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    Lanipo Trail

    4.6 (28 reviews)

    Lanipo Trail Photos

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    Isaak R.

    This trail really requires the title "Billy Goat", as I found myself hopping all around so that I didn't crash into the beautiful flora along the sides of the narrow, crooked path.

    Almost at the summit, looking back to where we started
    Kyle H.

    Lanipo is a great workout, easy to find, easy to follow - definitely one I would do again if I was hiking alone and needed some nice outdoor cardio. The fence at the trailhead is clearly marked and along almost the entire route you can see your destination (the summit, if that is where you'll turn around) taunting you at its distance. When you've reached the last third of the trek to the top, you'll start to get great views of the Ka'au Crater hike on your left. This was pretty sweet to see the hike I despise so much :P The inside of the crater was nice and green. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lanipo-trail-honolulu-2?select=n2D6DZ3a-jnl5oHwIpALIQ#QozKAb-WonXIj0MkJDK2gA I've done longer hikes but for some reason the damn summit at the Koolau looked so far away every time I stopped to drink some water and catch my breath! I thought I'd never reach it! In and out, it is a total of 7 miles. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lanipo-trail-honolulu-2?select=n2D6DZ3a-jnl5oHwIpALIQ#3vPtBdY-5QUp3AALu-zZ6Q At the top, we rested for a bit and turned right along the Koolau Summit trail and made our way to Wiliwilinui Summit (about another hour or so) to complete our hike. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lanipo-trail-honolulu-2?select=n2D6DZ3a-jnl5oHwIpALIQ#4_xR6UN3smjaNUvUbcwMrw Remember to wear sunscreen and a hat or sweatband cause no matter what, you will sweat. There are quite a few really pleasant covered areas of the trail that feel almost like walking in an air-conditioned room for a moment but believe me, it doesn't last long! You will get all different terrains and climates along this hike, which is what made it most enjoyable for me. The trail was spectacularly maintained when I went (March 2013), thank you trail maintenance people of Oahu - your efforts are greatly appreciated!

    Andrew A.

    Fun, challenge ridge hike. Not for beginners. Pack a lot of water. Wear hood shoes. Hike starts in a dry environment and eases into the jungle for the majority of the trail. Fantastic views. Truly. As a ridge hike most of the trail has 500-2000 foot drops 1 foot to either side of the trail.

    Looking back at Mau'umae Ridge
    Arnold Y.

    With a five-hour time limit, I wanted to do a trail that was moderately long, and in the Honolulu area. Lanio (or Mau'umae Ridge) fit the bill. It is a definite up and down roller coaster of a hike. If you are not in good cardio shape, it will take it's toll on you very easily. With the lack of shade (thankfully there was cloud cover and awesome winds), the sun can drain you quickly as well. At least 2L of water is recommended. So yeah, ups and downs constantly as you slowly gain elevation. Beyond the halfway point, you start running into the annoying parts of the trail: uluhe and mud. Let me tell you: If you do not want your legs scratched up, wear long pants. Do not expect to get out of this trail with a clean pair of shoes. That being said, you can get a fantastic view of Ka'au Crater and a good view of the windward side on a clear day. Definitely good for cardio, just wear long pants and bring a good amount of water.

    View 5 minutes into the hike
    Yuko A.

    A few words of important advice before going on this trail. 1. Wear PANTS.... 2. Bring WATER and SNACKS 3. Go EARLY (at least by 10:30) I learned the hard way about number 1, so don't be an idiot like me and wear shorts. The green ferns are really pretty at first but they soon turn into mean overgrown branches and scratch at your legs and ankles merciless till you have to grow numb to the pain. The trail is also muddy so don't wear new sneakers. Besides the obvious negatives of the trail, it was a fun hike. I would rate this hike as an intermediate-advanced hike. There are a number of spots where its very narrow and you are climbing along a cliff which is covered by ferns so stay on the trail. On the way back my friend slipped and almost fell so be careful especially since you will be tired on the way back. Be ready for a lot of climbing up and down rocks, hills, and red dirt. It took us about 4 hours to get to the summit, we took our sweet time in the beginning taking pictures and such so I think if you were to cut some of the dillydallying it could take from 3-3.5 hrs. The way down took us 2.5 hrs. Its a 7.5 mile trail round trip so prepare to spend at least half your day on the trail. The views from the summit are breathtaking. You can see Kaneohe Bay, Olomana, Rabbit Island, and Honolulu. At times on the trail you may be frustrated by all the overgrown ferns which seem never-ending but just stick with it, the view from the top is so worth it. YELP 365: 110/365

    Pixel K.

