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    Crouching Lion Hike

    4.8 (12 reviews)

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    Kahana Bay view
    Eka S.

    Short hike but very steep! Trail is muddy and slippery, so make sure you go when it's not raining or previously rained within a day or 2. Beautiful view, very much worth it.

    Jodie F.

    Underrated hike! Crouching Lion is my favorite non-waterfall hike. It's great if you're looking for a fairly easy & short hike. Do mind it's a steep incline. 4 mile loop, usually takes us 2 hours roundtrip but only because I like to take a loooong time just chilling up there & taking photos haha. Beautiful view! So worth it. My first experience with this hike was hilarious. Went with some friends & the weather seemed perfectly fine. Out of nowhere, it poured rain. Thankfully, we were already halfway back down. We were drenched & fell on our a*** many times. It was a mixture of chaos, yelling at each other to help & laughing like hell at how silly we all looked. A Slip N Slide experience I'll never forget. No one got seriously injured (maybe just a few bruises)! Glad all the other times I hiked here went swell. :-)

    Micah G.

    Honestly easiest hike you can do if you love hikes! Probably the fastest thing you can go up but wouldn't recommend going on a rainy day as i can imagine it being super muddy. So park were everyone does! My friend and I did the really short hike up because we were limited on time. I heard there's a longer hike up there but this is for the short review... anyways, when you find the parking, cross the street and there will be another entrance sign. Good thing we came across a woman because she told us there's 2 ways to us up. If you go left it's steeper but if you go right you'll go up a wall. Almost like rock climbing. I'd recommend the left steep hill. It wasn't even all that steep tbh, use the trees to help lift you up. Also, since already walk there often, the mud already turned into steps! So it worked out in a way. That day was super overcast so the pics came out great and even better yet, it wasn't raining. At the top it was super windy. I did sweat but when you get you to the top, you'll realize, oh.... that's it???? It's more for the pics than the exercise. When I mentioned this place to my coworkers it's all known to be dangerous because of the height. So be careful if you're not a well balanced person. Or if you're afraid of heights, I really wouldn't recommend going!! BUT if you like to live on the edge and have an awesome camera, YOU BETTER COME HERE!!!! Views 10/10 definitely recommend, look at my pics, AMAZING!!!!!

    This is the second set of signs after the first, you can also enter through here and head left.
    Gigi T.

    This is a relatively short hike, roughly 0.4 miles according to all trails but it's super steep. There are parts where you have to pull on to ropes to get up. It took us roughly around 20 mins to get to the part where you see the top of the crouching lion. From there another 5-10 mins to get to the top. The top offers a breathtaking view of the ka'a'awa side. Parking - there are a few spots at the beginning of the trail across of the signs. But we parked at the swanzy beach park and walked roughly 15 mins to get to the start of the trail. Along the way you will see a tire and wooden swing. Great spots for pictures :)

    Colleen G.

    This is a beautiful hike it was our first time and we ended taking the hard way up it took us awhile to figure it out but the view was amazing. Its challenging trying to find the way up but we managed . The going down part was easy but make sure u have the right shoes as it's slippery with loose dirt. But short way up with lots of branches to hold just steep.

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    Review Highlights - Crouching Lion Hike

    Trail is muddy and slippery, so make sure you go when it's not raining or previously rained within a day or 2.

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    Makaua Falls Trail - Dry today

    Makaua Falls Trail

    4.7(6 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    This is probably one of the challenging hikes I did to see a "waterfall". Came here after a…read morerainstorm, it was still raining hard when we started our hike and the stream is flowing really good. The pools are up to high-waist / neck deep so we know there will be a nice waterfall in the end. Beware of the The 30-40ft. rock climbing in the middle of the hike.. there's a rope "use it as a guide" only. It took us 40 minutes going in ( we have a 4 yr.old ). Some parts are very slippery we decided to wear our "spikes" to make it faster.. a lot of stream crossings, holding on to the roots.. there was 2 dead boars on the path full of maggots, (2/3/18) so wait till it get washed off.. Tips: spikes, Atleast 1 bottled water, gloves, off/bug spray. Be courteous to the neighborhood. Turn to the right on the fork.

