Best Hiking Trails Near Honolulu
Whether you are an avid hiker or not, you will probably include at least one hiking trail on your list of things to do on Oahu, and that trail is known as Diamond Head. Diamond Head Crater is the world-famous landmark that can be seen from just about anywhere on Waikiki Beach. But the view of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach, as beautiful as it is, is nothing compared to the view of Waikiki that you will see from Diamond Head’s 761 foot summit. That is why Diamond Head attracts up to 1,500 hikers per day. If you are staying in Waikiki, simply take Kalakaua Avenue to Monsarrat, which changes to Diamond Head Road in about a mile. Hike early in order to avoid the midday sun. Bring water. Wear comfortable shoes – seriously. No flip flops. Plan on spending approximately an hour and a half: forty minutes going up, twenty to take in the view, and thirty going back down. As challenging as it may appear, the hike is not all that difficult, and the payoff is definitely worth the effort.
For those of you looking to say you hiked without doing much hiking, there is the lush Monoa Falls Trail. The Monoa Falls Trail is only a mile each way and it is one of the most beautiful places on the island of Oahu. Bring a camera so you can capture the surrounding forest and 160 foot high waterfall that is this trail’s true payoff. The trail has a mild slope that anyone can manage, so don’t fret if you feel you are out of shape. Do, however, wear mosquito repellent (I recommend Off!). And leave those $200 Nike sneakers back at the hotel, because the trail can be a bit muddy if it has recently rained. From H-1, take Exit 24B and head toward the mountains. University Avenue will become Oahu Avenue. Bear right onto Manoa Road and take it to the end.
Another trail that is short and equally as sweet is Kapena Falls. A leisurely ten minute stroll will lead you to a twenty foot high waterfall that is certainly a sight to see. Again, wear your mosquito repellent and your back-up pair of shoes. Take the Pali Highway heading north to the Wyllie exit. Turn left onto Nuuanu Avenue. Drive into the cemetery (yes, the cemetery) and go to the end. There you will find the ten minute trail to Kapena Falls. And you might just have the falls all to yourself.
Check out my other articles on the island of Oahu and its neighbor isles, including articles on activities, hotels and resorts, dining and nightlife. Aloha!
