Hiking Havens: Must-Visit Trails for Nature Enthusiasts in Hawaii

One of the best ways to explore Hawaii is by exploring one of the many hiking trails that crisscross the islands.

Hiking in Hawaii could mean trekking along remote seaside trails or escaping into a dense rainforest. Hawaii’s incredibly diverse mix of hiking trails offers visitors a chance to appreciate up-close the natural beauty of the islands.

Even though Hawaii only accounts for about 0.2% of the country’s landmass, more than 25% of the species endemic to the state can be found on the endangered species list. Hiking is an ideal way to experience unique ecosystems while seeing many rare and endangered flora and fauna you won’t see anywhere else.

From strolls across volcanic landscapes to walks along secluded coastal trails, Hawaii has hiking trails to suit all ages and abilities, including families with young children and those new to hiking.

O’ahu: Lanikai Pillbox Trail

The best sunrise hike

Moderately difficult, 1 mile round trip, estimated time to hike: 1 hour

If watching the sunrise over one of the most stunning beaches in the world is on your bucket list, be sure to check out Lanikai on the island’s windward side. The Kaiwa Ridge Trail, commonly referred to as the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, is a one-mile trek going mostly uphill until it reaches two concrete observation stations built in 1943 or “pillboxes”. From the summit, hikers can watch the sun as it rises above beautiful Lanikai Beach and the renowned Na Mokulua.

Parking is not allowed at the trailhead, so hikers use Kailua Beach Park with its showers and restrooms instead. From there, it is only a five-minute walk to the beginning of the trail. It is usually crowded, so if you want to watch the sunrise, getting there early is strongly recommended.

O’ahu: Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail

Best for parents with strollers and beginning hikers

Easy, 2 miles round trip, est time to hike: 1 hour

Ending at a historic O’ahu lighthouse, this hike is easily one of the most accessible and scenic hiking trails on the island. Perched atop a 600-foot-high seaside cliff on the easternmost tip of O’ahu, Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1909. The mile-long pathway leading to the distinctively red-roofed lighthouse overlooks Sea Life Park and was recently reconditioned. It is now completely paved, making it an outstanding option for strollers, pets, and non-hikers.

Even seasoned hikers will love this trail. It wanders along windswept bluffs with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the jagged Kaiwi Coast. If you look off in the distance, you will see offshore islets Kaohikaipu and Manana, as well as Maui, Molokai, and on clear days, Lanai. If you hike the trail anytime between November and May, you will probably see some of the several thousand North Pacific humpback whales that swim from Alaska to Hawaii every year to play, mate, and give birth in the warm, shallow waters.

For those of you who are somewhat more adventurous, you can hike down to the tide pools from the trailhead. Be sure to check wind and ocean conditions and be mindful of big waves breaking on the ledge.

O’ahu: Kuliouou Ridge Trail

Best hike for mountain views

Moderate to difficult, 5 miles round trip, est. 3 hours

This 5-mile round trip hike in East Honolulu ends at the peak of the Koolau Mountains and offers a 360-degree view of the south shore and windward Oʻahu.

The hiking trail begins with switchbacks through groves of Cook pines and ironwood trees, so this area of the trail is largely shaded. Once you are through, you will find two covered picnic tables. This is the perfect place to stop for a snack and the turn-around point for many hikers.

The next part is challenging, even for experienced hikers. The path curves through native koa and ohia trees, with a set of 300 man-made stairs, some steeper than others, marking the final stretch of the hike before the mountaintop. In return for your efforts, you get a 1700-foot-high panoramic view of Kailua, with sights of Hawaii Kai, Waimanalo, and the Mokulua Islands.

Like a lot of state-owned hiking trails, Kuliouou Ridge Trail is hidden away in the back of a residential neighborhood, which means there is no designated parking area. Visitors have to park on the street, which is tough on weekends.

O’ahu: Kaʻena Point Trail

Best hike for seeing wildlife

Easy to moderate, 3.5 miles, estimated time to hike: 3 hours

Located on Oʻahu’s westernmost end, the Kaʻena Point Natural Area Reserve is one of the few remaining untouched sand dune ecosystems on the islands. This reserve is home to seabirds, such as wedge-tailed shearwaters, the Laysan albatross, the great frigate bird, and red-footed boobies, as well as native coastal plants such as ilima and the dwarf naupaka.