    Gorgeous ridge hike. You're rewarded with amazing views right away, which stay with you for the majority of the time. Even if you don't have time to complete the whole thing, it's worth going for the beginning because it's so beautiful from the get go. It's easy to follow and not dangerous at all (saw a lot of other dogs and kids on the hike). It's moderate difficulty, but it's long and gets hot up there, especially since a lot of it is not shaded. Go early and bring plenty of water. Your human may want some sunscreen.

    Actual Lanipo summit, 2 hills away.
    Jan A.

    After completing Kuliouou, Hawaii Loa, Wiliwilinui, Olomana, & Kaau Crater, I was looking for a longer, maybe more challenging hike. While Olomana & Kaau Crater are more technical, Lanipo was physically harder. Usually 1L of water is more than enough, but I ran out for the trip down. There was no trades this day, and cloud cover was pretty generous, but it was still hot as hell! I packed pants just in case and thank goodness! Got scratched pretty well and it was limiting my speed, but once I got pants on, I was able to pick up the pace. The uluhe ferns were at least waist high for the majority of the area it was growing, some shoulder height & I'm 5'6". The sign at the entrance says: "Ka Inawa'au Nui Summit 3.5 mi, Lanipo Summit, 3.7 mi." It took us 2hrs 8min to get to the top. Towards the right there's a short hill, followed by a taller hill which we assumed was the real Lanipo summit. The taller hill looked much farther than 0.2 miles. My friend & I decided to trek up there. Walking along the ridge wasn't too bad since it looked like it hadn't rained in awhile. Had it been raining or wet, we probably wouldn't have done it. The trail was about 2 feet wide in some places, wider in others. The path to the top was steep, but there were defined footholds all the way up. We went slowly since the path was overgrown and there's cliff on both sides, obviously. Parts of the trail were deceiving as there was foliage growing on the sides, but upon a closer look, there was no ground under it. Sure enough GPS tagged it as 0.2 miles and there was a little US Coast Survey marker identifying the hill as Lanipo. It took us 20 minutes one way. Usually it's faster and easier to get back down the mountain, but for this hike, it actually took longer. I was looking for a challenge and this hike delivered. I believe I was in a mild state of dehydration for the entire hike which wasn't entirely bad....at least I didn't have to pee.

    Spencer girl
    Hoku F.

    Ummm Lanipo hike well its a great hike but be prepared to hike for about 5 hours depending on yor pace and how in shape you are. Its not hard it is just long... LONG!!! The views however are wonderful. You have views over looking Diamond head, Waikiki also Palolo Valley and on very clear days youll get other views. I do recommend you wear pants because the overgrown ferns scratch up and beat up your legs. And maybe a jacket because it gets cold as you go further up but also depending on the weather. There is also a beautiful view of Kaau Crater and the 3rd waterfall. Its amazing!

    Melissa H.

    The trail entrance is tucked away a little, it almost seems like you are trespassing. This was the last hike I did on my last vacation. It is very pretty and I even came across a turtle. Then it began to rain, then I hit the section with the ferns. They are no joke, I thought I would be cool and tough it out, no you need pants. I couldn't finish the trail as it was so muddy and slippery and the ferns sucked. I will try it again!

    Ka'au Crater
    Gabriela B.

    My husband and I did this hike today and were pleasantly surprised by how awesome it is! To get to the trailhead, you have to drive to the top of Wilhelmina Rise then take a right once you reach the top at Maunalani Circle. Keep an eye out on the right side of the street because once you make it around the first bend you will see a fence with a sign marking the start of the trail. You can find parking on the right side of the street here. Once we went through the fence and started the trail, we soon found ourselves climbing downhill. The whole start of the trail was full of mellow inclines and declines. The trail is easy to stay on and not get lost. At about 3/4 of a mile in, there is a nice little bench with views of the two surrounding valleys as well as Honolulu. It seemed that around the 2 mile mark was where the trail started to become a bit overgrown with uluhe. I would definitely recommend wearing pants, I wore capris and now my calves are super scratched up! At about 2.5 miles was when we could start seeing Ka'au Crater and the waterfall, which was awesome! The trail is angled perfectly to see an amazing view of the crater and waterfall. There are a few ropes that we passed while going up but none of them were really necessary as the inclines were pretty mild. Once we got to the top there was a nice little grassy area that was nice to sit on and enjoy the gorgeous view!! From the top you can see Chinaman's hat, the Mokes, Koko Head, Diamondhead, Honolulu and the airport and much more! Round trip the hike is 7 miles with no significant inclines until the very end on the way back which isn't difficult to climb. I would rate this hike as intermediate. It is a step up from Kuliouou, Wiliwilinui and Hawaii Loa, but definitely not difficult or dangerous at all. Tips: - Wear long pants! - Bring sunscreen. There are a few shaded areas but most of the trail is exposed. - Wear a hat. - Bring water. - Bring a snack to eat at the top.

