Koko Crater Stairs

Trails: Koko Crater Stairs
Distance: About 1.2 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 1200 ft or so
Hiking time: under 2 hours (1 hour an 45 mins, I took plenty of small breaks). If you're in good shape you can do this in 45 mins or so. There were people running up and down this.
Area: Hawaii Kai - East end of Island
Trailhead: Koko Head Regional Park
Trailhead Coordinates: N21 16.821 W157 41.513
Sights: Hanauma Bay, Koko Crater, Hawaii Kai Marina, Diamond Head
Directions via bus: Take the 22 to the entrance to Hanauma Bay, cross Kalanianeole Rd and there will be an access road leading to Koko Head Regional Park.
Directions via car: Take H1 East, past Diamond Head into Hawaii Kai. Continue straight and it will eventually become Kalanianeole Rd. Take a left on Lunalilo Home Rd and  make a right onto Anapalau St which becomes Koko Head Park Rd and lead into the park.
Recommendations for hike: Sunscreen!!!. There's no shade so make sure you have sunscreen and some sunglasses and/or hat (becareful of the strong winds though). Sneakers or boots.





























Elevation profile is for round trip.

This is a popular hike among locals and tourists. It climbs Koko Crater in Hawaii Kai which is adjacent to Hanauma Bay and Koko Head. This particular hike is a straight climb along an old rail track. It's short but intense. 1048 steps as indicated on the first plank. Its tough, exhausting, and totally worth it. I'm glad I made it. If I'm ever going to do "Stairway to Heaven" Hike (4 times the length and stairs), I'll have to build up my endurance.

View from the bottom

 

  

Going up the trestle. Was a bit nerve wrecking at first. You can actually go around the side but that wouldn't be any fun.

Looking down.

This is the top of that crossing. It's from that guy to me.

 

View from the top

 

  

View down from the top of the stairs.

Koko Head Trail - Short Variation

Trails: Koko Head Trail (Short Version) - not Koko Crater
Distance: Just under 3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 600 or so ft
Hiking time: under 2 hours
Area: Hawaii Kai - East end of Island - Hanauma Bay Ridge
Trailhead: Hanuma Bay Entrance
Trailhead Coordinates:Sights: Hanauma Bay, Koko Crater, Hawaii Kai Marina, Diamond Head
Directions via bus: Take the 22 to the entrance to Hanauma Bay or any bus to Hawaii Kai and walk up Kalanianeole Rd to Hanauma Bay.
Directions via car: Take H1 East, past Diamond Head into Hawaii Kai. Continue straight and it will eventually become Kalanianeole Rd. It will go uphill, curving left. On the right, you'll find the entrance to Hanauma Bay. Go down and park and walk back up to the entrance.
Recommendations for hike: Sunscreen!!!. There's no shade so make sure you have sunscreen and some sunglasses and/or hat (becareful of the strong winds though). Though it can be done in slippers, I would recommend sneakers. Some of the terrain is loose and rocky along the steeper parts. Boots are unnecessary. Water. No need for bug spray.



Elevation profile is for trip to and back.

This trail goes around the the right (looking out from the bay) side of Hanauma Bay. From the entrance of Hanauma Bay, you'll see a gated access road. It will have a no trespassing sign. This is the entrance.
Today we only hiked the shortest path to the end and back. You can wind around and hike a loop if you wish which adds another 1-2 miles. The hike is very open, the beginning part is on an access road. The hike was nice and different. It's very breezy along the ridge.
It starts of as a casual uphill along the access road. Then you vear off to a dirt path on the left. Here you'll traverse along the ridge and you begin a descent to Koko Head. Just be sure footed and step slow. There is loose dirt, rocks everywhere and it's relatively steep.
You can continue all the way down to the shoreline. Climbing down some various rock formations carved out by the ocean. There's a short rope at one point which will help you down and get back up. The view is great from the end point. I noticed someone fishing there. It's just great to watch the waves crash into the rocks. You're still at least 40 ft above the water.


Koko Head Crater from the trail.

Hanauma Bay from above

The ridge we're going to hike.

Part of the descent

My friend Nicole. Ain't she cute.

Me being silly.

I'm headin down there

Nicole chilling out

A rope is my friend

End point

Wonder how different the landscape looked in 1934

Panoramic shot from one of the higher points. Koko Head Crater in the back.



Ocean view from the end.

Looking back from the end. You'll see Nicole in the upper right.

