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Kuaokala Trail

4.5 (11 reviews)

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Joy N.

First...you need a permit to enter the military area. It is very simple to apply and receive a permit. The guards at the gate are very nice but will check your permit, license, registration and all. Please be respectful of the area and speed limits and off limit signs. There are two gates you need to go through to get to the trail. A MP needs to let you in and out of both. When you're ready to leave, you drive up to the first gate and call for the MP to meet you and then follow them to the next gate and out. The trail itself is very well maintained and there is a fair amount of tree cover as well. I have hiked two different trails back here. One we hiked the whole thing - to the fence and back, and we went the other way another but ran into a big off limit sign so we turned around. The other was more of a 4x4 driving trail that we walked. We set a time limit to head out and when we reached that time we were at a place that we could look out towards Mokuleia. It's very quiet and serene out here. Just you and nature. There are no trash cans that I have seen, so please take out what trash you make. Remember you are on military grounds - obey all posted signs for your safety.

Ku'e!
Kuulei S.

Great trail. Easy to moderate. Great views. Need hunting license or military ID to get access through Yok's end. WEST SIDE is the BEST SIDE

My friends very dirty dog having the time of his life.
Ivana C.

The kuaokala trail is in Waianae and is absolutely worth the long trek. you do need a hiking permit to go through the military check point in the front of the hike and will be asked to present one! So get that ready. The parking lot is all dirt and was very muddy when we went as you can see from our pictures. Be sure to have a box or matt in the back of your car for dirty clothing and or shoes so you dont ruin your seats and floor. The trail is very shady and the views of the ocean are great. This hike is very empty also but still challenging!

Daphne E.

Moderate 5 mile R/T hike on the west side. You do need to get a vehicle pass through the website below (DLNR). There's a variety of terrain and it's mostly shaded. It can be a little steep and slick at times, so good shoes are important. Also, pay close attention to trail markers because it's easy to get lost up there. The views are BEAUTIFUL! This trail is part of the Na Ala Hele trail system. http://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/trail.php?TrailID=OA+01+013&island=Oahu

Flower
Tim L.

Went back and just did an out and back of the "nice" section of this hike from the parking lot to the rock overlooking Makua Valley. About 4 1/2 to 5 miles RT. Got misted upon but no real rain. Bummer as the clouds blocked the view of Makua Valley. Nice views of the ocean and Yokohama Bay Beach despite the clouds and light mist. Of course, by the time we finished the sun had come out! Nice shrooms along the trail. I love seeing wild shrooms; something I photographed each Fall in Europe for so many years before coming here.

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Review Highlights - Kuaokala Trail

You will have to obtain a pass through DLNR and show a valid ID at the gate as well as wait for an escort along the top of the mountain road.

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Pu'u'ohulu Kai - City night view

Pu'u'ohulu Kai

4.7(153 reviews)
6.3 mi

Very cool hike. Unexpected difficult hike I would guess 2 miles round trip with some steep…read moreclimbing. I wouldn't bring kids unless they experienced hikers and no small dogs. But very rewarding hike with a beautiful 360 view at the top. Bring extra water and snacks and can have a nice picnic at the top.

This west side Pink Pillbox Trail isn't as famous as the east side's Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but…read moreit's only about a 15-minute drive from Aulani and way less crowded -- definitely a nice bonus. Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch. Still, I'd recommend parking closer to the entrance for safety because we noticed broken glass scattered on the ground further down the road, probably from past break-ins. We actually parked once, saw the glass right by our car, and quickly moved closer to the entrance instead. Right after we parked, it started raining. The forecast said it would last about 30 minutes, so we just waited it out in the car before starting our hike. The trailhead is right between a yellow "Falling Rocks" warning sign and a white "Speed Limit 25" sign on a utility pole. The hike starts with a steep incline, but overall it's not too hard and just a bit narrow at parts. There are three pillboxes total. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the first one at a relaxed pace, stopping for photos along the way. The first pillbox is painted in blue graffiti inside, and from there you can continue up to the famous pink one. When we got to the pink pillbox, there were surprisingly tons of flies swarming around the entrance for some reason, so we didn't stay too close. The wind was really strong up there -- strong enough that I had trouble keeping my balance! It looked like reaching the third pillbox would require climbing over quite a few rocks, so we decided to turn back instead. On the drive back, we passed Ulehawa Beach Park, where we saw a whole row of homeless encampments right by the ocean -- literally parked and camped along the beachfront. We even saw a few people running across the road and one guy riding his motorcycle the wrong way, yelling at drivers passing by. If that's a regular thing, really sad to see this.