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    Ask the Community - Lanipo Trail

    Review Highlights - Lanipo Trail

    Notes: -I didn't read a lot about parking, so I'll say that you can find parking near the trail on Maunalani Circle.

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    Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park

    Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park

    4.8(172 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Visiting Pu'u Ualaka's State Park is on my top ten favorite things to do in Honolulu. The Park…read moreoffers spectacular views of the entire Southside of the Island. I travelled up Mount Tantalus to the Park yesterday with my daughter. We travelled through beautiful dense forest at the Park entrance. At the highest overlook, we could see everything and more from Diamond Head out to (and beyond) the airport. We could see all of Honolulu. I felt like we were on top of the world! Plaques offer fascinating overviews of the history and geology of the landmarks below. We could even see inside the famous tuff cone, Punch Bowl! Nearby is the first macadamia nut orchard in Hawaii. The overviews are paved with railings and easily accessible. The Park offers picnic areas with a couple pavilions and picnic tables. There is a charge for non-resident parking of $7 that can be paid electronically. Resident parking is free. Parking is limited, but there are several parking areas. We had no trouble finding parking mid week. Warning signs tell guest not to leave valuables in the car. Pu'u Ualaka'a State Park is only two miles from downtown Honolulu (maybe a couple more miles to the top). The Park is an easy 5 star and worth a visit.

    There is a lookout in this park that provides a panoramic view of Honolulu and Waikiki. The view is…read moregorgeous. Also a perfect place to watch sunset. One thing to note is that it does get really windy here. There are two parking lots available near this lookout. The one right next to the lookout is very small. It only holds about a dozen cars. The safer bet is to park at the slightly further parking lot with only a five minute walk to the Vista point.

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    Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park
    Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park
    Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park

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    Lulumahu Falls

    Lulumahu Falls

    4.5(360 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    A beautiful day for a hike! Every time I do this hike it's a little different. Today the waterfall…read morewas cold and bracing and there were a lot of people hiking the falls. We started out around 8:45 AM and by the time we reached the waterfall, it was getting full of families and pairs of hikers. I recommend go early to skip the crowds. The hike itself isn't too technical and there are only a few places where you have to step up high over a rock or scramble through a stream.

    Here are clear and concise directions for this hike!!…read more Main parking off Pali hwy. Entrance is easily visible. You'll enter the bamboo forest. Within the first 50 feet it will split into a Y trail, take the left path. If you go straight you'll likely end up in the bamboo section for 20-40 mins. If you do not exit the bamboo area within 10 mins, you're lost. You'll exit the bamboo area through a lifted/broken section of the fence. Walk uphill onto the paved pathway. This will open onto a wide valley. You'll pass a large bridge structure. Follow that till road till you get to the supply shed structures. Look for a small concrete stairway in the trees. Stay left mostly, and look for pink ribbons. Pass the old fenced off pool looking area. Once you hit the rock/mud path (approx 10 mins) there's a hard right turn down into the main river area. A large tree has fallen so you'll need to spot the ribbons, and climb over this tree. If you pass this fallen tree by mistake, the trail will seem oddly difficult and dense. You'll need to turn around. Walk until you see the man made rock wall with a small waterfall, and walk across this to the other side. Follow the ribbons up the path and you'll need to cross the river 3-5 more times after this. Keep looking for clear open paths. There's two ways you can continue after that point so don't worry. (One way is just more difficult) Before the waterfall there's a larger section of rocks you'll have to climb over. Main takeaways: You will have to walk across slippery rocks several times. It is muddy. It's not that difficult but can be dangerous at some parts. If you don't see a pink/orange ribbon for more than 5-10 mins at any time, you are likely lost.

