Kahekili Ridge Trailhead (Puʻu Manamana) - Kaaawa, Hawaii

Kristen Abt

Absolutely stunning hike! This really is truly spectacular. The trail was dry most of the way up. Great views and the shade was nice.

That being said: this truly is not a hike for kids or for people who are not prepared, afraid of heights, have no experience hiking in an area that requires route finding skills, scrambling, and some basic rock climbing skills. Proper footwear and long pants are necessary.

We parked at the beach park across from the fire station and walked up the street to the trailhead, maybe a 5 min walk from the beach.

We saw one other couple and Bearfoot Nick and his dog Kala.

Trail is pretty much vertical. It is 2000+ feet of vertical gain over 1.5 miles. There are tons of rope sections and we were so grateful for the flagging tape marking the trail.

Bring plenty of water, food, and the ten hiking essentials when doing this hike.

Just absolutely blown away with the vistas. I couldn’t not stop 100+ times to take photos and soak in the views. It was just stunning. Highly recommend for the experienced hiker who wants to get a true Hawaiian hiking experience.

FYI: This trail does continue to loop to Crouching Lion trailhead if you wanted to make a point to point instead of out and back.

Matthew Kirk

Highly recommend this hike! Though it can be a bit treacherous at places, it's so much fun and rewarding! Wear boots or shoes with plenty of tread, as there's loose gravel and dirt for the duration. Steep inclines, although you are graced with ropes and tree roots to help (did I mention how much fun this hike is?) Enjoy panoramic views overlooking lush tropical rainforested valleys, sapphire-blue ocean bays, and the oh so breathtaking Kualoa Ranch. The path, at times, is a mere 2 feet wide with sheer drops on either side, but don't let that scare you away. Keep your footing and your wits about you and you'll be fine! Just don't go on a rainy day, or do, and take shelter in the pillbox halfway up. One more time, this hike is so much fun! Enjoy!

P.S. and on your way down into the suburbs again, stop at your local ice cream maker for a tasty treat and reward for your efforts (to the left).

P.P.S. park at the beach so as to not disturb the local neighborhoods.

David Air

We only did the beginning on the hike and it wasn’t too bad. Do wear long sleeves, pants and sturdy hiking boots (but don’t be surprised if you encounter folks in shorts and flip flops). There is a big scary sign that says it’s one of the most dangerous hikes in Oahu, by apparently it’s quite reasonable until the waterfall (someone we met told us the same thing). We didn’t even make it to the waterfall but the chunk we did was steep but rewarded us with a fantastic view, so even a 40 minute round trip could be worth it. Note that the entrance to the trail is a bit hard to spot - look for the “no parking” sign (see one of the photos).

Damon Tighe

The trail splits not to far from the start and you can choose to go to the ridge which is wonderful or back up the canyon to a sometimes flowing waterfall

Fab S

Der Trail hat es in sich. Festes Schuhwerk mit ein absolutes Muss, ansonsten muss man bereits nach den ersten 15 Minuten umkehren. Nichtsdestotrotz ist es ein lohnender Weg, der mit tollen Aussichten belohnt.
Unbedingt zu empfehlen, jedoch den Sonnenschutz nicht vergessen 😉

Sorina Lupu

You should try the icecream at the trail head! It’s amazing! ❤️😍🌴

David Hight

James Coffman