel. Proceed along gravel road and turn left at the Forest Reserve cable. Hau`ula Loop is 2½ miles. The trail begins inland and where it branches off, take the right trail up the adjoining ridge. It crosses Waipilopilo Gulch to the next ridge overlooking Kaipapa`u Valley, returning across the gulch to rejoin the start of trail. Ma`akua Gulch is three miles. Follow the dirt road to the end. The trail continues inland and enters the canyon of Ma`akua Gulch, crosses a stream several times and leads to a waterfall and small pool. Ma`akua Ridge is 2½ miles. Follow the dirt road past Hau`ula Loop Trail intersection. The trail takes off left and crosses the gulch, switching back up Ma`akua Ridge and forming a loop. Go in either direction.

North Shore

Ka`ena Point Natural Area Reserve is the westernmost point of O`ahu Island and is the site of one of the last intact sand dune ecosystems in the Hawaiian Islands. 

A wild place of crashing surf on windswept beaches, this was known to ancient Hawaiians as "leina a ka`uhane," or "leaping place of souls," where it was believed the spirits of the dead were reunited with their ancestors. 

The moderate five-mile round-trip walk, two-four hours, is along rough rocky shoreline with mostly level walking. Ka`ena Point is usually hot and sunny so take water, snacks and dress appropriately. Native animals found at Ka`ena include the Hawaiian monk seal and Laysan albatross. Native plants like the beach naupaka, `ilima papa, hinahina and pohinahina and nehe grow here as well. Ka`ena Point is reached from Waianae to the south via the Farrington Highway 93. Drive to road's end at Makua-Ka`ena Point State Park parking area and follow the trail signs 2½ miles to the point. From the east, take Highway 930 past Waialua and Mokuleia and park where the paved road ends, a mile beyond Camp Erdman. From there, it is 2½ miles to the point.

Mokuleia Trail is 2½ miles long and is accessed by going on Kuaokala-Mokuleia Access Road to a paved road. Turn left to the forest reserve gate. Just before the gate, take a road right to the end, where Mokuleia Trail begins. The trail goes through Mokuleia Forest Reserve and Pahole Natural Area Reserve.

Kealia Trail is 2.3 miles long. From North Shore, take Farrington Highway 930 past Camp Mokuleia, turn left into third Dillingham Airfield entrance. Proceed straight .4 mile to parking area at tower. Walk the gravel road toward pali (cliffs) through a gate in fence. The trail climbs up a hill on left. From the bottom, the trail switchbacks above the airfield. At one-mile, the trail crests at pali and becomes a dirt road running upward along the ridge connecting to Kuaokala Access Road. From the Waianae Coast, reach the trail by proceeding along Kuaokala Access Road from Ka`ena Point Satellite Tracking Station. Kealia Trail is 2.8 miles from the parking area on left.

Hiking Resources

The outfitters in this section have half- and full-day guided hiking adventures. Rates begin at $50 for half-day and $65 for full-day excursions, lunch and hiking gear included.

The State of Hawai`i has an excellent O`ahu Recreation Map which details hiking trails all over the island. For a free map and complete information on hiking trails, contact: Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai`i, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 130, Honolulu, HI 96813,  808/587-0166.

For guided hikes and excursions on O`ahu, contact: The Sierra Club of Hawai`i, O`ahu Group, PO Box 2577, Honolulu, HI 96803,  808/538-6616 or 732-4489; e-mail david.frankel@sfsierra.sierraclub.org; www./urlinc.com/hisierra. This group conducts regular walks, hikes and excursions to areas around O`ahu. Visitors may be able to join their activities. Call, write or e-mail them for information.

Hawai`i Trail & Mountain Club,  808/488-1161.

Hike Hawai`i, 91-261 Hanapouli Circle W., Ewa Beach, HI 96706,  808/683-3967; e-mail hikehi@hgea.org. This outfitter specializes in small group hikes to some of the best places O`ahu has to offer. These informative, educational hikes help you experience nature in Hawai`i while learning about its unique flora, fauna, history and culture. Choose from a variety of hikes suitable for the novice hiker, with distances ranging from three to six miles. Mountain and Rain Forest hikes are half- or full-day, depending on weather conditions, distance to be traveled and guest preference. Hikes traverse steep mountain ridges with views along the windward coast to upland forest areas alive with native Hawaiian birds and plants and lush valley views. Coastal hikes are full-day five-mile round-trips to the unique Ka`ena Point area, where you will see unique coastal plants, explore tide pools, observe sea birds and even seasonal whales in offshore areas. Hikes include snack or lunch, water, raingear, day packs and hotel transportation. Trips are personally guided and narrated by Hawaiian naturalist and educator, Reece Olayvar.

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