How To Hike The Kamiloiki Ridge Trail On Oahu, Hawaii

UPDATED FEB 2020. Today I’m sharing a guide on how to hike the Kamiloiki Ridge Trail on Oahu. Though there are a lot of hikes in the area, and especially a lot of ridge trails, this is one of the lesser known hikes and is an unmaintained trail. Even though it’s not as popular, it still has beautiful views to offer and makes for a fun adventure. I hope this post can help you plan your own hike with a lot of practical tips to make sure it’s a safe and extraordinary one.

How To Hike The Kamiloiki Ridge Trail On Oahu, Hawaii

Disclaimer

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FAQ for hiking the Kamiloiki Ridge Trail

Where is it located?

Hawaii Kai, about 25 minutes from Waikiki.

How long does it take to hike?

2-3 hours depending on your pace.

What skill is needed?

Intermediate.

What type of trail is it?

Unmaintained.

Is there a cost to hike?

No, it’s free.

What should you bring with you?

• Good hiking shoes (I use the New Balance Minimus)
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Camera (I use a GoPro with this floaty selfie stick for swimming or this selfie stick and tripod combo for land adventures)
• Snacks or energy gels (I always have a few of these on me)
• Swimsuit and towel to hit the beach afterward

How to get to there

Driving from Waikiki you’ll be heading to Hawaii Kai using the Kalanianaʻole Hwy.

For GPS use ‘Pahua Heiau’ or if that doesn’t come up then use ‘Makahuena Place’ in Hawaii Kai in Google Maps.

Where to park

There is only street parking in the residential area for this hike.

If you cannot get a park in Makahuena Place then you may need to park in a street nearby and walk to the trailhead.

No matter what, check where you park to make sure you are not blocking anyone’s driveway.

It shouldn’t need to be said but unfortunately, it has happened in areas near a few of the hikes in a residential area and causes tensions between residents and hikers.

Be respectful of people who live in the area and don’t park them in or make a lot of noise.

How to get to the Kamiloiki Ridge Trail on the bus

I really recommend renting a car for your trip to Hawaii because it’s going to make getting to a lot of the best spots on the island much easier, and in some cases, it’s the only way to get to them.

In saying that if you can’t rent a car and want to do this hike then from Waikiki you’ll need to get bus #1 to the Lunalilo Home Rd + Hawaii Kai Dr bus stop and walk to the trailhead from there.

It will take about an hour.

Definitely check this with the staff at your hotel or the bus staff to make sure it’s current though.

Where is the trailhead

Given that it’s an unmaintained trail and somewhat off the beaten path, it can be a little tricky to find the trailhead.

Walk to the end of the street and you will see the Heiau which is an ancient temple so it’s important to be respectful.

The trail is around to the left of this.

You will walk past no trespassing signs and it is up to you whether you choose to go beyond them.

When looking for the start of the trail, look for the markers to help you find your way as it might be difficult to find if the area is overgrown.

At the time I went, as you can see from the photos, it was pretty dry, and easy to see the trail.

What to expect

This is an unmaintained trail and may be clear or overgrown with grass depending on the time of your visit. There are some ribbons (they were pink at the time I hiked it) that were on trees to guide the trail but otherwise no signs or anything like that.

The beginning is the hardest part of the trail and it is steep at first. There are a couple of rocky sections of climbing as well.

The hike takes you up to the top of the ridge and offers up some amazing views, as with the other ridge trails in the area.

Then you will follow the trail down through a forest section, there are some roped sections here, and brings you out to some picturesque views of Waimanalo’s bright blue water.

It’s important to be alert and follow the trail markers to keep on track once you leave the ridge.

Other things to do in the area

If you are looking for other hikes in the area, I recommend:

• Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail
• Koko Head Stairs
• Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail
• Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail

There’s a lot in the area though so you have no shortage of choice.

If you’d like to hit the beach to cool off after your hike, I recommend:

• Sandy’s Beach
• Halona Cove
• Waimanalo Beach
• Hanauma Bay

If you’re hungry make sure you stop at Uncle Clays House of Pure Aloha for a shave ice or Serg’s Tacos in Waimanalo for lunch.

Safety tips

It’s an open trail with almost no shade for most of the trail. Make sure you protect yourself from the sun by wearing a har, sunglasses, sunscreen, and bring lots of water.

If you can go in the cooler times of the day that’s a good idea also.

While we are on the topic of the elements, it’s probably not a good idea to do this hike while it’s raining or after a lot of rain because it would be quite slippery.

Wear good walking shoes to help keep you stable on the rocks.

I use the New Balance Minimus and they are my favorite hiking shoes because they have good grip for hikes like this but they’re still lightweight and breathable.

I hope this helps you plan your own adventure out to the Kamiloiki Ridge Trail.

As always remember to use your best judgment as far as if this would be a good hike for you, check the weather forecast, take your trash with you.

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