Hiking the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail on Oʻahu
This post is not indexed on any search engine because of the sensitive issues surrounding this trail.
Distance: 10.0 miles / 16.1 km
You accept all potential legal consequences for hiking any part of a closed trail. That being said, the Moanalua Valley Trail is a legal state access for all hikers.
The Monalua Middle Ridge Trail is one of the most popular trails on Oʻahu, and being the case, the ridge is severely eroded. I ask that you don’t wear micro-spikes on this hike to prevent any further erosion.
While micro-spikes are a contested topic in Hawaiʻi for safety vs. what is best for the landscape, sorry but harshly put, you should not be hiking this or any trail in Hawaiʻi if you need micro-spikes. I’ve been hiking here for many years, and I can confidently say that any capable person can hike any trail safely without them. I find it that people wear them more out of comfort than necessity.
Moanalua Valley Trailhead Parking
There is a parking lot for the hike right before the trail, but parking in the Moanalua Valley city park is not for hikers. You need to utilize the street parking just prior.
Since this trailhead is so popular, I recommend arriving at 8 a.m. or earlier because you may have to park up to a half-mile away when it’s at its busiest.
Google Maps Directions: Moanalua Valley Trailhead
Hiking the Moanalua Middle Ridge
Since this is a bit longer for a day hike, don’t forget to pack a headlamp just in case.
The Moanalua Valley Trail is a relatively flat trail that winds back and forth over the Moanalua Stream for 2.9 miles (4.7 km) until the start of the ridge trail. That being said, all of the elevation gain is at the end at just under 2,000 ft. (610 m) in 2.3 miles (3.7 km).
The valley trail should be easy enough to navigate as it mostly a long service road.
Whenever there is an upper or lower path to take in valley, always take the upper. It’s less effort than going up and down.
When the trail opens up to this big clearing in the photo below, follow the trail to the right.
Once at the trail sign for the Kulanaʻahane Trail, follow this path across the stream, and take the immediate next right.
If you go straight, you will be on the Kulanaʻahane Trail, which will not lead to Moanalua Summit. To know if you’re going the right way, the trail should start climbing in elevation immediately after this stream crossing. If not, turn back. You made a wrong turn.
The Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail will constantly gain elevation for near its entire length to the summit.
Some of the section can be extremely eroded, and again, I ask that you do what you can to minimize your impact on the trail.
The steep section in the next few photos below is arguably the most eroded section on this trail. Please stay on the trail, and don’t make it any wider than it already is.
Moanalua Summit
The Moanalua Summit is the start of the Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST). Turn left to head north or right to head south on the summit trail.
As a note for your safety, the next major section on the KST heading south is the Kalihi Saddle, which is the hardest and most difficult section on the entire summit trail. It’s absolutely not meant for all hikers, and exercise extreme caution and bring your own ropes if you are heading in that direction.
Native Plants on Moanalua Middle
It’s honestly ashamed that this trail is so heavily trafficked because of what it has meant to such an amazing area filled with beautiful native Hawaiian plants.
There are a ton of different native species to look out for like various Naupaka species, all three Oʻahu endemic ʻŌhiʻa species, Kāmakahala, Lapalapa, and countless more I could name.
I simply ask that you stay on the trail and don’t do anything that would further degrade this already severely eroded ridge.
If you’d like to learn more about all these plants that I just listed and tons more, check out post on native Hawaiian plants.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
