Koko Head is probably my favorite trail I've done in Hawaii. Calling it a "trail" almost feels wrong though because it's basically straight-up stairs the entire way. It's short, around 2 miles total from what I remember, but it's steep the whole time and definitely not as challenging as it looks. The steps are built out of old railroad ties, so as you're climbing it almost feels like you're walking up giant rails going straight up the mountain. There's also a section about halfway through where the tracks aren't fully supported underneath anymore, so there's an open gap below you. If you missed a step there, you could definitely fall a pretty good distance. It caught me off guard the first time seeing it. I also heard from locals that people regularly have to get rescued from the top because they underestimate the hike. Apparently helicopter rides down aren't cheap either, so definitely bring water and know your limits before going up. I went early in the morning before sunrise and there were already a lot of people climbing. Once you get to the top, there are people everywhere taking pictures, relaxing, and just enjoying the view. I even saw some locals doing the hike barefoot, which honestly looked insane to me because I would never trust myself enough to do that on those steps. There are little side areas along the way where people stop to rest since the climb can get intense. Going down is interesting too because some people absolutely fly down the stairs at full speed. It took me under 30 minutes to get to the top just taking my time, but I read some people finish it in under 10 minutes somehow. The view at the top is honestly worth it though. You can see the whole area around you, and the view of Diamond Head from up there is beautiful. Definitely one of the more memorable hikes I did. read more

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Unique hiking experience! Walking straight up a hill using the railroad tracks was cool. The drive to get here was already beautiful that it made the hike even more fun to look out from. This is medium to difficult level mostly because it's a giant stair master! There are plenty of gaps on the sides to pause and take a break while people go on. This is roughly a 1.5 hour hike altogether. We started at 9am and plenty of people were already there hiking with a full parking lot. It rained on our way back which is pretty scary since the steps get slippery. We had our hiking shoes so we were fine hiking. Just do it you won't regret the experience! Note: wear sunscreen and bug spray-we got the most bit on this hike... read more

Koko Head - 9am start time - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For starters, this hike is tough BUT the view is worth it in the end. I would say to have some water with you on your hike and if you're prone to getting dizzy or anything, make sure you have some fruit snacks or something. When a group of us went to hike KoKo head, we decided to do the hike in the evening to see the sunset and it was beautiful! We are also very lucky because we brought flashlights with us, knowing we were going to hang out at the top for a little while and that by the time we head out, the sun would set very quickly. It was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed it very much. This was our first time doing KoKo head but we agreed we are going to start doing it monthly. One thing to note though is that these steps are fairly uneven- some steps I had to step twice and others I didn't. There is a part too where there are no planks on the bottom, so you can see the 10-foot or so drop but you just follow the steps and TAKE YOUR TIME. If you opt to skip that part, you can also walk around it, no shame in that. I walked up at first (I took my time hand at some parts had to get on all 4s) and walked around (like a little flat hike) when it got dark because yeah... no haha. All in all, we are going to do it again since we loved it so much! A few tips: take your time, especially if you don't do cardio often (I saw some super buff people even struggling and taking breaks on the side), make sure you have good shoes, make sure you have some water, have some snacks with you (make sure you bring the trash back down), if you're hiking towards night time, bring a flashlight or headlamp and mostly, have the best time and be safe, take lots of pictures and on a good day, you can see all the islands!!! read more

One step at a time. Believe it or not, it's harder on way down. If you choose to complete this challenge. Get shave ice in Koko marina after. The Obamas go there. The bathing suit store next door sells sun shirts, hats and stickers that say I've made it to top of Koko Head! Great souvenir to take home! read more

Koko Head - The bathing suite store in kokomarina sells shirts, hats & stickers that say I hiked to top of Kokohead. Great souvenir to take home. - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

How do you rate a place like Koko Head? Hike is 5 star even if I feel 1 star the whole time I'm trekking up the mountain. Let's start from the beginning. The hike has plenty of parking in the park next to the baseball fields. Once you park, you'll go towards the paved pathway to the trailhead. This isn't your typical trailhead. Instead, you look up and the entire trail is ahead of you. While it covers a very short distance, it is not for the faint of heart. The incline is a major cardio burn. Endless stairs (really about a 1000) are ahead of you. However, the stairs vary in spacing and incline. In the beginning, they are farther apart, but as you get closer to the top, they become much more steep. It's honestly a little disorienting to look up. My best tip is to just look down and move forward. About halfway through, there's a bridge section. The bridge has a pretty steep drop below and there are often bees. I always encourage taking the bypass! Much less scary and intense. It's also a nice little reprieve from the crazy stairs. At the top of the hike, there's a platform viewing area. You can also go further up either by stairs or around the side to get to a top platform. You will inevitably come across people who are either working out at the top of the mountain or who are running and doing multiple trips up and down. Don't let them deter you from continuing on! You got it. It's such an accomplishment when you finish this hike. It's such a beast but a fun challenge. read more

