Hiking is a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy where you live or vacation. I live on Oahu. Oahu hiking trails are great because there are so many easy hikes that can be found all over the island. I live on the East side between Diamond Head and Koko Crater. This area offers a long list of options from challenging to super easy and all with great views.
Diamond Head is great for 1st time tourist or long time Hawaii natives. This Oahu hiking trail offers you amazing views of over half the islands coast line. You can see all the way to the Waianae Mountain, which is west; back around to Koko Head Crater and Hanauma Bay on the eastern tip of Oahu. They have just finished renovations so it is in great condition. You used to have to hike through unlit tunnels and stair ways, but now the entire path has some light. Don't get the wrong impression about this Oahu hiking trail though; this is not the easiest hike on the island. It is unpaved for a large portion of the hike and it has well over 100 stairs (99 of which take you straight up in succession). Bring water and good hiking shoes... no high healed slippahs please.
Another great hiking trail of Oahu is Mariner's Ridge. For this hike you have to travel into the town of Hawaii Kai. You will drive past the Hawaii Kai Post office and take your first left up to the subdivision of Mariner's Ridge. Follow this main road all the way to the top and park in the cul-de-sac. It is pretty easy to follow the path all the way to the top. Parts of this path are steep, but never get extreme. Much of this Oahu hiking trail is shaded with trees with the occasional trade wind breeze blowing through. Once you begin to reach the top you will enjoy views of Waimanalo and Kailua. If you have a clear day you can even see Chinaman's Hat just past Kaneohe or maybe get a view of Molokai and Maui.
We also like doing Koko Head crater trail. This is an old railroad track and I have heard that it is a 45 degree incline. It is steep. Wear lots of sun block and hope for a breezy day. This hike can be very hot, until you get to the top and reap the rewards of your hike. The trade winds on the top of Koko Head feel like someone turned on the A/C, finally. Going down is almost as challenging as going up. Your legs are tired and a bit shaky. There is a railroad tie bridge that has open spaces between the ties. I have seen many people crawl across. Just be careful and take a friend. This Oahu hiking trail is more advanced, so be careful and plan well. Water is a must on these Hawaii hiking trails.
More about East Side of Oahu hiking trails soon. I hope you enjoy my posts. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have questions. I love to share my limited but hopefully useful information. Aloha...
Carole Duran invites you to enjoy her articles about Hawaii and to visit her website Travel Hawaiian Islands. The URL is http://travelhawaiianislandsonline.com/. I have lived in Hawaii off and on for the last 10 years and have traveled inter-island for pleasure. I enjoy sharing places to go and love to hear of others experiences also.
Diamond Head is great for 1st time tourist or long time Hawaii natives. This Oahu hiking trail offers you amazing views of over half the islands coast line. You can see all the way to the Waianae Mountain, which is west; back around to Koko Head Crater and Hanauma Bay on the eastern tip of Oahu. They have just finished renovations so it is in great condition. You used to have to hike through unlit tunnels and stair ways, but now the entire path has some light. Don't get the wrong impression about this Oahu hiking trail though; this is not the easiest hike on the island. It is unpaved for a large portion of the hike and it has well over 100 stairs (99 of which take you straight up in succession). Bring water and good hiking shoes... no high healed slippahs please.
Another great hiking trail of Oahu is Mariner's Ridge. For this hike you have to travel into the town of Hawaii Kai. You will drive past the Hawaii Kai Post office and take your first left up to the subdivision of Mariner's Ridge. Follow this main road all the way to the top and park in the cul-de-sac. It is pretty easy to follow the path all the way to the top. Parts of this path are steep, but never get extreme. Much of this Oahu hiking trail is shaded with trees with the occasional trade wind breeze blowing through. Once you begin to reach the top you will enjoy views of Waimanalo and Kailua. If you have a clear day you can even see Chinaman's Hat just past Kaneohe or maybe get a view of Molokai and Maui.
We also like doing Koko Head crater trail. This is an old railroad track and I have heard that it is a 45 degree incline. It is steep. Wear lots of sun block and hope for a breezy day. This hike can be very hot, until you get to the top and reap the rewards of your hike. The trade winds on the top of Koko Head feel like someone turned on the A/C, finally. Going down is almost as challenging as going up. Your legs are tired and a bit shaky. There is a railroad tie bridge that has open spaces between the ties. I have seen many people crawl across. Just be careful and take a friend. This Oahu hiking trail is more advanced, so be careful and plan well. Water is a must on these Hawaii hiking trails.
More about East Side of Oahu hiking trails soon. I hope you enjoy my posts. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have questions. I love to share my limited but hopefully useful information. Aloha...
Carole Duran invites you to enjoy her articles about Hawaii and to visit her website Travel Hawaiian Islands. The URL is http://travelhawaiianislandsonline.com/. I have lived in Hawaii off and on for the last 10 years and have traveled inter-island for pleasure. I enjoy sharing places to go and love to hear of others experiences also.