5 Short But Breathtaking Oahu Hikes, 2 Miles or Less
Oahu, Hawaii is home to some of the most beautiful trails I’ve ever hiked — ridge trails overlooking lush mountains that look like dinosaurs and picturesque bays, as well as waterfall hikes and peaceful oceanside trails. Best of all, many of these Oahu hikes are quite short!
In this Oahu travel guide I’m sharing my favorite short Oahu hikes under 2 miles. Of course short doesn’t mean easy, some of these hikes are quite challenging with rapid elevation gain, but you’re rewarded with out-of-this-world 360 views if you push through to the end! I’m also sharing some easy short hikes on Oahu that anyone can enjoy.
Regardless of which Oahu hikes you choose, I hope your Oahu vacation is filled with beautiful mountain and ocean views, lifelong memories, and delicious food! I have plenty more Hawaii travel guides that are worth checking out as you plan your Hawaiian adventures.
👋🏽 Note from the author: Did this article impact the way you planned your trip? Have any questions? Please comment at the end of the article! It helps this blog grow and helps me know what types of articles to write more. 💛
1. Koko Head (Koko Crater Tramway)
The Koko Crater Tramway hike climbs directly up an abandoned railway to the top of Koko Crater. In just 0.8 mile you gain 912 feet in elevation while walking up over 1,000 steps along the railway. The 360 view at the top features picturequse Hanauma Bay, the Hawaii Kai community, and the skyscrapers of Honolulu in the distance.
I love this hike because it is challenging, yet achievable — you know exactly what’s ahead of you (many more steps!), and the views from the top are 110% worth the workout! Plus, it’s such an encouraging community activity — most people end up out of breath and have to take plenty of breaks along the way, but there are also some inspiring locals who climb Koko Head several times a week as a workout (some of them even climb it with weights!!)
The Koko Head hike is 1.6 miles roundtrip, and very easy to follow since its just straight up the railway. Even though the route itself is simple, this is certainly not an easy hike! People are regularly air lifted from this hike, so its important to know your own abilities and come prepared.
You’ll definitely want some good shoes (I wear these trail runners on all my Hawaii hikes), and you should absolutely bring water and maybe a snack. There is almost no shade throughout the hike, so I highly recommend hiking at sunset. It’ll be cooler, and Koko Head is such a lovely place to watch the sunset!
Note: While the majority of the tramway resembles stairs with dirt ground right underneath, there is a very sketchy part where you can easily fall between the cracks. There is a trail to walk around the tramway at this point — it’s a very short detour and I definitely recommend it, especially if you’re exhausted and your legs are shaky!
🌺 Essentials for Hiking in Hawaii 🌊
🥾 Solid hiking shoes: You don’t need hiking boots (they take up way too much room in luggage!) but Hawaii trails can be sketchy so good shoes are a must. I love my Altra Lone Peak trail runners for hiking at home and on vacation.
☀️ 50 SPF sun shirt: Even if I’m not wearing it for the whole hike, I always have this UPF sun shirt in my bag to protect my skin! It’s breathable in the heat, but also blocks wind chill at the same time!
💧 Hydration pack: Never go hiking in Hawaii without water! I recently bought my first hydration pack (this one specifically), which is a small backpack with a water bladder. It’s so much easier than carrying a water bottle. It made all the difference on my recent Oahu hikes!
🧢 Hat: It doesn’t need to be a special hiking hat, I usually hike with a baseball cap!
🩹 Mini first aid kit: I always carry a travel size first aid kit like this one when traveling, especially on hikes. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve ended up needing it (usually just for a bandaid and neosporin!)
2. Lanikai Pillboxes
The Lanikai Pillboxes trail is another excellent short Oahu hike, and quite a popular one! Also called the Ka’iwa Ridge hike, this 1.6 mile roundtrip trail quickly climbs up to the top of a ridge with 360 views of the iconic Moke twin islands, beautiful bays, Kailua town, and lush green mountains.
The trail also features two pillboxes, which are old abandoned military outposts. They’re small cement buildings that (in my opinion) aren’t as cool as they sound, but the views are absolutely incredible.
I would say that the Lanikai Pillboxes hike is a little easier than Koko Head, but it’s still quite challenging and since the trail is along a thin ridge with a drastic drop offs, it feels more dangerous — a misstep could be deadly.
As with Koko Head, there isn’t much shade on this trail, which I why I recommend hiking Lanikai Pillboxes at sunrise. Regardless of when you hike, be sure to wear solid footwear and bring plenty of water. And be aware of the tricky parking situation — there isn’t a parking lot for this hike.
You have to parallel park in a neighborhood that is known for not having much parking. It’s also the neighborhood where people park to visit beautiful Lanikai Beach, so it fills up quickly. That’s why hiking at sunrise is so great, you beat all the beachgoers and can easily find a parking spot! Just park legally without blocking any driveways and be quiet as to respect locals who live here. I share more about parking details in my Lanikai Pillboxes guide.
The Lanikai Pillboxes hike is located in Kailua, one of my favorite towns in Oahu! If you want to spend more time in Kailua before/after your hike, be sure to check out my guide to the most fun things to do in Kailua, Oahu.
