Oahu may be Hawaii’s most populous and built up island, but you don’t have to travel far from its tourist epicentre of Waikiki to find some spectacular hikes. In fact, some of the best hikes in Oahu are within 20 minutes of Waikiki Beach.
Here’s my guide to the best hiking trails on Oahu, covering easy to moderate hikes.
Quick Reference Guide to the Best Hikes on Oahu
I’ve put together this at-a-glance table of the hikes included in this guide, starting with the easiest to the hardest. Hikes such as the Koko Head Crater Trail and the Olomana Three Peaks are not included, as they are really a lot more difficult, and dangerous, in the case of the Three Peaks route!
| Hike | Difficulty | Distance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail | Easy | 2 miles | Families, stroller friendly, new to hiking, whale watching |
| Ka’ena Point | Easy-Moderate | 5 miles | Wildlife, remote coastline |
| Manoa Falls | Easy-Moderate | 1.6 miles | Rainforest experience, waterfalls, dense foliage |
| Lanikai Pillbox | Easy-Moderate | 1.8 miles | Sunrise, coastal views, easy to pair with a post-hike swim |
| Diamond Head | Moderate | 1.6 miles | Iconic views, first-timers, must-do tourist attraction |
1. Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
Difficulty: Easy | Distance: 2 miles return | Time: 1–1.5 hours
This is one of my personal favourites on Oahu and the hike I’d recommend to almost anyone, no matter their fitness level. The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail on Oahu’s southeastern tip is fully paved, accessible, and rewards you with some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the island.
The trail follows an old service road that winds up the headland to a lookout above the iconic red-roofed lighthouse below. The views along the way are spectacular. The turquoise Pacific Ocean stretches out in front of you, then there’s the rugged lava coastline, and on a clear day you can see the islands of Molokai and Lanai shimmering in the distance.
From December to April, this is also one of the best spots on Oahu to watch for humpback whales offshore so it’s worth bringing binoculars and keep your eyes on the water.
It’s stroller-friendly for the most part, open year-round, and the car park off the Kalanianaole Highway is free.
You could also combine it with a stop at nearby Halona Blowhole or Sandy Beach too.
We had a wander around the marina area of Hawaii Kai afterwards, as well as breakfast here, making for a lovely half-day on the east side of the island.
2. Ka’ena Point Trail
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Distance: 5 miles return | Time: 2.5–3 hours
Ka’ena Point is located within Oahu’s most remote and wild corner at the island’s northwestern tip. We stopped here after venturing along the coast away from the main North Shore towns of Haleiwa and Waialua. We kept driving along the coastal road, past beautiful homes and suddently, we were in Ka’ena Point State Park.
It’s far from the resort bubble of Waikiki, and was almost entirely free of other tourists. It’s one of those hikes that felt like a genuine discovery.
The trail follows the coastline from the end of the road on either the North Shore side (where we started) or the Leeward side (Yokohama Bay), both leading to the same protected seabird sanctuary at the point.
he landscape is dramatic and stark, it’s a world away from the lush rainforest in Central and SouthernOahu. It’s dramatic volcanic rock, crashing surf, and wide open sky, and the wildlife is quite cool too! Hawaiian monk seals regularly haul out on the rocks to rest (stay at least 50 feet away), and Laysan albatrosses nest here from October to July in one of Hawaii’s most significant seabird colonies.
The trail is flat and easy underfoot (robust strollers only) but the exposed coastal path offers no shade, so start early and bring plenty of water and sun protection. There aren’t any shops or cafes around, so best to fuel up in one of the North Shore towns.
3. Manoa Falls
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Distance: 1.6 miles return | Time: 1.5–2 hours
Just twenty minutes from Waikiki, the hike to Manoa Falls transports you into a completely different world. It’s a lush, dripping rainforest of banyan trees, wild ginger, bamboo groves and towering eucalyptus, with birdsong all around you and the Ko’olau Mountains rising dramatically overhead. I completely wasn’t expecting it to feel so dense and tropical, it was just amazing.