The well-graded, 3.5-mile trail to Kaʻena Point winds its way through this wildlife refuge, clutching the craggy coastline with regular views of the Pacific Ocean. Migrating whales and dolphins can often be seen here, along with endangered green sea turtles and monk seals resting along the shoreline.

The pathway follows an old railroad bed to this scenic and secluded area that holds a great deal of cultural significance. Kaʻena Point is a sacred place the locals call leina-a-kauhane, which means the leaping place of souls. It is said to be where the spirits of the newly deceased could join their ancestors. It’s a very sacred spot.

Kaʻena Point is accessible by two different routes but the Waianae route is the most recommended. A parking lot and the trailhead are both situated at the end of a paved roadway near Yokohama Bay, one of the most stunning beaches on O’ahu.

O’ahu: Koko Crater Botanical Garden Loop

Best hike for nature lovers

Easy, 2 miles, estimated time to hike: 1 hour

Although it’s a community green space, East Honolulu’s 200-acre Koko Crater Botanical Garden provides explorers with two easy miles of unpaved trail through an assortment of endangered and rare dryland plants. Hikers can marvel at native loulu palms, golden barrel cacti, succulents, and baobabs, as well as a large plumeria tree grove at the very front of the garden. The best time to hike here is during the summer when almost everything is in bloom.

Hawai’i: ʻAkaka Falls Loop Trail

Most accessible waterfall

Easy, 0.5-mile round trip, estimated time to hike: 30 minutes

If you have your heart set on seeing a picturesque waterfall but are short on time, the easy ʻAkaka Falls Loop Trail might be just what you’re looking for. Positioned roughly 20 miles to the north of Hilo, ʻAkaka Falls State Park is a short jaunt on a paved pathway that leads visitors through dense tropical vegetation to two waterfalls, including the noteworthy 442-foot-tall ʻAkaka Falls.

In less than 15 minutes, you can traverse the protected walkway and reach the viewing area. The park does get a lot of rain, particularly in the spring and winter months so the walkway could be slick. As with other Hawaii state parks, non-residents must pay a $5 entrance fee.

Hawai’i: Kīlauea Iki Trek

Best hike for volcano lovers

Moderate to difficult, 4 miles round trip, estimated time to hike: 2 ½ hours

One of Hawaii’s most unique hiking trails, the 4-mile Kilauea Iki Trek is also one of the most in-demand in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Your journey begins in a forest of native hapu’u fern and ohia trees and concludes by passing through a desolate, otherworldly crater floor. In 1959, Kilauea crater was the site of a dazzling but short-lived volcanic eruption. It created some of the most spectacular lava fountains of our time, including some that reach as high as 1900 feet. Molten lava would fill the lake, then empty out into the vent, leaving behind a conspicuous black ledge that is still visible on the crater walls.

For most people, the most memorable part of the hike is the stroll across the crater over the cracking pahoehoe rock. It is a mile long, more than 3000 feet wide, and festooned with kupukupu fern and small ohia trees that have grown through cracks in the lava rock. The trailhead sits inside the park. A seven-day pass for your car will run you $30, and for those just wandering it, the price is $15.

O’ahu: Ehukai Pillbox Hike

Best views of Oahu’s North Shore

Moderate, 2 miles, estimated time to hike: 2 hours

Oʻahu’s illustrious North Shore is home to some of the world’s best surf breaks. This 2-mile trek ascends the Koʻolau Mountains and reaches its terminus outside of two WWII bunkers with expansive views of those very beaches. The Ehukai Pillbox Hike is an excellent stand-in for the more-congested Kaiwi Ridge Trail, which overlooks Kailua’s Lanikai Beach.

The trailhead sits in an elementary school parking lot, but street parking is also available. The first section of this trail is a constant climb over stumps, tree roots, and a man-made flight of stairs carved into the earth. It is usually muddy. When you reach the summit of the hill, take a lefthand turn. Pass through the thicket of ironwood trees and keep walking until you come to the bunkers. The second bunker has a better view.

From the apex, you will get an almost panoramic view of the North Shore coastline that encompasses Sunset Beach and the celebrated Banzai Pipeline surf break. You will find yourself surrounded by a very explorable 782 acres of Pupukea-Paumalu Forest Reserve.

Hawaii is a great place to visit and an amazing place to live. However, If you were injured due to the negligence of others while visiting Hawaiʻi, it is in your best interests to speak with an experienced Hawaii personal injury attorney right away. Contact the law firm of Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner at (808) 537-2525 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.