When visiting Hawai’i, planning your time efficiently is crucial. The last thing you want to do is fill your precious time with hikes that aren’t worth doing. And if you’re limited on time, you also don’t want to fill a whole day with one hike. These 5 moderate Hawai’i hikes are perfect for those who want a great workout and a great view and can still be done in time for the perfect ocean-side lunch.
If you are in fact looking to spend a whole day hiking or up for a more exhilarating experience, check out my blog post HAWAI’I HIKES: 6 DIFFICULT HIKES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS. Or maybe you have children and these moderate Hawai’i hikes are a little too strenuous for you, check out my blog post EASY HAWAI’I HIKES ON OAHU THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.
KA’ENA POINT TRAIL
Ka’ena Point Trail starts at the westernmost point on the island that you can go. There is only one highway to get there, Farrington Hwy. You will follow this highway all along the western coast of Oahu, passing through small towns, home to mostly locals. Once you reach the end of Farrington, you can park anywhere along Keawaula Beach. I would avoid parking at the very end, in the roundabout, due to smash and grabs.
Ka’ena Point Trail has multiple options of completion. Round trip, from the end of the Farrington on the West coast to the start of Farrington on the North shore is 10 miles with an elevation gain of 675 ft. However, you can turn around at any point. We decided to just walk to very tip of the island which was about 6.5 miles long with an elevation gain of 515 ft. There is no shade on this hike, so hiking as early as possible would be best! Dogs are also not allowed on this hike because a majority of it is an enclosed bird sanctuary to the Laysan Albatross.
If you’re a bird guy like me, then making it to the sanctuary is a must! Watching the Albatross in their element was the highlight of the hike for me. And this trail had some pretty epic views too!
PU’U O HULU TRAIL (PINK PILLBOX)
One of the most popular moderate Hawai’i hikes we heard of was the Pu’u O Hulu Trail aka Pink Pillbox Trail. This out and back trail is only 1.3 miles long with an elevation gain of 613 feet. It is a steep climb to the top considering how short of a hike it is. But the views are worth it! The Pink Pillbox hike would be a great hike for those who are looking for something quick and efficient, but one that doesn’t lack epic views!
You’ll begin this hike by parking on Kaukama Rd. From there following the trail is quite easy. It is also a highly trafficked trail, so getting lost shouldn’t be an issue. Once you reach the top you’ll encounter multiple pillboxes, including the famous Pink Pillbox. You’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the coastline, Waianae and Nanakuli, and on a clear day, Mount Ka’ala (the tallest mountain on Oahu).
The ridge does get quite narrow and rocky, so if you are hiking with littles (which is doable) just keep an eye on them. I would recommend hiking early in the morning or later in the evening (before sunset). The west side of the island is much drier and hotter, and this trail offers little to no shade. Even though this trail is a heavily trafficked trail, it is a great one and I would highly recommend adding it your list of moderate Hawai’i hikes!
WAIMANO FALLS TRAIL
You can’t go to Hawaii and not hike to a waterfall. It is a must do. There are waterfalls everywhere, but not all waterfall hikes are swimmable. Waimano Falls Trail is one of those great moderate Hawai’i hikes that doesn’t take long to complete, gives you a great workout, and allows you to play in the refreshingly cold water!
This out and back trail is only 2.9 miles long with an elevation gain of 800 ft. It’s technically classified as a hard hike, due to the fact that the majority of the elevation gain happens all within half a mile. However, the trail is short and aside from one steep section, the rest is a breeze.
Before starting the trail, you’ll have to find parking along Komo Mai Dr. It can be challenging because this is a residential area, and cars are already lining the streets. Uber would be a great option as it would drop you off right at the trailhead.
Once you begin the hike, the first mile is pretty laid back. The trail is well marked, plenty wide, and has great viewpoints along the way. You’ll eventually come to a fork in the trail and will want to continue RIGHT to begin your descent to the swimming hole. Here is where the hike starts to get a little more difficult. You’ll encounter that steep descent, some rope sections, and muddy/slippery rocks and roots. But before you know it, you’ve reached Waimano Falls!
THE SWIMMING HOLE
Waimano Falls isn’t a ginormous waterfall by any means, but it’s a beautiful waterfall to spend an hour or so playing in. There are two sections, the top section and the bottom section. The top section where the main waterfall flows into has a large, but shallow swimming hole. You are able to walk right up to the base of the waterfall and get about waist deep. I would recommend bringing sandals/water shoes because it is very rocky.
The bottom section has a much deeper, but smaller swimming hole. And there is a rope swing! We spent about two hours at the falls jumping from the rope swing, swimming, and watching others work up the nerve to jump. It was quite entertaining! The jump is small, but so is the swimming hole. We had a lot of fun here and I would highly suggest taking the plunge before beginning your trek back.