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This is such a beautiful hike! We took a little under 2 hrs from start to finish. We stopped a bunch of times to rest and also spent like 20 minutes at the top enjoying the view and taking pictures. Bring lots of water and wear sunscreen and bug spray! Make sure to take your time on the stairs because it can be easy to lose your footing in some spots. There's plenty of parking at the trailhead. read more

Kill me now...lol! This was our first time hiking Koko Head, and it was hard. All 1048 steps to the tippy top had my lungs on fire and my legs burning. And I'm in pretty good shape! For real though, this is a challenging, but super fun workout. It's scary, the height is no joke, but the view is 100% worth it. Really though, anyone can do it if you pace yourself. We saw people of all ages and sizes trying to summit the crater. Bring water, and try to go early. We were there just after 8am, and it was already pretty hot and crowded. read more

Koko Head - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We drove by Koko head but the weather was too hot to do a climb. It's on my bucket list though. It looks so cool from below. The view from the top must look incredible. 1 day I will conquer you to the summit Kokohead. You and I have a date in the future! read more

Koko Head - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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1048 steps, 98 floors A mega challenge for even the most fittest of people. Have fun! Put some music on stop to enjoy the views. read more

Fun hike! It's pretty linear. There's a gorgeous view of the city as you get higher and the crater head is beautiful too. Not too crowded when I went, but I can imagine that it could get very crowded and people descending could become an obstacle for people ascending and vice versa. Plenty of parking and very clean. read more

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This hike is tough...but absolutely breathtaking once you get to the top! Although the stairs are a leg burner, you can go at your own pace and I guarantee it is worth your time & energy. Bring water and wear hiking/trail shoes! I'd also recommend going earlier than later. Once you reach the top, it is so rewarding! Views of all over...and you can walk around and see many different angles of the island. One of my favorite hikes during our visit to Oahu. read more

It's 1068 steps to the top and it's straight up. People that regularly visit or are very fit take 20-25 minutes to get to the top but it takes me just under 40 minutes from the parking lot including several breaks. I would suggest coming for sunrise and plan on getting to the top 15-20 minutes prior to sunrise. Bring a flashlight or headlamp So you can see in the dark read more

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Good workout! Very beautiful view! Love this hike. Sad part, if you finish your plastic water bottle or iced drink, do not leave!! Take your own trash back!! read more

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This is one of the most challenging hikes for me this year. There's a steady grade and then it just gets steeper as you get closer to the top. We got there around 7:30 am and it was already crowded. I do suggest going early in the morning or just before sundown to beat the heat. About halfway up, "Are we there yet?" You might feel like stopping and going back but if you've made it halfway, just keep going. They have what I called floor markers, so once it got steeper, I would take a break at each one. I don't remember stopping this much the first time I did this in 2018, but I was in better shape back then. I advise anyone who is considering climbing to at least workout on stairs, a stairmill or elliptical at least a month prior. I watched a number of people who were huffing and puffing and stopping frequently. Whatever you do, bring a small backpack or water bottle carrier because I also watched people struggle. I wore hiking shoes, but good supportive running shoes work too. I saw people wearing slippers and crocs which are not very good. I have to applaud the runners going up and down and especially this one group who had weighted bags on. They have been doing this for a while and it shows. Please be courteous and step to the side so others can pass. It is a great challenge and once you reach the top, the view is amazing! We met some really fun people! And if the couple from LA is reading this, hope you had a great trip! Koinky dink running into you at Kaka'ako! read more

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Love the view from the top and the challenge! This will be my third time on this hike. We arrived at o'dark thirty donning our Christmas attire all alight making our way up the trail in the dark with headlamp a bright. The goal to greet the sunrise from the top. The cooler weather made for a more pleasant hike of more than a thousand railroad ties. As sky lighten we made the summit to the splendor of the golden light over the view of the mountains and ocean. Headed back down the stairs as it was growing busier with hikers of all ages, 4 to 70 of age. Do not let the age fool you, this is not a cake walk. There is no shade, knee problems-rethink, second half the steps are much steeper. If not use to it take many breaks this is a serious stair step exercise. The payoff is gorgeous views from different vantage points. Recommendations, start early, good supportive shoes, poles help going down, bring plenty of water and snacks. Go to top and relax and take in the gorgeous views. read more