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Pu'u'ohulu Kai
Pu'u'ohulu Kai
Pu'u'ohulu Kai

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Mauna Lahilahi

Mauna Lahilahi

4.6(23 reviews)
5.3 mi

Now this was a fun and short hike! The older I get and the older age of the guests I take on hikes,…read morethe more interested I am in completing hikes that get straight to the point - the view! This hike falls in that category. Make your way to Makaha and park on a neighborhood street. Please be respectful of where and how you park to show respect to the locals living in the area. Please ensure to not leave any trash and if you see any, please pick it up and dispose of it properly. It's just a short 3-minute walk to the base of the little hike. I believe it took us 15-20 minutes to make it to the top. I felt comfortable enough to allow my 5 year old daughter hike on her own with my supervision. There were a couple challenging spots, but as long as you push through, you should be good. The view from the stop is absolutely stunning. Since the hike is on the makai side, you can capture a full 360 view around. P.S. Waianae/Makaha is synonymous with choke homeless people and Hawaiians. Please plan appropriately.

SUPER short hike, but really breathtaking views! Came with a friend, and we hiked up about half the…read moremountain. She decided not to do the bit of "rock climbing" involved, and stayed behind with my dog. Still a very worthwhile view for just 10 minutes of work (or less). I went on, and while the rock climbing was very short, it is not for everyone. It is not extremely clear how to climb it (for someone without a lot of rock climbing experience aka me), but if you were to fall, the probably of it being fatal seems low. Gorgeous views to your left and right when you get to the top. Skip the "right fork". Just a little beach walk. We were done with both sides in less than an hour.

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Mauna Lahilahi
Mauna Lahilahi
Mauna Lahilahi

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Maili Pillboxes

Maili Pillboxes

4.7(64 reviews)
9.7 mi

I never grow tired of the amazing ocean and mountain views from this short hike…read more Have hiked both sunset and sunrise hikes enjoyed both. Although not a long hike, if you are not use to uneven rocky uphill the first section may be alittle rough for you both going up and down. We use poles, especially useful going down. The trail has very little shade so best done in morning or late afternoon. We usually only go to the first 3 pillboxes, which all have beautiful views. The art in the first one is fairly uncovered. Unfortunately the second one's art has been mostly covered by graffiti. I don't get why anyone would deface it. It is late February and the mountain has lush tall green grass lining the trail. Summertime is completely different being on the dryer side of island. The wind has been quit strong so instead of hanging on top of pillbox we spent sometime inside looking out the openings taking it all in. Back to the views, I never, never grow tired of them. Absolutely stunning!!!!

It's actually the same location when you search Pink Pillbox or Puʻu O Hulu…read more This west side Pink Pillbox Trail isn't as famous as the east side's Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but it's only about a 15-minute drive from Aulani and way less crowded -- definitely a nice bonus. Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch. Still, I'd recommend parking closer to the entrance for safety because we noticed broken glass scattered on the ground further down the road, probably from past break-ins. We actually parked once, saw the glass right by our car, and quickly moved closer to the entrance instead. Right after we parked, it started raining. The forecast said it would last about 30 minutes, so we just waited it out in the car before starting our hike. The trailhead is right between a yellow "Falling Rocks" warning sign and a white "Speed Limit 25" sign on a utility pole. The hike starts with a steep incline, but overall it's not too hard and just a bit narrow at parts. There are three pillboxes total. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the first one at a relaxed pace, stopping for photos along the way. The first pillbox is painted in blue graffiti inside, and from there you can continue up to the famous pink one. When we got to the pink pillbox, there were surprisingly tons of flies swarming around the entrance for some reason, so we didn't stay too close. The wind was really strong up there -- strong enough that I had trouble keeping my balance! It looked like reaching the third pillbox would require climbing over quite a few rocks, so we decided to turn back instead. On the drive back, we passed Ulehawa Beach Park, where we saw a whole row of homeless encampments right by the ocean -- literally parked and camped along the beachfront. We even saw a few people running across the road and one guy riding his motorcycle the wrong way, yelling at drivers passing by. If that's a regular thing, really sad to see this.

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Maili Pillboxes
Maili Pillboxes
Maili Pillboxes

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Mt Ka'ala Trail

Mt Ka'ala Trail

4.4(45 reviews)
6.3 mi

Let's get a few facts and opinions out of the way from the start:…read more- There are better hikes on this island, much better (Olomana Ridge comes to mind) - The start of this hike is arid, ugly, and brutally hot with little shade - There are lots of buildings (and a road, that you ain't allowed to drive on) on the summit Now that you know all these things, this is the highest point on Oahu and a worthy objective! If you're a peakbagger-type, this high point is an absolute must and is very easy compared to the high points of Kauai, Maui, and Moloka'i. If you can stay cool, this is a pretty easy hike, in my opinion. The route-finding is very straight-forward and there's only a little bit of scrambling. About staying cool: I would bring a few gallons of water. Drink as much as you can while you're still at your car, then soak your shirt and a headband in it. This'll help for the mostly treeless first part and it'll be long-dry by the time you reach the cooler, moist upper parts of the mountain. Another options is to start hiking up before sunrise but, if you're on vacation, you're probably not to interested in that. Yes, the summit is covered in military buildings but the views are still fantastic. I highly recommend doing a 360-degree walk around the perimeter fence. Another advantage of this hike is that it's not insanely popular. It's possible you might only see one or two other parties on the whole mountain.