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    Lulumahu Falls
    Lulumahu Falls
    Lulumahu Falls - Crossing through the stream - hopping on the rocks

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    Crossing through the stream - hopping on the rocks

    Diamond Head State Monument - Shaved Ice

    Diamond Head State Monument

    4.5(2.2k reviews)
    2.6 miDiamond Head

    Vacationed in Hawaii (4/29-4/3 2026) so of course we had to hit up the beautiful island trails!…read moreDiamond Head was on our list so we booked it in advance since you need to make reservations. We did it all through Groupon to get picked up from our hotel and dropped off as well. The trail is definitely a popular hot spot for tourists but we didn't mind the crowd. We did an early one to see the Sun rise, though by the time we got there the sun was out already. Totally okay. Water was provided by our tour guide. He gave us some history on Diamond Head and then dropped us off and gave us 2 hours to explore before getting picked up. Thank you Jonah from Fun Hawaii Group! Aaaand we were on our way! Paths were clean and clear of overgrown plants for the most part. My wife and l hike regularly so we didn't feel the hike was bad at all. Weather was perfect (it rained on us a bjt too which was unexpected but fun) and it wasn't a long hike either. There are steps involved which we enjoyed for the added cardio! When we made it to the top it was breathtaking! The views of the ocean and the mountains were beautiful! Still find myself looking at photos. It was truly magical. We were in paradise!

    Hiking Diamond Head State Monument is honestly one of my favorite things to do when I visit Oʻahu…read more It's about a 1.6 mile round trip hike and took us around 1.5-2 hours, but this can vary depending on stops and crowds. I'd say it's a moderate hike--not super long, but you definitely feel it. There's a pretty significant incline, especially toward the end with all the stairs, so it gets your heart rate up for sure. The path isn't paved, so it's a mix of rocky, uneven ground and dirt trails, and it can get a bit muddy if it's rained recently. There are also these dark tunnels you walk through, which was actually really cool and made it feel a little more adventurous (just use your phone flashlight). The best part is definitely the view at the top. You get these insane panoramic views of Waikīkī and the ocean--totally worth the climb. A couple quick tips: make reservations before you go, get there early because it gets hot fast, bring water, and wear decent shoes (especially if it's been rainy). Also expect a little waiting in tight spots like the stairs near the top. Overall, it's a fun hike and 100% worth it if you're visiting.

    Photos
    Diamond Head State Monument - Top of the crater

    Top of the crater

    Diamond Head State Monument - Super Mommy and Son Son

    Super Mommy and Son Son

    Diamond Head State Monument - Happy Hikers!

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    Happy Hikers!

    Makiki-Manoa Cliffs Hike - Bench where you can relax!

    Makiki-Manoa Cliffs Hike

    4.3(38 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Did this amazing hike again starting at a different location with an alteration due to a closure of…read moreone section of the trail. I love the combination of this trails because the variety of beautiful views, landscapes, type of surfaces. Dense lush rainforest to dryer areas with a variety of foliage. Started at the Makiki Arboretum trail, taking the loop to the right on the Maunalaha Trail. This section will get the blood flowing as you climb upward over a very rooted trail. Once you arrive at an area with metal benches there is an intersection of multiple trails. Take Makiki Valley Trail to the Right. After a short hike take the Moleka Trail to the Left. The Moleka trail becomes the Manoa Cliff trail which you stay on for a number of miles. If you struggle with narrow trails with drop offs this section may not be for you. There are beautiful views of Manoa Valley from the trail. Some sections of this trail can be muddy. In the past Hike once you go through the gate the Manoa Cliff trail takes a sharp turn to Left at Intersection of other trails. In our case there was a recent landslide and there was a warning sign not continue on the Manoa Cliff Trail. No problem we took Pauoa Flats Trail until we reached Kalawahine Trail and took a Left on it. Take this trail until you reach a paved road, take a right down the road until you see the next trailhead, Nahuina Trail which zig zags its way down. When you come to Makiki Valley trail go left. When you reach Kanealole take it to your right. This trail will take you back to trail you started on. Since there are so many different trails to do this loop I suggest using Alltrails download. We clocked over 10 miles. I'd rate it as intermediate. Bring plenty of water, I carry crampons in case there are muddy slippery areas. Would not do if heavy rain or strong winds expected.

    Afternoon hike at Manoa Cliff, Kalawahine, and Makiki Valley Loop…read more Great trail, awesome views. Best if you can download the map as you loose service in several areas of the trail. My trail map also showed I hiked 7.3 miles and my husband stated 6.4, but either way it is long. Just be ready for a good long hike. We started in the rain so yes mud was around, and yes places were pretty slippery. But all in all not too bad to get around. Just wear good hiking shoes. Conditions: bugs, muddy, easy parking, great views, dog friendly, well maintained, wild flowers

    Photos
    Makiki-Manoa Cliffs Hike - Son son and mommy

    Son son and mommy

    Makiki-Manoa Cliffs Hike - Mommy and son son

    Mommy and son son

    Makiki-Manoa Cliffs Hike

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    Lanipo Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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