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Koko head hikers are a special community!!! My friend and I hiked it and had a good time. To all the teens and couples who helped her down the hike the rest of the 150 steps thank you!!! She had a soda and cleaned up and went shopping right after! read more

Stair climb all the way up -- which gets even steeper and steeper. Not for the faint of heart. It took me a while before building enough courage to do Koko Head. First time was pretty exhausting. We took our time going up and down, so round trip was around 70 minutes, with going down a bit faster, and questionably easier or harder (on the knees). With that said there are quite a number of fitness people here, and one guy went up and down in 20-30 min, 3 times. For me on my first time, it took me 2 days before I could walk normally again. Fast forward to my last two trips to Oahu, and Koko Head, for some mysterious reason, is really high on my list. It's kind of fun, in a challenging and adventurous way. Its also a pretty cool bonding experience, both with you companions and with random other people you pass. You will see people huffing and puffing, people cheering others on, people zip past like they didn't realize it's a stair climb, etc. Once you climb the steps, they opened up the path on the left, so there is an additional stair climb you can do to a lookout point. If you are stair-ed out, take the path on the right which is more of your average hiking and much easier. At the top, there are multiple lookout points, so you can get a 360 degree view around. Pro-tip: Go early. my preference is 30-60 minutes before sunrise, so you can get the hard(er) part done before it starts getting hot. If you are going for sunrise, check the forecast, if its cloudy you won't see it. read more

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Such a great hike with an amazing view but also not the easiest hike I have done lol it was tough when we got to the halfway mark as my legs were starting to feel shaky and I had the need to somewhat crawl to get to the top cause I was not going to give up. It took us about 1.5- an hour forty five to finish our hike which I was so proud of us. Definitely take it easy on this hike and there is plenty of parking to park your cars. Such a great accomplishment once you get to the top and just to enjoy it whole up there read more

I would say this is a moderate hike given the rapid incline in such a short distance. We hiked this for a sunrise hike. We had a bit later of an ideal start time but two young and in shape adults got to the top for the sunrise in 30 minutes. This hike reminded me a lot of "The Incline" in Colorado Springs but not as steep. It is railroad steps up to the top. Some people were wearing flipflops which I would not recommend. Some areas are uneven and can be slick depending on weather conditions. Be sure to bring plenty of water. Coming down was a bit tricky on the knee so be sure to pay attention. This was a nice and quick hike to start the day that didn't take up the whole day. We had no issues with parking but we parked at 5am. read more

Koko Head - Sunrise - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For years and several weekends, I've used this trail to transcend my level of fitness with the challenges of altitude. I would go here pretty much every other Saturday and time myself as far as how fast I can get up the rails. It is usually very crowded but has amazing views on the way up. This place is a tourist trap from top to bottom but is still worth the trip if you enjoy physical fitness. At the top, you could see Diamondhead Crater and also several parts of the most southern parts of the island. When you get to the top, there's a preserved observation bunker/point and a valley down inside of the Koko Head Crater, which is amazing. Also, there's a cog railway portion from an old system that's left midway through this trail. The tibers are spaced apart approximately 5 to 6 inches, which prompts a lot of people to stop because they are afraid that they may fall in between, but just take your time and be careful, and you should be fine. But at that point, it gets a little tougher because it gets a little steeper, but nonetheless, this is one of my favorite hikes for training on Oahu. read more

This is a fantastic little "hike" and not as bad as the hype. By my calculations, it ain't all that bad by the numbers. Distance (one-way): 1/2 mile Gain: 1,000 ft 1,000 ft of gain in 1/2 mile (~2,500) is pretty steep but...it's only half a mile! If you have good mental strength, this won't be too bad. Head up at a moderate pace that you can maintain, don't worry about how slow it is, and just keep on keepin' on. You'll be at the top before you know it. If you worry about how fast other people are or count every single step: YER GONNA HAVE A BAAAD TIME! The mental aspect of this hike is that, unlike most other hikes on the island there aren't natural, built-in "rest" areas (flat sections) where you can catch a breather. It's just up the entire time. I'd also recommend NOT doing this between...say 9am and 3pm. There isn't much protection from the sun. Start really early in the morning, or go up for sunset. You'll have a much better time. I went up after dinner but before my redeye flight back to Anchorage, it was the perfect activity to end my 2-day quick-n-durty trip to Oahu! Locals are lucky to have such an efficient, and free, way to exercise. I would hit this multiple times per week if I lived on the island. This is the go-to after-work hike! read more

