Oahu, Hawaii, has some of the most beautiful hikes with the views that leave a lasting imprint on your memory. The bonus part, the trails are under 2 miles one way. And for the most skeptical ones out there, some of these Oahu hikes are under 2 miles both ways.
Last updated: November 27, 2024
The Most Unbelievably Gorgeous Short Trails on Oahu
Hiking on Oahu, Hawaii, or hiking in general, is easy. All you need to do is just to start walking, running, tramping, or marching to a desired destination at the end of the trail.
But there is a catch. You need to locate a trailhead first, which for Oahu may be tricky. Unless you are a local or get detailed and easy-to-follow (you may still be second-guessing your route) directions from locals.
For most parts, we did all the hikes on Oahu we had planned (and found all the right trailheads) unassisted. Yet there were also some elusive trails. We had to stop twice to ask locals for help in locating them. First time, to be pointed in the right direction. Second time, puzzled by the most unlikely surroundings, to confirm that we were indeed heading to one of the shortest hikes (you’ve gotta stick to these when you hike with kids) with the breathtaking views of entire Oahu (no exaggeration!).
And since we got this brutally honest, we didn’t get a chance to explore some of the coveted trails on the eastern side of Oahu. With far fewer people around (in this part of the island, it’s not rare to have the entire beach all to yourself), the privilege of asking for directions disappeared. We did consult signage at some likely trailheads. Yet when it said: “The area is closed” or “Don’t walk beyond this point”, we abided.
A few times, however, letting our curiosity supersede, we discovered beautiful, less than 2-mile, hikes that visitors of Oahu usually skip.
What Hikes Should You Expect to Find on Oahu?
We have a final disclosure to make before jumping to the list of the best short hikes on Oahu with jaw-dropping scenery. You will find a mix of favorite and secluded trails in this article. Some of the popular Oahu trails did sneak into our itinerary. With stories bigger than their physical lengths, we felt obliged to hike them.
Many of the Oahu hikes we mentioned here, however, can’t be found on the pages of a regular Hawaii travel guide. Traveling with a kid and looking for hikes that don’t exceed a 2-mile mark (that’s about the length that Dylan does without a lot of complaining), we didn’t want to complicate the task on hand and compete for space on a trail with hordes of other Oahu hikers, both locals and visitors.
Without further ado, here are 9 hikes on Oahu with stupendous views we encourage you to explore.
9 BEST SHORT HIKES ON OAHU WITH OUTSTANDING VIEWS
1. Koko Crater Stairs (Koko Head Trail)
Somewhat hard to find. Even harder to climb. Koko Crater Stairs is one of the most challenging hikes with the most resplendent views we did on Oahu. The trail is short, approximately 1.6 miles out and back. The views at the end of the hike are to live for.
Yet to get a chance to feast your eyes on the breathtaking panoramas of the South Shore of Oahu, including the Honolulu area, you must challenge yourself.
With that said, the Koko Crater Stairs is not a typical island trail that runs along a mountainside or dashes through a tropical jungle to a scenic overlook from where you can see mighty ocean waves crashing on the shore while orchestrating their special musical or a secluded valley hiding at the foot of the guarding ridge.
One of the shortest (under 2 miles) and most beautiful hikes on the southeastern side of Oahu, the Koko Head Trail is a stairs-embedded path. Some 1,048 steps guide Oahu’s hikers to the Koko Head Summit and back to the stairs base. Going either way is challenging. Yet if a 7-year old can do it, you can conquer this short trail with the outstanding views of southern Oahu as well.
- Distance: 1.6-mile, round-trip trail
- Elevation gain: 912 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Time: 1-2 hours
2. Short Hike in Koko Crater Botanical Garden in Eastern Oahu
Other than taking you to the astonishing views that open up from the Koko Head Summit, an easy and relatively flat loop trail in the Koko Crater Botanical Garden unveils the crater from within.
Showcasing native plants and some imported species that successfully adapted to Oahu’s climate, the hiking (or rather walking) path runs for 2 miles. Yet you can walk as far and as long as you wish.