Also Read: How to Visit Flat Island (Popoia Island) in Hawaii
3. Mt. Olomana (Three Peaks Hike)
The Three Peaks Trail at Mt. Olomana is another beautiful and rewarding, yet short hike on Oahu! As the name suggests, this ridge trail features three different peaks — the third of which is considered to be very dangerous, however, you can get some of the hike’s best views by just hiking to the first peak, which is the safest way to do this hike.
The hike to Olomana’s First Peak is about 1.4 miles with 1,550 feet of elevation gain, and it is certainly the longest and most dangerous hike on this list of short Oahu hikes. That said, the unique landscape of Mt. Olomana’s peaks, and the views you get of the second and third ridges from the first peak, make it a worthwhile adventure for experienced hikers.
If you do attempt Mt. Olomana’s Three Peaks Hike, there are quite a few things to be aware of. First, you will have to scramble/rock climb at certain parts, but there are ropes installed for assistance. We found that the ropes were most helpful for the journey down the mountain.
Then you should also be aware that there are massive drop offs at several points of the trail, and you really have to be careful. Thankfully, as far as I’m aware, no one has died or been seriously injured on the hike to the First Peak, just at the Second and Third Peak. But that doesn’t mean its the least bit safe or easy!
As with all these hikes, proper footwear and plenty of water are a must, snacks are recommended too. And this is not the type of hike you should attempt alone. Also, I would not attempt this hike if it rained recently, or if there is rain on the forecast.
Finally, the parking situation at Olomana is a bit tricky. The trailhead is inside of a golf course and there is no parking nearby. You have to park on the road or in a nearby neighborhood, and then walk to the trailhead. I recommend checking out recent trail reports on Alltrails for more info.
4. Mānoa Falls Trail
Mānoa Falls is one of the most popular short hikes near Honolulu, and for good reason! In under 2 miles roundtrip you can get to a beautiful 150-foot tall waterfall. The trail itself takes you through bamboo forests and picturequse jungle foliage.
This makes Manoa Falls quite different compared to the other hikes on this list, which are mostly ridge hikes with rapid elevation gain. While you do have to gain about 600 feet of elevation on the Manoa Falls trail, its a jungle hike, not a mountain hike.
It is worth mentioning that you’re not supposed to swim beneath the waterfall, which is quite a bummer, but you can still enjoy a refreshing splash of water while taking in the beauty of the waterfall.
As with all the other hikes on this list, I recommend good hiking shoes, plenty of water, and ideally a snack in case you get hungry along the way.
Also Read: 4 Day Oahu Itinerary Full of Sunshine, Aloha, and Adventure
5. Kaʻena Point Trail
Situated at the northwest corner of Oahu, Kaʻena Point State Park is a lovely, less visited part of Oahu. It features flat, easy trails with beautiful ocean and mountain views and abundant wildlife that are much less crowded compared to the most popular Oahu hikes. There are two ways to enter the park, either from the leeward (western) side of the island, or from the North Shore.
If you’re spending any time on Oahu’s North Shore (and you should!!), I recommend visiting Kaʻena Point State Park from the North Shore. From the North Shore, you can hike a flat, easy, and short trail between the turquoise ocean and rolling green mountains. The views on both sides are so perfect, with tide pools, a sea lion colony, and plenty of wildlife to spot along the way.
You can walk as long as you want along the Kaʻena Point Trail, and some folks walk all the way to the northwest point of Oahu (2.8 miles one way), but I’m adding it to this list of short Oahu hikes because you can easily hike a mile or two and enjoy rewarding sights, including the sea lion colony and tide pools!
There isn’t a lot of shade on the trail, so sun protectant clothing and plenty of water are recommended. I hiked it in the early morning, which was convenient since I was staying on the North Shore (my favorite area to stay on Oahu!))
Also See: The Best Hotels, Resorts, and B&Bs on Oahu’s North Shore
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden on my most recent Oahu trip
More Options for Short Oahu Hikes and Walks
There are plenty of other places for a lovely walk or short hike on Oahu! Some of my favorites include:
🌺 Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden: This free botanical garden in Kaneohe features views of towering lush mountains, a beautiful little pond, and a diversity of tropical foliage from around the world.
🚲 Kawainui Marsh Bike Trail: This flat neighborhood trail in Kailua is one of my favorite Oahu hidden gems! It’s the perfect place for a walk with views of the mountains and marshland, and it’s so easy to get to from downtown Kailua.
🌿 Wahiawā Botanical Garden: Situated in the center of Oahu, this botanical garden is free to visit and features dense tropical foliage. I love going here to feel immersed in the jungle — without actually having to go into the jungle!
🐠 Hanauma Bay Ridge: This is a gorgeous short but challenging hike over beautiful Hanauma Bay, which is one of the most popular places for snorkeling on Oahu.
🌊 Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail: Beautiful 2.5 mile roundtrip hike to a lighthouse with plenty of perfect ocean views along the way.
Be sure to get my free Oahu Google Map so you can see all my favorite hikes, botanical gardens, restaurants, beaches, and other Oahu gems on-the-go!
Thanks for reading!
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