Koko Head - View from the top at night - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My local foodie sherpa begged me not to do this hike because of its difficulty. Her opinion was not going to be a deterrent because we had already hit up numerous eateries, and I needed to burn some calories during this trip. Besides that, I had already packed trekking poles in my check-in luggage specifically for a challenging hike while in Oahu. Three of us tackled the trek on a partly cloudy and windy Saturday afternoon. Koko Head Trail, Koko Head Stairs, Koko Head Crater, Koko Crater Stairs, Koko Crater Railway... slightly different names, but it's all the same up-and-down trail that stretches 1.8 miles with an elevation gain of just under 900 ft. The stats say there were 1,048 railroad ties, some of which have been upgraded recently thanks to the efforts of the Kokonut Koalition. We parked on a neighborhood side street because the trailhead lot adjacent to the baseball fields and playground was already full. The incline of the railway trail starts at about a 35º angle and then increases to and maintains a 45º ascent. About 3/4 of the way up, the slope feels almost vertical at 50º. There was not a lot of shade so we were fortunate with the cloud cover that day. A few bushes along the side of the tracks provided some relief. There were many points where you could stop to rest and catch your breath. Adequate water was a must-bring on this hike along with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. I saw some folks wearing unstable footwear which was stupid and not recommended. About halfway up was a "bridge" that was a section in which there was no ground below the ties. If you dropped an item, then it would fall about 40 feet before hitting the ground. This part can be scary if you don't like heights. The recommendation was to crouch down and do a bear crawl while holding onto the ties to help balance yourself better. There was an alternative option of going around this area in the bush which was to the right of the track. It took us about 45 minutes to reach the summit, but it felt like more than an hour. The views in all directions were spectacular. Looking back down from where we came up, you could see how steep the railway was. To the due south were the gorgeous Hanauma Bay and its protected waters. Off in the distance to the southwest, you could see the volcanic peak of Diamond Head. Keep going further up after you have reached the end of the ties. You will encounter pill boxes that were used during wartime. Standing on top of it and looking north, you get views of Kailua and Kaneohe to the northwest and the ocean to the northeast. My poles were more useful on the way down because I could leverage them for stability as I proceeded down each step. It was easier to descend with your body turned 90º so that you were side-stepping. I saw one man going down the steps backward which was an unusual technique because he kept his body low to the ground. I joke that some trails are too flat and should be considered a walk instead of a hike. For Koko Head, this was not a hike but rather a five-star, glorified Stairmaster climb and descent. read more

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Steep hiking trail. First time I had thrown up in my adult life. It was an exhausting but rewarding experience. Go at your pace and don't hike when you're exhausted and could miss a step. Water is a must. My boyfriend had forgotten his backpack at the top of the trail and realized when we were half way down. So please don't do that. The view is breathtaking. It captures so much of the island. You'll just need to see it for yourself. read more

Koko Head - The view - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Very tough straight up hike/stairs. Arrive early before the heat/sun. Kind of difficult to get to by bus. It took us around 2 hours from Waikiki and we had to walk a mile to the trailhead. The elevation increase near the top was quite intense. I ended up getting exhausted and light headed and gave up around 2/3 of the way due to the heat and low oxygen at the higher elevation. I'm sure if the bus wasn't delayed and we got there earlier it would've been more doable. read more

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This is a serious exercise hike after about a quarter mile of walking you start to go up some railroad tracks which are the equivalent to about 55 flights of stairs I only recommended doing it in the earlier part of the day, or the very last part of the day there are good views up on the top. Generally speaking it has a I didn't on Sunday morning and I thought I had a good vibe overall do not go there when it's wet it would be very slippery. read more

Koko Head - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It was a fun and challenging thing to do. You build camaraderie with everyone around. The following are things I wished I knew beforehand: 1. The address listed on Yelp is just a random residence to get you close to the park entrance. You should keep you eyes wide opened for the entrance. I can't say if it's left or right...depends on the direction you're coming from. 2. Towards the middle of the bridge" the gap between the "steps" agents wider. Therefore, if you're 5'4' or shorter like me, it's scary because you'll need to leap a bit to get to the next step. There's a bypass which is essentially a short hike next to the "the bridge". I took the bypass going up and took the "bridge" going down. 3. Do not bring so much things because your balance might be off. read more