    All week long, people have been asking me, "Jeff, what did…read moreyou do to your leg?" "Oh, well, hell, I took a little spill while hiking." "Where were you hiking?" "Out in Ka'a'awa (North Shore)." "Yeah, but where?" "You know what? I don't remember the name? And, it really doesn't matter, cause I wouldn't recommend it anyway." I must have said that a hundred times this week. And here's why: With any great hike, at some point, there has to be a payoff. A "Wow" moment when that the little voice in your head says, "Yeah, that's why." That never happened for me here. Was it a great work out? Hell yeah, the best. My muscles hurt from my delts to my quads and hammies. Not the kind of pain you get from gym works, but the kind from physical labor. It was a educational hike. I saw things, and figured out things that I had never thought of before (and learning is fun! Knowledge is power!). Large pockets of fresh water house an abundance of Tahitian prawns. Their slender bodies and spindly claws showing easily through the waters surface. Wild guava are in abundance, and beautiful red Hawaiian ginger is sprouting around every corner. Sadly, my brain never clicked and said "wow" (not even a lower case wow). To get to the Falls you have to traverse dried river bed, and being that it's dry? That's right...no Falls. The 30-40 foot rope climb, up a moss covered wall was exhilarating, but coming down was nerve-racking. It was here that I slipped, and, trust me, spiked shoes are the worst? Ever walk on smooth tile in golf shoes? The location is marked perfectly on the Yelp map. Parking is side of the road only, and the entrance is right at the end of the dead end road. Use common sense. Look, I'm not one to tell you what to do. You wanna go? Go. I just don't see the point, there are better hikes with more value just up the road. That being said? Fresh Guava jam dose sound delicious? Right? And Tahitian prawns in shoyu and wasabi, fresh off the bbq? Well...we'll see. Aloha :)

    Photos
    Makaua Falls Trail - Tahitian Prawn...four more and I could make cocktail. :) Aloha

    Tahitian Prawn...four more and I could make cocktail. :) Aloha

    Makaua Falls Trail - "Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness..." Aloha :)

    "Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness..." Aloha :)

    Makaua Falls Trail

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    Pu'u Ohulehule Hike

    Pu'u Ohulehule Hike

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Challenging and hard as hell. Steep, rock-climbing, rope, The hike isn't really marked but the…read moreentrance is hard to find. Climb over the pavement and you head strait up. Word of advice is to download the map. The views were amazing! totally worth the trek.

    Wow! It's been almost FOUR YEARS since this hike got reviewed? That needs help…read more Nestled in the back of Kahana Valley, Pu'u Ohulehule can be pointed out by it's nifty pyramid-like shape. To scale this mountain would grant you a fabulous view of Ka'a'awa Valley. Be warned: This is an advanced trail that should not be attempted by beginners. However, getting to the summit is by no means an easy task. You start off in Kahana Valley, which is known to be the wettest place on Oahu. It's tough to match up a day where it'll be dry. Sometimes you just have to decide on the day of if you want to go or not. You start off at the trailhead of Nokoa Trail. But from there, you venture off to the left onto a gravel road. You then come across a stream crossing. You do not want to attempt this trail during heavy rains or immediately after heavy rainfall. The water level was up to my knees when I did this trail. After the stream crossing you take a left and then you'll come across another junction. You take the left path off the Nokoa Trail. You then will come across a critical junction. Take the right path, as the left path will lead you away from the valley towards the ocean. After that junction, you come across the second stream crossing. This one is deeper, as the water level was almost to my waist when I crossed it. Again, you do not want to be caught in heavy rains. A third stream crossing will come, but thankfully not as deep as the previous one. The path is pretty straightforward, when you come across an open meadow, you will be close to the base of Pu'u Ohulehule. There should be a ribboned path to the left. You will descend down. I hope you wore long pants! You will now encounter a sea of uluhe ferns, and it will scratch you up badly if you aren't wearing any kind of protection. You will come across the fourth and final stream crossing, and you'll start your ascent up. Again, uluhe ferns all over the place. There are a few rope sections. However, it isn't until the 4th/5th rope section where you'll start to gain elevation at an unforgiving pace. You're probably ascending up 60 to 80-degrees. If your cardio isn't up to par, you'll get punished. When you finally reach the end of the rope sections, you will be soon be granted a grand view of Kaneohe. You still have a bit more to go, but the elevation gain isn't that drastic. When you get to a small clearing (marked by three ribbons onto a tree), you will be given what is considered the most grand view of Ka'a'awa Valley. If you look south, you can probably see all the way to Makapu'u on a clear day. Overall, this is a very fun hike if you have the abilities to take it on. Being lots of water, wear long pants, and have a camera. Expect to take 7-8 hours for this journey. It can be more or less depending on your fitness level. The views along the way are simply majestic.

