Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Oahu Hawaii
Whoever decided to venture off the beaten path and call it “hiking” really ate that. Despite being a Florida girl, hiking is becoming one of my favorite things to do when I go somewhere even 100ft above sea level. From California and Utah to the Smokeys in Georgia, if there’s a hill with a view, I want to climb it.
So naturally, when I visited my friends in Oahu, Hawaii, I got to stepping. I would’ve done a hike every day if I could. However, three hikes in Hawaii isn’t too shabby. If you’re making a trip over to the Big Island anytime soon, here are two easy hikes in Oahu, Hawaii to try out.
(Plus, a third that has since been closed down, but was probably one of the best views of my life.)
Manoa Falls Trail
If you like exploring creeks and little areas, this is the perfect hike for a playful spirit.
It is so lush, green, and peaceful. There aren’t very many mountain views, but if you’re from the city, then even being around all the greenery and breathing in the fresh air will feel amazing.
It was a bit wet out, so some of the rocks were slippery. In general, I would classify this trail as easy. There is a slight incline about halfway through that can get you pretty winded, especially if you’re not used to hiking, but it’s nothing a quick rest won’t fix.
I don’t know if it was because of the water availability at the time, but the “waterfall” ended up being more of a trickle than a gush. Imagine one, albeit very high and long, stream of water peacefully flowing down the side of a slick rock. That is Manoa Falls.
I still enjoyed myself as hiking is more about the journey for me than the view (although I appreciate that too).
Diamond Head State Monument
This is one of Oahu’s most classic hikes, so prepare for a LOT of people. There is a tunnel that gets insanely claustrophobic and dark. However, it doesn’t last too long.
This is probably the easiest Hawaii hike of them all because it is so commercial. Once you get to the view, you can see all of Waikiki and some mountains on the other side. I’ll be honest, after doing Dead Man’s catwalk, this one did feel a bit underwhelming.
But again, I enjoyed myself. There was also a great farmer’s market right outside of the park, so be sure to check that out if it’s open.
Dead Man’s Catwalk
Unfortunately, due to ownership, this trail is technically closed.
For the sake of the story, I’ll share my experience:
Dead man’s catwalk starts at the dead end of a residential neighborhood. I turned my music all the way down to avoid any unwanted attention and parked close enough to a home so they’d think I was visiting but not so close that the owners would call a tow truck on me.
As I approached the “trail” —a paved walkway—I noticed it was closed off. Thankfully, the only barrier was a small brick wall that came up to my hip, so I thought skinny thoughts, side-skirted it, and headed on my way.
Because it was paved I thought it would be easy, right? Wrong. It was uphill in direct sunlight. I couldn’t help but find myself humming Miley Cyrus’ The Climb.
As I laughed at how out of breath I was, I turned toward the view and felt even more winded as it literally took my breath away.
Finally, I came to a tall barbed-wire fence. Because I’ve followed the law my whole life, I could not go over it. And despite my skinniest thoughts, I couldn’t go under it. So, I had to find a way around it… on the very edge of the mountain. It added quite a bit of time, forward thinking and some major risks with slippery rocks and sand.
But since you are reading this, we know I made it.
The prohibited trail, scaling the side of the mountain, and fierce heat was all worth it to see that vast expanse of blue. I finally understood what Moana was singing about. The line where the sky met the sea blended into one huge blanket of turquoise as far as the eye could see. In the distance was the outline of beautiful mountains, and I wondered if I strained hard enough if I could see the next island over.
As the hike name suggests, there was a “catwalk” ledge that jutted over the side of the mountain and overlooked the beach. The shoreline below housed the Obamas’ property, and there were three small dots in the ocean (I like to imagine it was them!).
Fortunately, I had my tripod and was able to capture all the moments. After taking pics and videos, I spent some time reading and thinking before I packed up and headed down. I was able to spend a good hour up there by myself—almost as if it were meant to be. Because as I was leaving, the next group was finally making their way up there.
Even though it’s no longer available to climb. I write this to encourage you to get out there and find new scenery and forge a new path. If my story tells you anything, it’s that it may not be there forever, so you need to seize the moment when you can!