The path is well maintained but rocky and muddy in places, especially after heavy rains. You definitely need proper walking shoes as this is absolutely not a flip flops hike. The waterfall at the end tumbles 150 feet down a sheer lava cliff face and is genuinely beautiful, especially after rain when it’s at full flow. Swimming in the pool below is not permitted due to the risk of Leptospirosis, so don’t bother bringing swim stuff!
Parking costs $7 per car and the car park can fill quickly, especially at weekends. Allow two hours in total and bring insect repellent and expect to get very sweaty! We paired it with a drive through the stunning Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens, making for a perfect, tropical morning out of Waikiki.
4. Lanikai Pillbox Hike (Kaiwa Ridge Trail)
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Distance: 1.8 miles return | Time: 1–1.5 hours
The views from the top of this hike are absolutely stunning.You’re rewarded with panoramic views out over the turquoise waters of Lanikai Beach, the two Mokulua Islands sitting just offshore, and the Ko’olau Mountains behind you.
The trail starts in the Lanikai neighbourhood by the golf course, and has an immediately steep start. It took us by surprise but then became a little less steep and it is quite short. Most reasonably fit people will reach the first pillbox within 20 minutes. From there it’s an easier scramble to the second, higher pillbox which is where the best views are. Definitely wear proper shoes as the trail is steep and loose in places.
The pillboxes themselves are old WWII military lookout bunkers, and they’ve been brilliantly decorated with murals by local artists.
As noted in my longer Oahu guide, when we got to the pillboxes, we ordered breakfast via Uber Eats and asked the driver to meet us at the trail start point. Honestly, there was nothing better than to have an icy cold drink and acai bowl waiting for us, and we took it straight down to the beach to devour with a refreshing swim!
5. Diamond Head Crater Trail
Difficulty: Moderate | Distance: 1.6 miles return | Time: 1.5–2 hours
No list of Oahu hikes would be complete without Diamond Head. It’s iconic and for good reason.
This extinct volcanic crater sits right above Waikiki and offers 360-degree views of Honolulu, the Pacific coastline and the surrounding mountains that are truly breathtaking.
The trail is paved for most of the way, passing through two tunnel sections and up 99 steps near the summit before a narrow spiral staircase of 76 more steps inside an old military bunker delivers you to the top. It’s short but steep in places, and the tunnels and staircases make it feel like more of an adventure than a simple walk. If you really struggle with stairs, you’ll need to take your time ascending this one. And if you get claustrophobic, you’ll need to mentally brace for a long, dark tunnel. But the view is more than rewarding!
I recommend going early to beat the heat and the crowds. Reservations are required and can be booked up to 30 days in advance at gostateparks.hawaii.gov ($5 per person, $10 parking). There’s vending machines at the entrance where we had to buy extra icy drinks due to the heat.
The car park fills up fast but we opted to take an Uber, and then walk to Waikiki. It’s quite the add on after the Diamond Head hike, but it led us through beautiful residential areas, past lovely parks before joining up with the coastline on Queens Beach. We stopped there for lunch before slowly heading back towards Waikiki. Perfect day!
Essential Hiking Tips for Oahu
- Start early. Almost every hike on this list is better (ie. cooler, quieter, and more beautifully lit), before 8am. The heat and crowds build quickly from mid-morning onwards.
- Wear proper shoes. Many of Oahu’s trails are rocky, steep and muddy. Flip flops and sandals can be dangerous on most of these hikes, so trail runners or hiking shoes are the minimum requirement.
- Bring more water than you think you need. The humidity and heat are deceptive in Oahu and there’s not many or any shops or cafes near these hikes.
- Book ahead where required. Diamond Head requires reservations.
- Stay on marked trails. Going off-path damages fragile native ecosystems and has led to a number of serious accidents on Oahu’s ridges.
- Tell someone your plans. Mobile signal can be patchy in the valleys and mountains. Let someone know which trail you’re doing and when you expect to be back.
- Bring insect repellent. Particularly for valley hikes like Manoa Falls — the mosquitoes are quite intense!
Best Hikes in Oahu
So there you have my best easy to moderate hikes in Oahu, covering everything you need to know to head out on your own hiking adventures. With one week in Oahu, you could easily so all 5 of these hikes, but I’d only plan for one a day.
Make sure to read my complete island guide to Oahu here.
Have you been to Oahu in Hawaii? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