    Photos
    Pu'u Ohulehule Hike
    Pu'u Ohulehule Hike
    Pu'u Ohulehule Hike

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    Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park - camping

    Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park

    3.3(8 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Let me first point out that depending on the season and how well you are condition, this might not…read morebe the State Park for you. There are two trails. One that leads to scenic point at Kilo Keaniani. And the other leads to Nākoa Loop Trail, which is also a public hunting grounds. I chose the loop trail. The Nākoa isn't for tourist. This spot is in the country side of Hawaii, local only kinda spot. To get there you walk through a small local neighborhood who's home is in the center of the ultimate Hawaiian backdrop dream. If you are a novice hiker, this trail might be too much. It's roughly 2.5 miles but you have to traverse over water 4 times during the loop, walk through mud, and deal with mosquitoes. Total fun. Hard but total fun. There's something real about hiking on Public Hunting Area. It's not crowded. You here the sounds of wildlife, birds, insects, and sometimes boar, rumbling through the jungle forest. There's something real about hiking on a trail that suggest non-hunters to wear bright colors to ensure safety. There's something real about hiking on a trail that has side trails created by the wild boars that uproot the vegetation through out the jungle. There's something real about hiking local territory, local country side of O'ahu, local rules, and local vibe. I recommend this adventure to those who want to test how much adventure they can handle.

    Good: looking out at the ocean, beautiful. Day use to sit on shore and watch the ocean, great…read more Restrooms on the mauka side of the street were clean and functional. Not Great: the mauka side of the street which has the trail head and "information" area was not welcoming, seemed unmaintained, ok, seriously neglected. The short trail was unclear and poorly marked, the end of the trail was downright treacherous, if that was even the real end of the trail (see poorly marked). The decent bathrooms were locked at dusk, leaving a couple of unlit latrines for the overnight campers. The tent sites are pretty close to the road, and the parking area warns that the parking is a high theft area. Little hard to sleep factoring all that in. Ocean pretty murky with lots of natural debris but also fishing nets, lines and microplastics washing ashore. Day/picnic use: recommend Overnight: less so

    Photos
    Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park - Hiking trail

    Hiking trail

    Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park - Trail entrance

    Trail entrance

    Ahupua'a O Kahana State Park - Hiking view (lots of mosquitoes here)

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    Hiking view (lots of mosquitoes here)

    Secret Island

    Secret Island

    3.8(58 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    Found this magical spot through google. People has mention you can't access this beach unless you…read morebook a boat over through Kualoa Ranch activity center. Were they wrong! I did my research and manage to find a way by foot. It took about 10 to 15 minutes to reach this destination. My kids and I were so excited to explore slice of paradise. Crystal clear water and beautiful scenery felt we were on a deserted island. Glad I was able to find a way to get here without paying a fee.

    Food: NA Service: 4/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Parking: 3/5 Family friendly: 5/5 Stroller friendly: 2/5 ADA accessible: 2/5 If you've ever been to Oahu and end up wandering up the the Northeast side of the island or meander towards Kualoa ranch, then you should try to find the Secret Island. It's an entirely man made island where there are activities like paddle board, group canoe, kayaking, volleyball, and lounging. The only downside with the water activities here is that is limited freedom on where one can go. Is say about 75 yards on each direction. Trust me on this, YOU WILL GET CALLED BACK. However it is for your safety. All of these come with a fee of course, but since work and I were there for a wedding, it was all paid for. There is no food provided, however you CAN BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND DRINKS, provided there is no glass brought in. It's a great place for a little get away, from your little get away and I recommend to do this while on the island.

    Photos
    Secret Island - Bride entrance walk at Secret Island | Wedding Photography by HNL Studios www.hnlstudios.com

    Bride entrance walk at Secret Island | Wedding Photography by HNL Studios www.hnlstudios.com

    Secret Island - Wedding Ceremony at Secret Island | Wedding Photography by HNL Studios www.hnlstudios.com

    Wedding Ceremony at Secret Island | Wedding Photography by HNL Studios www.hnlstudios.com

    Secret Island - Bride and Groom exit walk at Secret Island | Wedding Photography by HNL Studios www.hnlstudios.com

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    Bride and Groom exit walk at Secret Island | Wedding Photography by HNL Studios www.hnlstudios.com

    Crouching Lion Hike - hiking - Updated May 2026

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