Hiking the Kaʻena Point Trail & Pillbox on Oʻahu’s North Shore
Distance to Predator-Proof Fence: 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
The Kaʻena Point Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu is one of the best day hikes on the island for a number of different reasons.
The first is that the Kaʻena Point Trail from either direction is a mostly flat hike, making Kaʻena Point a great, easy, kid-friendly adventure. Second, the Kaʻena Point Trail is one of the best coastal hikes on Oʻahu to see a variety of native plants and animals, including the Hawaiian Monk Seal. Finally, the hike to Kaʻena Point can be combined with the short trail up to the pillbox at the very end, which I talk about in more detail later in this post.
All said, the distance above is only the distance to the start of the predator-proof fence and does not include any exploring around Kaʻena Point or the additional 0.6 miles (1.0 km), should you choose to hike up to the Kaʻena Point Pillbox.
Kaʻena Point Trail - North Shore vs. West Side
Kaʻena Point can either be hiked from North Shore or West Side of Oʻahu, with both distances being roughly the same.
That being said, I suggest against letting the 0.3-mile (0.5 km) difference in distance to be deciding factor regarding which trail you choose to hike, as it should really come down to which option sounds more desirable below.
West Side
By and large, the Kaʻena Point Trail from the West Side of Oʻahu has better views because of the beautiful and dramatic ridges along the Waiʻanae Coast.
Furthermore, I personally like the trail better on the West Side because the hike follows a true trail for the entire hike, as opposed to the North Shore that parallels the 4WD Kaʻena Point Access Road, making the area busier overall.
Finally, the West Kaʻena Point Trail will almost always be less crowded compared to the North Shore, being that relatively few choose to make the drive out past Mākua Beach. To this point, the trail along with Mākua and Yokohama Beach, can make the West Side of Kaʻena Pointa great place to spend most of a day along this secluded side of the island!
Read My Separate Post: Kaʻena Point Trail (West Side)
North Shore
Considering everything mentioned above, the North Shore side of Kaʻena Point still has a ton to offer.
For one, the North Kaʻena Point Trail is by far the better of the two sides to see a variety of native Hawaiian plants while you hike. By this, I mean that from the trailhead to the end of Kaʻena Point, you can find a variety of native species along the entire trail, but on the West Side, native plants are few and far between.
Furthermore, I generally consider the North Shore to be a safer place to park. While that doesn’t mean that the West Side is for some reason unsafe, it just means that break-ins do happen on Oʻahu, which generally occurs to people who are careless about leaving bags and valuables visible in their vehicle.
Finally, the North Kaʻena Point Trail generally has a much higher chance at coming across a Hawaiian Monk Seal because there just aren’t as many suitable places for Monk Seals to beach themselves on the West Side.
All said, I recommend an early morning or late evening/ sunset hike for either trail because of the heat and lack of shade on both sides of the island. For this reason, I highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt, like the ones below, for the most protection.
North Kaʻena Point Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Kaʻena Point Trail on the North Shore is located in either one of two parking areas at the very of Farrington Highway. This is also where the road ends and the 4WD access road begins.
Out of caution, consider the Kaʻena Point Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Kaʻena Point Trailhead (North Shore)
Hiking the Kaʻena Point Trail
The North Shore trail to Kaʻena Point is, for the most part, a very straightforward adventure.
There’s either the option to hike the 4WD Kaʻena Point Access Road, or for the Coastal Trail, which is what I recommend because the Coastal Trail is generally more beautiful.
For the entire 2.4 miles (3.9 km) along the hike, there should be sparsely spaced directional signs, like the one in the photo below.
That being said, as long as you are hiking in the right direction along the shoreline, all of the winding trails on the North Shore of Kaʻena Point generally lead to the same place at the very end.
Hawaiian Monk Seals
There is a real possibility that you will come across one of Hawaiʻi’s endemic and endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals along the trail, or on the beach.
Therefore, please be aware of the following guidelines before visiting:
If you see one, please use common sense and do not approach! Many visitors have been hunted down through social media videos and prosecuted for getting too close, touching, or harassing a Monk Seal in any way.
Know that Monk Seals come to the shoreline to rest and escape predation, meaning if someone were to scare one back into the water, the seal is again exposed to the risks of predation from sharks.
Finally, please stop and enjoy them, but do so from a distance. NOAA and Hawaiʻi’s Department of Land and Natural Resources recommend at least 50 ft. (15.2 m).
Kaʻena Predator-Proof Fence
After 2.4 miles (3.9 km), the Kaʻena Point Trail passes through the predator-proof fence, where you will have the option to either continue through the gate to explore Kaʻena Point, or go left along the outside of the fence to begin the hike up to the Kaʻena Point Pillbox.
Personally, I recommend both, but I almost always hike out to the point first.
Kaʻena Point
On the far side of the predator-proof fence, the Kaʻena Point Trail ends at the westernmost point of Oʻahu, known obviously as Kaʻena Point.
Here, many native plant and animal species call Kaʻena Point home, which is why I think it’s important to make mention of the immense amount of conservation work that has been undertaken to make Kaʻena Point possible.
By this, I mean that Oʻahu is littered with non-native/ invasive predators, such as the rat and mongoose, that prey on our native shorebirds, along with other plants and snails across the island. This is why it’s imperative to ensure that the predator-proof fence door closes tightly.
Furthermore, there are 11 federally listed endangered species that are found at Kaʻena Point, and I personally ask that you do your part to minimize your impact by walking only on the designated trails.
Kaʻena Point Pillbox Trail
To get to the Kaʻena Point Pillbox, hike along the outside of the fence until you find one of two trails heading up the ridge.
Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST)
The first photo is the first trail that you would come across, and the next photo is the second trail, located just past the first.
That being said, it doesn’t matter what trail you end up taking, as both will meet up shortly ahead.
Note that the Kaʻena Point Pillbox Trailhead is also one of two terminuses for the much longer and more extensive Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST), but that is truly a hike for another day.
Read My Separate Post: Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST)
At first, the Kaʻena Point Pillbox Trail can be a little annoying through the invasive grasses and Koa Haole, but eventually, the trail pops out at this the first platform, which is where I believe the hike to the top gets more enjoyable compared to the beginning.
Kaʻena Point Pillbox
In total, the short 0.6-mile (1.0 km) trail up to the Kaʻena Point Pillbox gains about 520 ft. (158 m) from the predator-proof fence to the top.
This where I recommend catching sunset if you’re visiting on a clear night and have headlamps for the hike back to the trailhead.
All said, the WST continues further up the ridge, but as previously mentioned, it’s truly a hike for another day, being that any adventure on the Waiʻanae Summit is typically a long and very involved adventure.
Read My Separate Post: Waiʻanae Summit Trail (WST)
Native Plants on the Kaʻena Point Trail
The North Shore side of Kaʻena Point is the best side for seeing native Hawaiian plants along the entire trail, not just beyond the predator-proof fence.
Some of these include Naio, ʻŌhai, Koali ʻawa, ʻIlima, Maʻo, and Kīpūkai, to truly only name a few.
If you would like to know more about these and tons of 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