Another of Hanauma Bay w/ sunshine

This was at Hanauma Bay. Not quite sure what it was. Reminded me of a muskrat.

Bird chillin on my stomach at Hanauma Bay beach. He/she was begging for food. I rewarded him/her for his/her courage and boldness.

Kahana Valley - Nakoa Trail & additional loop upstream

Trails: Nakoa Trail (first loop) and another loop that I don't know the name of
Distance: 5.8 Round trip (7.2 miles if parked at Kahana Valley/Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park entrance)
Elevation Gain: 300 - 400 ft
Hiking time: 3 hours at a relatively fast pace.
Note: Allow for more time if you want to go for a swim
Area: Windward Side - Above Ka'aava
Trailhead: Kahana Valley/Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park - end of road
Trailhead Coordinates: Nakoa Trail Head: N21 32.541 W157 53.049
Closest Visitor Parking: N21 33.019 W157 52.897
Sights: Kahana Stream
Directions via bus: Takes about 1.5 hours. Take the 55 from Ala Moana Center towards Kaneohe. The bus will announce Kahana Valley beach park, then Kahana Valley Park. Enter the park and continue to follow the road up, through a quite residential area, and past a gate blocking the road. Walk up
Directions via car:From Waikiki or downtown, find the Pali Highway and go North towards Kailua. At Castle Junction after the hairpin turn on the Pali Highway, turn left onto Kamehameha Highway. Follow this for awhile along the Windward coast. You'll pass Kaneohe, drive through several small towns, past Koalua Ranch on the left. Kahana Valley will be at a point where the road winds around left into a valley. There will be Kahana Beach/bay on the right and a park entrance with a sign, Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park (see pic below). Enter the park and follow the road up. You'll have to park on the right side before the residential area. There's a sign that says vistor parking
Recommendations for hike: The thing that stands out on this trail are the stream crossings. Prepared to get your feet wet, literally. You may be able to find a path of stones on some but others I had no choice but to just walk through the stream. It's also muddy. Some sneakers or boots.
Swim trunks/bathing suit if you want to swim. Just make sure you don't have open wounds and you should be fine.
Bug spray. Water. No sunscreen needed.



This is a relatively easy hike. It's getting to the starting point that is time consuming. It is on the Windward side midway between the northern most point, Turtle Bay, and Kaneohe. It is located in Kahana Valley and is a nice double loop. You have the option of doing just the first loop, Nakoa Trail, which is under 3 miles with less stream crossings. You'll hike all of Nakoa either way. I enjoyed it because it follows the stream and there are many points where you have to cross. There are some interesting spots along the stream to just chill out as well.

So just follow Nakoa trail til you find an open area some bunkers. Please see pictures below. Here you have the option to do the single loop by following Nakoa Trail to the left or continue on. Veer slightly right and take the path to the right of the bunkers. Soon after, there will be a fork. The left descends towards the stream. The right follows a ridge above the stream. I went right.

A majority of the trail is marked with pink ribbon. Always be on the look out as they will guide you through the various stream crossings. At every crossing, I was able to see a ribbon at the opposite side. At the end of the trail, there is wide part of the stream with a dam. It's deep enough to swim and even a rope for you to swing into the stream. After the sign that indicates the end of Nakoa Trail, follow the road up and you'll find the Nakoa Trail entrance.


Entrance to Kahana Valley Park

Walking up to the trail head

Right before this sign, you'll see an open area on the left with a picnic table. At this sign go left...

and look to the right!

One of the first things I noticed. Curious what it tastes like but didn't try.

It wouldn't be an Oahu trail without some strawberry guavas.

An interesting mess of plants

All of them were hanging upside down like this

So this is a significant point on the trail. Here you can either go left and complete Nakoa Trail. Otherwise if you want to see more of the stream, veer slightly to the right. You'll see the bunkers below. Stay to the right of them. There are some other directions that I have not explored yet.



Yes! Bamboo forest! Where's my katana!

View from above the stream. You'll have plenty of chances for views like this.

Told ya.

One more

Crossing. Becareful, it's slippy (slippery)

uh.. me...

Another crossing



Okay the sun was setting. It wasn't that dark though. This was just taken with flash.

Okay these tree leaves were annoyingly sharp. It's like getting a papercut. They are from the Hala trees which are very common.

This is the final crossing back on the Nakoa Trail. Right across the stream is the official End of Nakoa Trail.

The rope on the right. Wanted to try.

Arranged on the ground like that.