This hike is not for the weak and definitely not for beginners. Mt. Ka'ala is known as the highest…read morepoint on the island of Oahu but the trip and the end result is well worth your efforts. The whole trip can take about 6-7hrs, up and back. Item I highly recommend you bring with you: -Electrolyte WATER (***I took a whole gallon with me***) -Small snacks ( Nuts, fruit bars, protein/granola bars, musubi, manapua, etc) -Sunscreen (7 hrs in the sun will get you. My face was sunburnt after.) -Hiking spikes (It was slippery even though it wasn't raining.) -Gloves ( You'll be climbing lots of rope!! Your hands will get raw.) -Hiking Bag/Backpack -Wear long sleeves and leggings (The water wicking type to stay cool and protected from the sun and bugs.) -Hat -Sunglasses -Selfie stick -Satellite radio ( I had one just in case but we all had cellular connection the whole trip. ) -Cellphone & rechargeable battery -Bug spray -Good Attitude ( This hike was hard but it wasn't impossible.) I came here with a group of hikers, now my new found friends, and we all pitched in on a giant UHAUL 16-seater van so that we wouldn't have to take our personal vehicles. We did this because the parking lot for this hike is well known for break-ins, so we made sure that nothing was left in the van when we began our hike. From the start, it's all incline and it kept getting more and more steep the further you went in. Majority of the trail is covered by trees and brush so there was plenty of shade. The closer you got to the top, the better the view got and it was pretty fulfilling to feel so high up. Once you reach the Mt. Ka'ala sign and the forest conservation, you get to experience the Hawaiian rain forest where you're required to stay on the wood/metal path laid out to minimize human damage to the environment. You'll know you've reached the top when you see a fenced in building owned by the government. There's a path along the fence line that'll bring you to the final view. Once there, you'll finally be able to take break, sit down, breathe in the cold air and enjoy the amazing view from the clouds as they pass you by. Goodluck, stay safe and happy hiking!

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Mt Ka'ala Trail - Our crew at the top

Our crew at the top

Mt Ka'ala Trail
Mt Ka'ala Trail

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Pu'u Hapapa Trail

Pu'u Hapapa Trail

4.8(12 reviews)
8.1 mi

Open to the public only a few days a year (when the military isn't having live ammo exercises), we…read morewere lucky to hike it on 4th of July. We came up Kunia Road and entered Schofield Barracks. You tell them you wanna hike Kole Kole trail. Then you pull over and get a permit. Your car must be fully legal and bring ID for everyone. They take your photo. Then we drove back into the base a while to the trail head. Nice parking and safe from thieves and vandals. The first 0.4 miles is extremely easy, like easier and shorter than Diamond Head. You get to a bench viewing area that is absolutely gorgeous. Unique views of West side. If you continue on to the left of the bench is a trail partially obscured by tall scratchy California grass. The trail is still easy for awhile, we took the left fork which is more gradual. Then you start ascending the side cliff which gets progressively more challenging, loose gravel, rock climbing but there are ropes to help you. Glad I brought spikes for the way down. Should have brought my gloves and worn long pants as I got lots of scratches on my legs from plants. We went to the top a little past where the junction is. You can see North Shore, West side, and all the way to Diamond Head. Approximately 2.5 miles total. Not too dangerous and mostly shaded until the ridge part. Sae many other side trails would love to explore.

We tried this trail this past Sunday as it was open to the public. Keep checking thier FB page for…read moredates and times the trail will be open. https://www.facebook.com/usaghawaii/ First thing, it had been raining that morning, so we knew there was a possibility we wouldn't be going up and down the notches. The thing about Kolekole trail is that if it had been raining, it dries up pretty quick. It's like the trail just absorbs all the rain. The hike up was fairly easy and clear however very gusty. We made our way up the summit only to feel the gusts even more. And that then was the end of the trail for us. Always practice safety first. There is always another day. The views were spectacular so it wasn't a total loss.

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Pu'u Hapapa Trail
Pu'u Hapapa Trail
Pu'u Hapapa Trail

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Kuaokala Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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