LANIKAI PILLBOX
When researching what moderate Hawai’i hikes were best on the island, the hike that was mentioned the most was Lanikai Pillbox. Everyone raved about how this was the perfect hike to watch the sunrise and get great 360 degrees views of Oahu. It took us 9 months to finally get around to completing this trail, but the reason for that was because most of the “most popular” hikes are usually WAY over-crowded, parking is a nightmare, you may have to make reservations, or even pay a small fee to complete the hike. We tend to stay away from these sorts of hikes. Crowds and parking usually make the hike not worth it. HOWEVER, please don’t let the negatives stop you from completing this hike, because Lanikai Pillbox is totally worth it, and I can’t believe it took us 9 months to understand that!
PARKING
Parking for Lanikai Pillbox is a little difficult. Recently, street parking is no longer allowed and the best option would be to park in the Kailua Beach Boat Ramp Parking Lot. Or down the street even further at Kailua Beach Park. From Kailua to the trailhead is about a half a mile walk. So, if you are wanting to make it to the top to enjoy the sunrise be sure to give yourself extra time for parking and walking.
THE CLIMB
Once arriving at the trailhead, the ascent begins immediately. Lanikai Pillbox is an out and back hike with a short distance of 0.7 miles. Because there are two pillboxes on the trail you could extend your hike to the second, which would make your hike 1.6 miles total and with an elevation gain of 623 ft. The hike itself will take less than an hour, but the climb is decently steep and can be challenging for kids or for those who don’t hike often.
360 VIEWS
I would highly suggest making the climb before sunrise. Just be sure to pack a headlamp or flashlight! If you get there early, you may be lucky enough to claim a seat on one of the two pillboxes. But if not, there are plenty of areas along the trail that are just as perfect to watch a new day begin. The views are unreal! Not only of the sunrise, but of the Ko’olau Mountain Range, the Pacific Ocean, and the surrounding towns. Watching the early morning rowers, whales off in the distance, the soft glow of the sunrise, and the mountains turn green is the perfect way to start your morning!
Moderate Hawai’i hikes can be over-crowded, but I promise Lanikai was worth it!
KOKO CRATER TRAMWAY
Another “most popular” hike in O’ahu is the Koko Crater Tramway to Koko Head Lookout. This hike is 1.6 miles long with an elevation gain of 912 ft. Hiking to the lookout consists of over 1,000 railroad tie steps that run straight up the side of the crater, which was previously used by the military in World War 2 for transporting supplies to the lookout. Now, people from all over the world come to Oahu to make the trek up this crater and I would suggest you give it a go as well!
Most of the time we like hiking for the adventure, the views, the conversations, the nature, but sometimes we like hiking purely for the workout itself. And this was one of those times. We arrived at the Koko Head parking lot and were in awe at the stairs that stretched straight up the side of the crater. We started early because there is no shade, and the sun would soon be beating down on us. Within 30 minutes we made it to the top. The hike doesn’t take long, but that doesn’t mean it was easy! Our legs were shaky, our backs were sweaty, but we accomplished Koko Crater, and the views were worth it!
The hardest part may have been the descent. With your legs already tired, the steep grade and gravity forcing you down, it took a lot of control to not go tumbling down the mountain. Accidents and evacuations happen all the time on this hike, so please be careful, know your limitations, and trust your instincts.
HONORABLE MENTION: MOKOLI’I ISLAND TRAIL
Last but not least, Mokoli’i Island Trail is a must do moderate Hawai’i hike! The hike itself is an out and back that is only 0.2 miles, and 206 ft of elevation gain. Incredibly easy right? Wrong. What makes this hike moderate, but not hard is getting there. This trail is located on Mokoli’i Island aka Chinaman’s Hat.
To get there, first park at Kualoa Regional Park at Kualoa Point. Grab your kayak, paddleboard, canoe, what have you, and head towards to the ocean. I would advise going on calmer days for safety purposes. Once you’ve reached the island, about a 15-minute paddle, find a good place to tie up your vessel. Then begin your 206 ft ascent to the top of the island. In all honesty, it was quite harder than I imagined.
Our feet were wet, we were wearing sandals, the gravel and dirt was loose, there were no ropes, we had to rock climb some sections and navigate this “trail” to the top. It didn’t take too long, but it was a little more challenging than the stats make it out to be. However, we would do it again in a heartbeat for views like this! 360-degree views, stunning mountains, and perfectly blue water made Mokoli’i Island Trail one of our favorites yet!
Oahu Hawai’i has some of the most beautiful terrain to hike in with the most epic views! These moderate Hawai’i hikes gave us memories that will last forever and views that will play on repeat in our minds until the end of time. I highly recommend completing as many as you can and experiencing the awe that is Hawai’i.
If you have questions regarding these Hawai’i hikes, or travel physical therapy related questions, please feel free to contact me anytime! Enjoy hiking!