Hiking on Oahu on the Kuliouou Ridge Trail in Hawaii

When my wife and I were conditioning ourselves a few years ago for a backpacking trip up to the summit of Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii, we needed a hilly yet well-graded trail to develop our fitness level. One of the trails we chose for our training was the Kuliouou Ridge Trail on the east side of the island near Hawaii Kai. It is a pretty popular route and as part of the state system of trails, is well maintained.

How to Get There:

To drive there from downtown Honolulu, take H-1 eastbound and continue east as H-1 ends and transitions to Kalanianaole Highway just past Kahala Mall. After passing several nice parks, turn left onto Kuliouou Road and head inland into Kuliouou Valley. Kuliouou Road will zig left then zag right. Right at a "Dead End" sign, turn right onto Kala'au Place and drive uphill till it ends. The trailhead is at the end of this road.

If traveling by bus, take Route 1 (Hawaii Kai) and exit along Kalanianaole Highway by Kuliouou Road. Proceed on foot up Kuliouou Road and then up Kala'au Place (this walk is a little over a mile).

Trail Description:

Kuliouou Ridge is a 5-mile roundtrip hike, with an elevation gain of about 2000 feet.

The trail begins along a paved road that leads to Kuliouou Stream. Before crossing the stream, veer right along a grassy road. At the start of the grassy road is a hunter/hiker sign-in mailbox. I recommend you sign-in, noting your start time and the number in your party.

Continue along, now on a trail. Look for a signed junction after about five minutes. Here, turn right and up. The trail straight ahead leads into Kuliouou Valley. You might explore this trail on another occasion or, if you are feeling energetic, after you return from the summit. You will know you are not on the ridge trail if you find yourself contouring above a stream for a long distance then eventually descending into the stream. If this is the case, turn back and look for the junction.

From the junction, the ridge trail gains elevation via a series of switchbacks. Except for a few rocky sections that require a minor bit of scrambling, the trail is wide and well-graded, even for folks into trail running and backpack training. I've even seen seniors, some in their sixties and seventies, on this trail.

The goal of the switchbacks is to take you the crest of Kuliouou Ridge. Once there, you'll veer left and head up the ridge, passing a picnic shelter surrounded by a grove of pine and ironwood trees. The shelter is a good place to stop and rest. For some folks, pressed for time or energy, the shelter is the terminus of their hike.

However, for the summit-bound, press on up the ridge. Above the shelter, the trail passes through some quiet, almost-eerie sections of pine forest. Enjoy these on the way up and down.

Eventually, the views around you will open up, a wow moment, no doubt. To the left you will see Kuliouou Valley. Looking oceanward, you will see the offshore waters of east Oahu. On a sunny day, you'll see boats, sailboarders, and locals board riders surfing and frolicking in the blue expanse.

As the top is near, the trail steepens. Steps cut into the hillside help the upward climb (and later the downward descent).

A sign marks the end of the trail. Also marking the end of the trail is a steep cliff, with huge drops to the windward side. On clear days, views there are spectacular. What you can count on in these conditions is the panoramic beauty of the island's windward side from Mokapu Point to the far left to Makapu'u Point to the right. The island off the coast is Manana, referred to locals as Rabbit Island, not only for its bunny-shaped appearance but because rabbits populated the island at one point. On very clear days, it is possible to see neighboring islands Lanai and Molokai on the distant horizon beyond Makapu'u Point.

If you are hiking this trail on a cloudy, drizzly day, bring a windbreaker, for the summit will be cold and windswept. In these conditions, hunker down in a little depression just leeward of the summit clearing.

Final Notes:

This is an excellent hike. It's not overly long and even on rainy days on Oahu, it is very possible that this area will have been spared from the drenching. Give a try to Kuliouou Ridge, one fo the wonders of Hawaii.