5 Best Trails Near Waikīkī on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
While there are countless beautiful hiking trails across Oʻahu, some of the best and most accessible day hikes span the ridges and valleys across the southeastern Koʻolau Mountains, which is exactly where Waikīkī is located!
That said, I wanted to create this list with the intention of providing the best all-around trails within a short drive of Waikīkī, as many who visit Oʻahu plan a trip without a rental car.
If this is you, I highly recommend considering some of the nearby trails I’ve listed below, as they are all amazing adventures in their own way and can be reached using either the bus or an Uber/ Lyft.
5 Best Trails Near Waikīkī
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but rather, it’s written based on how far away each trail is from Waikīkī, with Waʻahila Ridge being the closest.
That being said, I don’t consider most of these options to be the best kid-friendly trails on the island, which is why, if that's something you need to consider, I encourage you to read my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Best Kid-Friendly Trails on Oʻahu
1. Waʻahila Ridge Trail (Mt. Olympus)
Distance: 5.6 miles / 9.0 km
When you look up at the mountains from Waikīkī, Mānoa Valley, home to the popular Mānoa Falls, is one of the first places that you’ll see.
However, what many visitors don’t know is that the ridge paralleling the right side of the valley is actually one of the best places to hike near Waikīkī.
This ridge is Waʻahila Ridge, and it makes for a great day hike, climbing up to one of the more popular peaks in the southern Koʻolau Mountains, called Mt. Olympus.
From the trail, you’ll get great views of Mānoa Valley as well as Waikīkī. But when you get to some of the upper elevations of the trail, you’ll start to see some amazing views of the beautiful Kaʻau Crater to the east, which is one of the main reasons I would highly consider hiking the Waʻahila Ridge Trail if you’re looking for a fun and beautiful trail near Waikīkī.
Read My Separate Post: Waʻahila Ridge Trail
2. Mauʻumae Ridge Trail (Puʻu Lanipō)
Distance to Puʻu Kainawaʻanui (Roundtrip): 6.6 miles / 10.6 km
Distance to Puʻu Lanipō (Roundtrip): 7.1 miles / 11.4 km
Like Waʻahila Ridge mentioned above, Mauʻumae Ridge to Puʻu Lanipō is similar in that they both begin high up in a residential neighborhood and climb even higher up to the beautiful Koʻolau Summit.
That being said, Waʻahila and Mauʻumae Ridge are two of the more challenging trails on this list, with Mauʻumae Ridge being slightly more difficult, in my opinion.
Nevertheless, while Mauʻumae Ridge to Puʻu Lanipō may be one of the more challenging Oʻahu trails near Waikīkī, the hike is incredibly scenic, and the expansive views open up within only a few minutes of the trailhead and continue all the way to the summit, which, in my opinion, is even more scenic than Waʻahila Ridge mentioned above!
Read My Separate Post: Mauʻumae Ridge Trail
3. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.7 miles / 7.6 km
Without a doubt, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is the easiest hike on this list!
I say this because, while some of the hikes listed here have similar or shorter distances, most are much higher in intensity, including the Koko Crater Stairs mentioned below, even though it’s by far the shortest trail here.
Overall, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is one of the best hikes near Waikīkī if you're interested in a similar ridge as both Waʻahila and Mauʻumae but not the same difficulty. I personally recommend beginning the trail in the mid to late afternoon, but that’s only because I prefer the beautiful golden light that you can see from the trail, like this photo here.
Read My Separate Post: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
My Print - Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
4. Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.2 miles / 6.8 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,650 ft. / 503 m
The Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail in east Honolulu is a stunning, nearly all-uphill adventure that climbs to a panoramic overlook above Waimānalo, where those who undertake the steep climb get to enjoy beautiful views over Makapuʻu Point and the dramatic southern Koʻolau Mountains, which is particularly beautiful at sunrise first thing in the morning!
That said, Kuliʻouʻou Ridge is easily one of my favorite sunrise hikes on Oʻahu, but that doesn’t go without saying that it is a longer adventure in terms of being a sunrise hike.
Therefore, if it’s your first time, I highly recommend budgeting more time than you think you need, as the 2.1-mile (3.4 km) hike to the summit can certainly be a challenge, especially if you’re cutting it close on time while trying to catch first light.
Read My Separate Post: Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail
5. Koko Craters Stairs
Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
Elevation Gain: ~930 ft. / 283 m
The Koko Head Stairs is a beautiful but steep east Oʻahu hike in Hawaiʻi Kai that climbs the steps of a historic WWII-era tramway built in the early 1940s by the U.S. Army, ultimately ending at the summit of an ancient volcanic crater called Puʻu Mai!
Following its historic past, the Koko Crater Stairs have since become a favorite among both locals and visitors from around the world, with many Oʻahu residents hiking the railway as a quick morning or evening workout, often beginning just before sunrise or sunset.
That said, the Koko Head hike may not be for everyone, as the steep tramway climbs a little under 1,000 ft. (305 m) in only 0.45 miles (0.7 km). However, if you think you’re up for the challenge, the views from the summit cannot be beat—especially when hiked during golden hour!
Read My Separate Post: Koko Head Stairs