We spent some really special time in the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, veering off the longest trail and exploring different garden sections and their many plants in this secluded corner of Oahu. With hardly any other hikers around, we embraced the subtle beauty and tranquility of the area, picked fallen plumeria flowers from the ground, and even had a few tropical “showers”, each lasting no longer than a minute.
Despite the fact that the Koko Crater Botanical Garden is located only 14 miles east of Honolulu, it boasts some of the least-hiked trails on the entire Island of Oahu.
- Distance: 2-mile loop trail
- Elevation gain: Approximately 330 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 40-60 minutes
READ MORE: 10 Best-Kept Secrets on Oahu, Hawaii
3. Kawainui Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
Yet even the Koko Crater Botanical Garden with all its secluded trails scattered along tree-dotted mini gardens can feel busy compared to another hiking gem nestled on the windward side of Oahu.
Set off the tourist path, Kawainui Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is a domain of common and endangered Hawaiian birds, festooned by the views of stately mountains in the distance.
The trail starts behind one of the residential neighborhoods of Oahu. Quite broad and well-maintained, the path runs along a fish pond, following its every bend and turn.
Just like in the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, your hike in this remote corner of Oahu can be as long or as short as you wish. The main trail is 1.5 miles long, but you can stop and return to your car any time you want.
The distance of the trail was irrelevant to us when we made our way to Kawainui Marsh during the golden hour. Enjoying the tranquility interrupted by bird’s chirps and songs and taking in the views of the mountains bathing in the soft evening light, we spent more time sitting at the pond shore than assessing the length of the trail, hiked mostly by residents of Oahu.
- Distance: Nearly 1.5 miles, one way
- Elevation gain: 170 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
4. Kapena Falls
We almost skipped this short, but incredibly beautiful hike on the South Shore of Oahu. With plenty of waterfalls we’d seen up to that point, another waterfall hike felt almost repetitive. But since some locals assured us that the hike was less than 0.5 mile long, we reluctantly agreed to fit it into our Oahu itinerary two days before heading to the Big Island.
I’m glad we did because it easily became one of my favorite hikes on Oahu. With lush greenery closely hugging the narrow trail, the entire area looked like a place straight from the Jurassic Park set. Distant splashes of the dropping water echoed through the tropical rainforest, growing stronger with every step we took.
Before you knew it, Kapena Falls was slowly revealing its silver tails that peeked through quick gaps that the wind created in the lash vegetation. You hardly break a sweat on this short waterfall hike in Oahu. But sweat or no sweat, you can cool yourself off in the large pond at the base of the waterfall.
- Distance: Approximately 0.3-mile, round trip trail
- Elevation gain: 88 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 5-10 minutes
5. Manoa Falls
While the Kapena Falls hike looks like it could easily fit the mood of the Jurassic Park sequel, the Manoa Falls Trail is one of a few places on Oahu where Steven Spielberg filmed its blockbuster.
The 150-foot waterfall sits at the end of the 1.6-mile trail. The hiking path is muddy and slippery most of the time and hard-packed with rocks. So wear slip-resistant shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
The trail gradually climbs up. Yet the change in elevation is manageable for the majority of hikers. And speaking about hikers, there are quite many of them. In fact, Manoa Falls is one the most beautiful, yet popular waterfall hikes on Oahu.
- Distance: 1.6-mile, round-trip trail
- Elevation gain: 610 feet
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Time: 1-2 hours
6. Aihualama Trail to Pauoa Flats Bench
As a first-time visitor of Oahu, I learned about many of the island’s gorgeous hikes from articles on the web, books set in Hawaii, and some recommendations given by locals. One particular article I came across talked about Aihualama Falls as a crowd-free alternative waterfall hike to the all-time-busy Manoa Falls.
Naturally, the moment I saw a trailhead with the sign Aihualama Trail to the left of the above mentioned popular waterfall, I didn’t hesitate to check it out. As it turned out, the Aihualama Trail and Aihualama Falls, both short, secluded, and jam-packed with stunning views and unique Oahu’s vegetation, are not the same hikes.
