What to Do in Hawaii: Hike the Kawaewae Ridge Trail

The Kawaewae trail is not often hiked because it is not well-known. It's a point-to-point hike but can be done as an out and back for those who don't want to arrange for transportation logistics or have to endure a road walk back to their car.

How To Get There

From downtown Honolulu, drive westbound on the H-1 freeway. Exit H-1 on Likelike Highway north. Travel up Likelike thru Kalihi Valley and through the Ko'olau mountain range via the Wilson Tunnel. Continue downhill passing along Likelike passing Kahekili Hwy (do not take Kahekili) to a large intersection with Kamehameha Highway. Continue straight ahead as Likelike transitions to Kaneohe Bay Drive. Pass Castle High School on the right then Bay View Golf Course on the left. Right after a pedestrian overpass, turn onto Kokokahi Place. Follow the road uphill till bends right and levels off. The trailhead will be on the left. Parking is limited to two vehicles there. Park down the hill and walk if need be.

If you travel by bus from downtown, take Route #56 (Kailua-Kaneohe). Exit at Kaneohe Bay Drive and Likeke Place. The ride costs $2 and takes about 40 minutes. Walk up Kokokahi Place to the trailhead.

Hike Description

The initial part of the hike climbs up through a trail in the Friendship Garden, a route built and maintained by community volunteers. Enter via a concrete staircase and continue straight ahead up the rocky trail. Switchback to gain elevation, passing a small grove of bamboo en route.

As the ridge top nears, make a sharp left to gain the crest. The trail straight ahead is part of the Friendship Garden loop.

Once you reach the ridgecrest, continue straight ahead for a short distance to a nice viewpoint. This is a good spot to take pictures and enjoy the views of Kaneohe Bay and sea vessels and boats within it. The island off to the left is Coconut Island, which was used as an opening image for the 70s television show Gilligan's Island.

Backtrack to the main trail and follow it straight ahead as it climbs steeply up an eroded section to a hilltop with a telephone pole.

Continue along the ridge trail, which can get brushy and overgrown due to lack of hiker traffic.

Pass a bee's nest in a second telephone pole. The bees there have never been aggressive, but do not linger there nor make loud noises so as not to agitate them.

After hiking up and over a couple of humps in the ridge, reach a clearing next to fenced-in enclosure for cell phone reception equipment. There is a nice view of the community of Kaneohe from this spot.

At this point, the ridge veers to the left. Continue along the ridgetop on a trail.

The trail follows the topography of the ridge. Prepare for some ups and downs.

Reach the highest point of the hike at a large flat-topped hill covered by small trees and with many ferns on the ground.

Continue along the ridge trail. Descend an eroded section with the aid of a short rope. Test all hand- and footholds before using. There are good views toward the town of Kailua and toward Makapu'u Point. Directly below is a quarry. The trucks and heavy equipment there appear tiny like Tonka Toys.

Continue on, descending more steeply down another eroded section. A rope is available there for assistance.

Continue descending to reach an old grassy road, once used by the quarry workers long ago.

Continue along the grassy road as it climbs. Where the old road splits, bear right and up. Look for pink or orange trail ribbons to guide you.

Leave the old road to climb the embankment on the left. A rope may be there for assistance.

Resume climbing to reach another high point. At this hilltop, reach a junction. Here, take a final look at the quarry below and the blue beauty of Kailua Bay in the distance then turn right and descend, steeply at times. Ropes are available in a couple of places.

Continue following the trail as it descends the ridge. After 20 to 30 minutes of descending, reach a junction at a flat-topped hill amongst trees. Turn sharply right here and then descend a slope. The beautiful red blossomed trees you see on the way down are native 'ohia lehua. Good photo ops here.

Right before a grove or ironwood trees, the trail will level off then make another sharp right down an overgrown jeep road. Reach a low spot then climb the jeep road to the right. Reach the top of a low side ridge. Ignore the jeep road heading to the left. Head uphill to the right. Almost immediately, turn left on an indistinct trail. Look for trail ribbons to guide you through.

Cross a shallow drainage climb briefly then descend to another drainage. Follow that drainage out to a trail on its far bank. Follow the trail that leads toward a concrete drainage ditch.

Reach the end of a residential street-Lipalu Place.

You have several options from here: make the long road walk back to Kokokahi Place, catch the bus back (the bus line passes along the main road at the end of Lipalu Place), or stage a car here.

Whatever you decide, plan on a short but adventurous hike. Don't be deterred by the rope sections. Take care as you hike and all will be well. As always, wear good shoes with tread and carry a cell phone in case of emergency. Have fun.