This sign lets you know where to bypass the bridge section. The site has had many functions until it was finally passed onto the City of Honolulu and became Koko Head Regional Park in 1966. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. The Koko Crater trail is one of the most popular hikes in Oahu. The Diamond Head hike Hawaii is a must-do. Beautiful Sonrise service on the top of Koko. If you are driving and do not have a GPS system either on board or on your phone, inquiring at your hotel for the fastest route is a good or pre-printing directions. There is a way around the bridge if you head to the right (shady section). For the challenging part, the railroad tracks that make up the trail amount to 1,048 large stairs going straight up. The views at the top of Koko Head trail are really amazing. Directions: The trailhead is located at the end of Manoa Road adjacent to the Lyon Arboretum. We also recommend bringing a light jacket for a sunrise hike since it can be cooler in the early hours. Especially if the stairs consist of more than 1048 steps held down by railroad ties going up the side of a volcanic crater. How long does it take? Just remember to take a flashlight and be careful walking unfamiliar ground in low visibility. There are 1,048 stairs at Koko Head trail, to be exact. Athletic wear that can protect you from the sun is the recommended choice of wardrobe. A hat and some shades would be welcome as additional sun protection. Thanks for your support. Closed now 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Write a review About Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is one of Oahu's most popular coastal hiking trails on its southeastern coast, offering spectacular views of the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline. Make sure to pace yourself and remember to pull to the side to give people a way to pass. The reward at the top is a bird's eye view of the famous Makapuu lighthouse built in 1909 and almost all . The bridge is scarily degraded wood - take Murphys pass, If I lived in the vicinity, would do this at least once a fortnight for fitness. We appreciate your click. Leave the hiking boots home and go for a light running shoe. Check out this 2.6-km out-and-back trail near Honolulu, Oahu. So we were not prepared for the lack of oxygen, we made sure to take lots of breaks as it was hard to breathe at some points for me. Bragging rights, incredible photography and getting your cardio income as close seconds. The botanical garden is nestled inside Koko Crater, the same crater you can find the famous Koko Head Stairs hike. For the history buffs out there, the hike has great significance regarding the second World War. This is your chance to walk along the rim of an extinct volcano crater! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You will see multiple people (most-likely locals) hike this trail without shoes, but I would not do it myself. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Koko Crater (Hawaii's tallest tuff ring) is one of a chain of volcanic tuff cones along the Ka Iwi Coast. Itll mess up your day and waste taxpayer money, and it gives the locals an excuse to call for closing yet another classic Oahu hike. You get panoramic views of Hawaii Kai and Hanauma Bay below, and you can even faintly make out Diamond Head and the Honolulu cityscape in the distance. Take your time and keep heading up. The sun sets right over Hawaii Kai, and there are usually no clouds to block it. More Oahu Hiking Guides . Once you get to the top, you will be greeted with astonishing 360-degree views. When a popular hiking trail in Oahu becomes a liability, the Hawaii governments typical response is to close it down completely instead of working with the community and trying to find a better solution. Plus, 90% of the route is essentially a stair-stepper up the old Koko Head Tramway. The first peak of the trail can be reached about ten minutes into your hike. One last consideration would be that a small section of the hike consists of a railway bridge that may be bothersome to those with a fear of heights. The Start of the Trail. kajunkruzin / Getty Images. Amazing hike - not for the faint of heart. Back views from the top of the Koko Crater trail, Old military bunkers (pillboxes) at the top of the Koko Head stairs hike. Oahu man hiking Koko Head 40 times for mental health. The stairs will climb over 1,200 feet (so approximately 1 foot per stair!) Heat exhaustion is pretty self-explanatory, but it happens when the internal body temperature rises over its normal levels. Most of all, be safe, take pictures, make some unique memories, and have a great, adventurous day of fun in the sun! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. for their Hawaii vacation. With 1,048 steps to the top, the trail follows the steep hill that . The incline is abrupt, take breaks when needed & enjoy the views. The trailhead is open from 4:00 am till 11:00 pm. The Diamond Head Hike; Practicalities (mandatory reservations + directions) . Makapuu Beach Park This beach is perfect for an afternoon picnic or a stroll on the beach. Honolulu House w/Shared Pool by Koko Crater! However, unless youre a giant, each stair will actually take several steps to climb because theyre very big and awkward. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! The views at the summits are different, but great on both hikes. This was such an awesome trail! Suggest edits to improve what we show. After spending some time at the second peak, its time to head back down on the same trail you hiked up. Preview trail Hiking Forest Views Wildlife Over grown Rocky Scramble No shade No dogs Description The parking lot for the Koko Head Crater Botanical Garden closes (meaning gates are locked) at dusk. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Koko Head and Diamond Head are both extinct volcano craters, and you can see old World War II military bunkers (pillboxes) at the top of either summit. If any section of this hike deserves to be nicknamed the Koko Head stairs of doom, it would be this dizzying final section of the trail. This 1000 step climb to the top has unparalleled views of the south western coast of Oahu. More info on this below. If you want a good workout and calorie burn, however, Koko Head wins there. Her first cookbook, Dumplings All Day Wong, was . Koko Head Crater Trail is a 1.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Honolulu, Hawaii that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Its taxing cardio-wise and can be tough on the legs, knees, and feet. Take Hwy 72 to Koko Crater hike turn left on Lunalilo Home Rd, then right on Anapalau St, which ends on Koko Head State Park Rd (this road can be accessed from Hwy 72, but is sometimes closed). I. Plan on probably at least 30 minutes to reach the top, and then almost the same amount of time to go back down. Once you reach the peak, you will be greeted with cool breezes, shade trees, and stunning views. Because the hike is quite short, and round-trip time averages an hour and a half, food is optional. Great views of north, east, and south O'ahu at the summit. Also, some stairs are missing or have been replaced with stones. Most hikers take the detour. Visitors can drive around the crater to the opposite side to access the gardens. Koko Crater is a tuff cone created by Oahu's most recent volcanic activities. This is the most touristy hike as it is very close to Waikiki, but has a great view. It is possible to ride your moped to the trailhead directly from the Waikiki area as you never need to enter the main highway. It is an uneven climb along with the steps which are slippery due to dust. Parking is close. It gets covered in dirt and becomes more slippery. Koko Head Regional Park in Honolulu County, HI Koko Head Park Rd Honolulu, HI 96825, Koko Crater Arch Trail from Halona Blowhole Lookout, Kaiwi Shoreline Trail to Alan Davis Beach and Kaho'ohaihai Inlet, Ka'iwi Shoreline Trail and Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail Loop, Ka-ili-ili Bay and Kaloko Inlet via Kaiwi Shoreline Trail, Kamilo'iki Park and Hawaii Kai Community Garden, Hahaione to Pyramid Rock Loop [PRIVATE PROPERTY]. and a common misconception. Ive hiked the Koko Crater trail many times over the years, and its always great fun. This website's use is your expressly conditioned acceptance of the terms, conditions, and disclaimers found within our Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability page without any modifications. The dusty trail and slick metal ties can also be slippery. I can tell the Kokonut Coalition did great work. Plus, this is excellent exercise! This site is owned and operated by Vacation-Waikiki. I would highly recommend hiking this in the daytime once or twice before you attempt it for sunset. Parking is free next to baseball field, crowded on weekends; don't leave valuables in the car. Fantastic workout Koko Head to remain closed during renovation project, only open to public on weekends, holidays Posted: Mar 24, 2021 / 12:24 PM HST Updated: Mar 25, 2021 / 11:34 AM HST HONOLULU (KHON2) A. The day I did it, March 25th, they were air-lifting a young person I later heard was 12 years old who went too fast on the downhill, tumbled, and broke multiple bones, including his leg. One way to enhance your photography opportunities is to head for your hike shortly before sunrise. If you enjoy this hike, consider donating to Kokonut Koalition. Download your copy of our Warning sign at the Koko Crater railway trailhead. In fact, if you ever look up to Koko Head hiking trail before the sun has risen, you will see a line of small white lights slowly making their way up the trail. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Officially known as Koko Crater Tramway, Koko Head is also referred to as Koko Head Stairs, Koko Crater Stairs of Doom, Puu Mai Stairs, or Koko Crater Stairs.. ~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~. . Incredible view at the top. -Wear a hat. We used the flashlights on our phones. If you're visiting Oahu soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Oahu Visitor Guides. Stairs. The Koko Head Hike railway "stairs" is a short drive from Diamond Head and Waikiki. It is part of the total package experience -- Diamond Head, shave ice, Pearl Harbor, surf lessons. Its not a dangerous hike and there havent been any falling deaths, but its a real fitness test and may not be enjoyable for everyone. Need water and a hat, need good grippy shoes. The Koko Head sunset is wonderful. Whenever you buy something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Wear a lot of sunscreen and bring a small bottle to re-apply at the top. Morning and evening are both great times to hike Koko Head, and if you plan it right you can even see the sunrise or sunset, which are both spectacular! Dehydration often goes hand in hand with heat exhaustion and is often a contributing factor. Elevation Gain: ~885 ft. / 270 m. Some call it the Koko Head hike, but locals call it a workout because many Oahu residents treat the Koko Crater Stairs as a quick workout in the morning or evening. That means Koko is steeper and harder. Most people rent a car in Oahu and drive to the Koko Crater trailhead. link to Waikiki 2020 Best Tips & Restaurant Favorites, link to Wayne's 2019 10 Day Ultimate Waikiki Itinerary. We have since stuck to hiking the trail for sunrise and have never looked back. Initially I resigned myself to the fact that I had simply chosen the wrong shoes for the trek (running shoes). The first time you do the Koko Crater trail feels like a total slog, but each subsequent climb gets shorter and easier. The Koko Crater Summit will be closed during the entire three weeks, but the tramway will be open on weekends and holidays. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. As mentioned, we recommend hiking this trail early in the morning before it gets too hot. We usually park on the side of the road by the tennis court. We recommend booking Koko Crater Railway Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. As mentioned, the trailhead can be found about 100 yards past the parking lot on your left-hand side. My partner and I made the mistake of tackling this as our first trail soon after arriving to Hawaii from Miami, where elevation is -7 ! Are you looking for a great hiking adventure on Oahu? Youve made it to the top, so now what? That means if you start the hike from the main parking lot, like most people do, then theres about 900 feet of elevation gain (275 m). Ill share more details on the Koko Crater Rim trail later in this guide. Wear a hat and sunglasses. What restaurants are near Koko Crater Railway Trail? Koko Head (at 642 ft or 196 m) is an ancient tuff cone that is somewhat dwarfed by its neighboring tuff cone, Koko Crater, with its peak, Kohelepelepe (or Puu Mai ), rising to 1208 ft or 368 m. Koko Head itself has three significant depressions or old vents, the largest of which forms the well-known Hanauma Bay. Thanks for looking! When you reach the end of the Koko Head stairs, you still have a little bit of walking to do to get to the top of the mountain. Its about 10 miles from Waikiki, and the drive only takes 30 minutes. Youre in for a very tough hike if you do all of this in one day, and I wouldnt attempt it if you arent plenty comfortable with heights. It's also called the Koko Crater Railway Trail. Good to know: The trail is has recently (June 2021) reopened after being closed for 2 years. The Koko Head District Park is open from 4 am until . As stated, the sun is out, and that means heat exhaustion and dehydration are possibilities, albeit very preventable ones. Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. We started our first trip of the year in February and wanted to share the latest travel deals. Therefore, we participate in affiliate programs to include, but not limited too, Google AdSense as a means to earn advertising fees to pay our bills. 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