UPDATED MAR 2020. The west side is my favorite area of Oahu. I love the coastline, the snorkeling, the dreamy beaches, and a local vibe to it. It’s relaxed but full of adventures and I love that combination. In today’s post, I’m sharing a guide on how to hike to the Upper Makua Cave on the west side of Oahu. I hope it can help you plan your hike, but, since it is on private property, I obviously cannot encourage you to do it.
A Complete Guide For Hiking To The Upper Makua Cave On Oahu
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
FAQ for hiking the Upper Makua Cave
Where is it located?
Westside, about 1 hour drive from Waikiki.
What is the status of the trail?
This hike is unmaintained and on private property – there is a risk of being fined.
How long does it take?
1-2 hours depending on your pace.
What skill level is required?
Intermediate. There is loose rock in some sections, but it’s not overly hard.
Is there a cost?
No, it’s free.
Are dogs allowed?
No, but neither are people.
What should you bring with you?
- Hat
- Water bottle
- Good hiking shoes (I use the New Balance Minimus
) - Camera (I use a GoPro for the versatility of going between swimming and hiking with it. I use this floaty selfie stick for the water and this selfie stick and tripod combo for land adventures)
- Snacks or energy gels (I always have a few of these with me)
- Swimsuit and lightweight towel to go to the beach afterward
)
for the water and 
for land adventures)
)
to go to the beach afterward
How to get to the Upper Makua Cave
The Upper Makua Cave is located on the west side of the island.
To get there, use ‘Kaneana Cave (Makua Cave) into Google Maps. It will take you to a different cave, not the one you are hiking to, but you can park in the small lot on the side of the road for your hike.
Be sure to leave your car empty as this area has been known for theft.
Where is the trailhead
From the parking lot, make your way down the road the way you had been driving and look for the speed sign on the right.
There is a small path near it and this is your trailhead. If the area is overgrown, it might be hard to see so just look closely.
What to expect on the hike
The Upper Makua cave is a short and steep hike. The loose, rocky trail is tricky enough to give you a challenge, without death-defying ridge drop-offs or anything like that.
This makes it perfect if you are not an advanced hiker, but you are looking for a challenge to take your hiking skills to the next level.
Though it is a short hike, the trickiness comes in the form of a few sketchy sections where you walk on loose gravel at a steep incline.
When I went, I just took it slow, one step at a time, and eventually made it past the tricky section.
Once you reach the top of the rope, you will see a path that ventures out to the right. This means the tricky part is over and now you can walk to the caves.
The Upper Makua Caves
The first is fairly anticlimactic.
The second is pretty epic though. This is where the views will stop you in your tracks.
It is insane just how gorgeous it is in real life. The mountains meet the ocean in the most beautiful, picture-perfect fashion.
After you are done at the cave, follow the trail back the way you came.
You’ll be able to see some epic views of the valley that were behind you on the way up. Trust me when I say that they are breathtaking – can you tell this area of the island is my favorite?
Once I reached the steep section, I pretty much crab walked the whole way down on hands and feet to avoid sliding.
View this post on Instagram
Safety tips
This hike is on private property. It’s up to you if you choose to do it.
Stick to the trail. This goes for any hike but it is especially important on this trail, given the unstable footing.
Take lots of water and some snacks or energy gels with you because a lot of the trail is open to the elements and it gets very hot. Try to go in the cooler times of the day if you can.
Use your best judgment as to whether this is an appropriate hike for your skills and the weather when you will be visiting.
Things to do nearby
If you want to do other hikes in the area, I recommend the Kaena Point trail from the west side or you could also test yourself on Mt Ka’ala.
There are so many beautiful beaches along this stretch of coast that looks straight out of Jurassic Park. I recommend checking out Makua Beach, Makaha Beach, and Yokohama Bay.
If you’d like to go snorkeling, try Electric Beach or Makaha Beach.
It’s important to mention that all these beaches will be off-limits during winter because of the dangerous surf conditions. It’s a great time to marvel at the big waves, but you won’t be able to swim or snorkel.
I also recommend watching the sunset from one of the beaches out here because the sunsets in this area are incredible.
Where to stay on Oahu
I recommend staying in Waikiki because there is always so much going on and it has an energetic buzz to it.
I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and it was an awesome experience. Make sure you plan your visit with a Friday in it so you can see the Friday night fireworks show they put on.
Otherwise, if you’d like to stay in a different hotel or in a different area of the island, I recommend searching on Booking.com. I use this to book accommodation when I travel and can always find a good deal on their site.
Other guides to help you plan your visit to Oahu
Off The Beaten Path Oahu Adventures – How To Explore Like A Local
Waterfall Hikes On Oahu – 12 Incredible Hikes That Will Blow Your Mind
I hope this can help you plan your own adventure to the Upper Makua Cave.
As always, use your best judgment to figure out if this would be a good hike for you. Also, check the weather forecast and take any trash with you.
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Katie,
This is a beautiful site. However, this is federal property. More importantly, there is significant risk of sever injury from unexploded ordinance. Please remove this from your blog and do not access this area anymore.
How do you get there from haleiwa without having to make a big circle like Google map tells you to do!
You gotta make the big circle 🙂
Not only does this “hike” trespass on federal land that potentially contains unexploded ordinances – this site is SACRED to Native Hawaiians. If you have any respect for the indigenous people of HawaiĘ»i, kindly remove this post right away.