The Aihualama Trail is approximately 1.2 miles long, one way. It starts near Manoa Falls, runs through a dense bamboo forest, joins the Pauoa Flats Trail, and takes you to a viewing point overlooking the Nu’uanu Valley.
And if we thought the Manoa Falls Trail was muddy, the Aihualama Trail superseded it tenfold. Narrow, slippery, with plenty of puddles to ruin your shoes. Yet the views at the end of the trail are spectacular. And with not many hikers attempting to walk the entire distance, the Aihualama Trail is indisputably one of the most secluded hikes on Oahu.
- Distance: Approximately 2.4-mile, round-trip trail
- Elevation gain: 980 feet
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Time: 40 minutes – 1.5 hours
7. Aihualama Falls: One of the Most Secluded Hikes on Oahu
We did hike to Aihualama Falls on our last day on Oahu. The 1.3-mile trail is located within the Lyon Arboretum that itself neighbors the Manoa Falls area. Access to the arboretum is free, but reservation is required.
Keep in Mind: Due to high visitation, some other hiking areas on Oahu also require a prior reservation.
This tiny peculiarity that we had failed to find out beforehand prevented us from hiking to Aihualama Falls after we completed our hike to Manoa Falls. We had to come back 2 days later to find the waterfall almost dried up. It’s typical for some waterfalls on the island to turn into a trickle or completely dry up during the summer season.
The trail, however, was gorgeous, running through a tropical rainforest and dotted with exotic trees and plants. So, if you look for a trail under two miles tucked in a splendid environment off the beaten path, make sure to add Aihualama Falls to the list of your Oahu short hikes.
- Distance: 1.3-mile
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 40 minutes
8. Diamond Head Summit Trail at Diamond Head State Monument
We expected some crowds at Diamond Head State Monument, one the iconic hiking places on Oahu (under two miles) with resplendent views of the coast and Honolulu area. What we didn’t anticipate was that even early in the morning parking spots were scarce not only in the paid area, but also in a free section outside Diamond Head State Monument. Parking outside the park would add some serious steps and at least a mile to this short, but extremely popular hike on Oahu.
TIP: Additionally, if you want to park inside the monument area, make sure to reserve your spot in advance. A few hours before the hike is already too late for this iconic section of Oahu.
With the crowd of hikers growing by minutes and without a prior reservation, we decided to look for an alternative short hike with spectacular views of the South Shore of Oahu. That’s how we ended up at the bottom of the Koko Head Stairs and never once thought about our failed hike at Diamond Head State Monument.
- Distance: 1.6-mile, round-trip trail
- Elevation gain: 560 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
- Time: 2 hours
9. Pillbox Hikes on Oahu (Under 2 Miles)
Some of the most remarkable views of Oahu open up at the end of so-called pillbox hikes. Remains of small square or rectangular structures, pillboxes are silent witnesses of the war time. Erected at high altitude with unobscured views, they were used as observation stations during World War II. Today these areas are some of the most spectacular hikes on Oahu, favored by locals and visitors alike.
While pillbox trails are normally short, they come with some serious challenges, such as elevation gain, that many other Oahu’s trails skip. Yet the views justify any steep inclines. Here are some of the short and absolutely stunning pillbox hikes you may want to check out when on Oahu.
- Lanikai Pillbox Trail (Ka’iwa Ridge). At approximately 1 mile (out and back) and over 400 feet in elevation change, the Lanikai Pillbox Trail is one of the favorite sunset hikes on Oahu.
- Pink Pillbox Trail (Pu’u O Hulu Trail). Gaining some impressive 670 feet of elevation in just 0.8 mile (one way), The Pink Pillbox Trail is one of the most beautiful, yet strenuous hikes on the West Shore of Oahu.
- ‘Ehukai Pillbox Trail. The 1.2-mile trail with staggering elevation gain (nearly 740 feet) is an all time favorite sunset hike on the island of Oahu.
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