Climbing this was probably the highlight of my trip. Not sure what the operating hours were but I went there at 9:30pm, yup in the dark, with nothing except the moonlight illuminating part of the trail. I also had 4 beers. The decision to go at night was probably the alcohol telling me to be dumb but adventurous. Side note, did not drive myself there. Anyways it took me, my friend and my gf about 1.5 hours to climb to the top. To see the moon and stars at the top was beautiful to say the least. It was a little harder to climb down cause I was wearing converse shoes and being 40 yrs old. :/ Saw a police car on the way down near the entrance and they just waved at us. So I believe it's ok to go at night? read more

Koko Head - Koko Head - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This hike is literally what my parents say their walk to school was back in the day. This hike was challenging, but amazing. I honestly underestimated it, but after making it to the summit, I realized that the views were worth the suffering. Bring some good shoes, water and something for the sun. read more

Located near Kamala, this hill/mountain provides a nice hike up to the top with assumed views of the City and ocean, as I did not want to hike straight up during the mid-day heat. There is parking at the base of Koko Head, with a baseball field and recreation buildings close by. If you're looking for buns of steel, this would be a nice workout early in the morning. People coming down the mountain looked pretty happy, with a nice glow to their faces... read more

Koko Head - Top of mountain - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The hardest hike ever but hella rewarding. No railing and super steep. Not sure if walking sticks would even help you. There are honestly some beasts that come out here and just run up and down like it's nothing. One little older lady lapped me like 3x! haha! There are little sides where you can stop and take a breather but if a group is already there, keep going until you find another one. Please show etiquette and don't stop in the middle as people are bypassing others and you have the other side of people coming down. In one part of the hike, there is no bottom but you can bypass this by going on the side through rocks and trees, it's very short. Everyone is part of the same journey so be courteous and kind. Be mindful of the locals and get out of their way as this is their regular workout and they will be speedy. Bring hella water, take your time, and stretch! Quad juice explosion everywhere! read more

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22 January 2022 #5 - That's the number of times I have done Koko Head hike since I have been living on Oahu since 2019 (low compared to those who do it 5 times in a single day!). I can definitely tell that my stamina and speed have improved over the 5 times I have done the hike. Not only is going up hard and steep at some spots, going down is also tricky, and should be done cautiously. Added to my personal growth, the restoration and repair work done by the volunteers of the Kokonut Koalition has drastically improved the safety aspect of the trail/stairs. My "capable" family, friends, and I always take some supplies up when they are out. I think the hike is doable for any able-bodied person, regardless of age or physical activity level. It's hard and mentally challenging but doable! My 63-year-old breast cancer survivor mother has done it 2 times (2021 & 2022) since having surgery (2020), and she is not a very active person. I say this as a way to encourage those doubting their abilities. You can do it! read more

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Wow wow wow wow WOW!!! What a workout!!! I would not consider Koko Head a hike as it is primarily just a VERY steep stairway with the end destination being a beautiful view of a part of Oahu. All the way at the bottom and beginning of the master stairway, it may seem very intimidating seeing how many steps ahead you may have to conquer. If my boyfriend and I did not have a dinner reservation at Duke's Waikiki and felt pressured to stop a certain time to make it on time for the reservation, we honestly would have been able to make it to the very tip top of the stairs. Honestly we were more than halfway and I was still so proud of us. I thought I would give up way before reaching half of the stairway. However, there is something so exhilarating and motivating of finishing the stairway the more you keep going up the stairs. We definitely had to keep taking breaks. I do not know how some people were literally RUNNING or SKIPPING STEPS!!! The steps honestly have a decent amount of gap space as some of the steps are actually literally old train tracks!!! You must be careful walking certain parts of the stairway or you could possibly miss a step and fall through. That is why you may see some people almost doing like a crab walk walk or kneeling upward or downward the stairs. Next time I visit Koko Head, I definitely want to take the time to finish the entire stairway this time. read more

The google landmark won't take you to the starting point for the hike so look up "Koko Head Trailhead Parking Lot" instead. Very short but extremely tough hike with an extremely rewarding viewpoint at the top. Took me 36 minutes to get to the top and I went relatively fast so pace yourself and most importantly bring water and sunscreen. People of varying athletic abilities were all able to make it to the top so you can too. It was crazy to see people going up and down multiple times. It's a hike where you go up steps that are old railroad tracks. At one part the tracks detach from the ground and I had to crawl up; on the way down I walked. Some may say it is worse on the way down. Met some interesting people on the hike and most people are super friendly and supportive. read more

