Hiking the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 3.2 miles / 5.1 km
The Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail is a local favorite on Oʻahu, and in my opinion, the Hanauma Bay Rim and Rock Bridge can make for a great hike at any time of the day!
By this, I mean that sunrise is often the more popular choice because of the beautiful east-facing views toward Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi. However, sunset from the rim/ summit is also a favorite, and many who live in the area prefer to hike at that time over sunrise, as it offers a great alternative after-work adventure to the adjacent and often busier Koko Crater Stairs.
That being said, this all goes without saying that there is very little shade on the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail, which is why I advise avoiding the heat of the day or hiking in one of my favorite hooded sun shirts, like the ones shown below.
Hanauma Bay Rim Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge is at the beginning of Nāwiliwili Street just after turning off of Kalanianaʻole Highway.
That being said, please be quiet and respectful in this residential neighborhood, as too many trails in Hawaiʻi draw too much negative attention because people just don’t understand this.
Google Maps Directions: Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Hiking the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge
After parking, walk toward Kalanianaʻole Highway and up the hill toward Hanauma Bay to find the trailhead.
Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trailhead
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trailhead will be found on the far side of this drive way and the small canal.
Hanauma Bay Rim Junction
After climbing a short hill, the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail meets the road that leads up the Hanauma Bay Rim.
Here, go right to continue up Hanauma Rim to the Rock Bridge junction, located further ahead.
Hanauma Bay Rim-Rock Bridge Junction
When the road starts to level off toward the top, start looking for either one of two left-hand turns off of the road.
Either of these paths leads in the right direction to continue on along the south side of Hanauma Bay Rim.
Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail
After either of these turns, take the most obvious trail down the steep hill along the rim of Hanauma Bay, but be careful, as there are many loose rocks that make it easy to slip!
ʻIhiʻihelauākea Crater
At the bottom of the steep downhill alongside ʻIhiʻihelauākea Crater, there’s just a few smaller hills until the final descent that leads down to the rock bridge.
This is exactly what I mean about the loose rocks!
I stepped on some that acted like golf balls under my feet, and that’s how I got this cut. However, this could have happened on any steep part of the trail, so just be careful.
Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge
The Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge is located just to the right of these tide pools at the bottom of this final hill.
That being said, under no circumstances—and I mean ocean conditions—should you walk out on the rock bridge! Horror stories have happened here before, and that’s why the city has this float here.
With that in mind, rescue services would be extremely slow to get over here, and on any average day with the waves crashing along the coast, I don’t see how it would be possible to climb back up the cliffs without seriously injuring yourself. My best guess would be that one would have to swim around to Hanauma Bay Beach for safety, which is all to say that getting a photo on the rock bridge is not worth it!
Native Plants on the Rock Bridge Trail
There are a number of native coastal plants along the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail, which includes ʻIlima, Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka, ʻUhaloa, Alaheʻe, Alena, and the Hoary Abutilon, to name just a few.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