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This was a wonderful experience. I am fairly physically fit and this was definitely bit an easy hike. It was challenging but if you pace yourself either by going slowly or doing intervals, it is manageable. The stairs are not even or paved, so have to be careful with the steps. There is a part half way up, where their rate warning signs that the part is not stable. We went around it by taking the grass pathway (you only skip about 15 steps). The second half of the hike was a lot steeper and harder then the bottom half. Once you get to the top there is another little bit to go and the views are spectacular. There was a nice breeze and just peaceful. We didn't get too close to the edge cause there was no barrier but there were people willing to risk it all. read more

Do you like the Stairmaster? Well, get ready to meet the Stairmaster from hell. The Koko Head hike will definitely have your legs and thighs feeling the burn as you climb the 1,000+ steps to reach the top. The 360 panoramic views of Hawaii-kai, Hanauma Bay and more are well worth it, if you can handle its intensity. This is an intermediate to advanced hike and you should be in a decent shape to attempt this. I'd rate this at around a 6/10 difficulty level. Starting out, the hike up isn't too bad, as the recent additions of gravel have filled out the gaps between the steps, making it easier. However, some parts are definitely harder than others and it's when you reach the halfway point when you have the option of taking either the bottomless stairs or the detour where it starts getting tricky. Hint: if you're scared of heights, you should probably take the detour. I wanted to attempt going up the steps but one look down into the drop off, my inner chicken emerged. Luckily, this only lasts around 45ish steps and then you're back on the regular dirt and gravel steps. Once you reach the top, you have a few different pillboxes and lookouts you can take photos from. While you may think going up is hard part, getting back down is where the real challenge begins. Some of the steep, uneven steps will have you walking sideways or using your hands to push your butt down to gain a better foothold. Make sure you are careful and do this slowly. And be aware of loose dirt and gravel, lest you slip, fall and land on your lower back like I did. Still feeling the bruise as I write out this review. Take plenty of breaks in between, bring enough cold water, and make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen due to the lack of shade and you'll have one amazing experience here at Koko Head! read more

Koko Head - When you get to the top :) - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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2 days later, I still can't feel my legs... Jk, but this hike is like doing the stair master 2.0 It's no joke, 1048 stairs up and can get pretty steep. I recommend bringing water of course, as it can get hot depending the time of day. Besides that I still recommend bringing water to any hike. The hike only takes about 1.5 hours or less depending how many stops you take and how long you stay up top. I went with my girlfriend and the views were amazing. But of course she is still my best view. Overall, I suggest you go early, so it doesn't get too hot. Lots of parking and it's free which is always a good thing. read more

Koko Head - Mid way to the hike going down - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

One of the best hiking trail. Nature's stair master..... What an wonderful experience. read more

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Ok ok ok I was actually really dreading this hike Bc I'm super out of shape But it wasn't that bad! Just take your time and make sure you hydrate and it's totally doable There's a portion where there's no ground underneath the (~30) steps but there is a bypass if that ain't your thing Going down was much faster, but also rough on my knees Felt so accomplished although my legs were jello Get there early to beat the sun! read more

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Koko Head trail is 1048 steps straight up, around 1.4 miles RT. It is definitely a challenging hike, but so rewarding once you get to the top! Just make sure you pace your steps, and just as importantly, your breathing! I took plenty of breaks going both up and down. It took us around 25 min to get to the top. The views are so worth it! 360 views of Oahu below, including Hanauma bay, the crater, and Diamond Head. It started sprinkling a bit when we were at the top, and we found ourselves at eye level with a rainbow! Amazing. There is no shade on this climb, so make sure to bring a hat, SPF, sunglasses. Get ready to feel the burn and proud of yourself once you've made it to the top! read more

Koko Head - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I'd like to give a special shoutout to the Kokonut Koalition nonprofit for their efforts in rehabilitating the stairs for this hike. I've hiked Koko Head nearly ten times now over the past 4 years, and I can say without a doubt that they have made a huge difference in the quality and safety of the steps. I've seen them at work two times and it's super impressive seeing all the people haul up buckets of gravel to lay into the stair framing. For new hikers to Koko Head, my main recommendations are to go at sunset/sunrise or bring lots of sun protection. There is very little shade and it gets hot! Make sure to stretch your quads and calves because they will for sure be burning as you climb up. Once you get to the top make sure to explore all of the different spots on the peak to take in the view from multiple sides. read more

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