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Looking for something different to do on Oahu? Look no further! Hiking the Kaena Point Trail is an absolute must-do on the island. Get away from Waikiki and the tourist areas, and see the amazing volcanic nature of Hawaii. This hike is definitely about the journey, because oh my, endless ocean views and waves that crash on the black volcanic shoreline. You can see whales, monk seals and dolphins as you walk to Kaena Point. Just like most activities on Oahu, it’s not as accessible. The trail starts where the road ends and there are no amenities (or people!). This adds to the rawness and ruggedness of the nature at this side of the island. Definitely do the Kaena Point Hike, you cannot go wrong with exploring the West Side of Oahu. Keep reading to get all the information you need to prepare for this hike!

General information

There are two routes to hike to Kaena Point. We recommend the Wai’anae side, simply because of the jaw-dropping views!

Distance roundtrip from Wai’anae side: 4.8 mi / 7.7 km

Distance roundtrip from Mokule’ia side: 5 mi / 8 km

Duration: about 3 hours

Classification: moderate. There is no elevation gain, the trail is flat all the way.

Best time to hike: All year, however, during the winter months you can spot different wildlife (whales).

Highlights

• Amazing, amazing, amazing ocean views
• Potential of seeing monk seals and whales
• You will be (almost) alone on the hike
• Amazing sunset views

Are you looking for something more intense? Maybe the famous stairway to heaven will be your next hike!

The story behind Kaena Point

Ancient Hawaiians believed souls departed from Kaena Point to be reconnected with their ancestors. The so-called ‘spirit leap‘. Many spots on Oahu are significant to Hawaiians. There are many myths and legends in the history of the Hawaiian people.

When we reached Kaena Point after our hike, we could feel a different atmosphere. It was calmer and even the landscape had changed from the harsh lava rock, to soft sand dunes.

How to get to Kaena Point trail

Get ready to drive! Both starting points are about 1 hour away from Waikiki. Both trails start where the road ends (literally).

The Waianae side: The route begins after Keawaula Beach in Ka’ena State Park. Buses don’t run this far up the coast, so you will need to drive a car. Take the H1 freeway west to Route 93 until it ends at Kaena Point State Park. From there, you will park (most likely next to the road) and walk to the trailhead. 

The Mokuleia side: Drive the Farrington Highway on the north shore side and park your car at the end of the road.

Directions can always be confusing, especially if you don’t know the island and the Hawaiian names of places. Just type it in Google Maps and the GPS will take you to the starting point.

Our experience of the Kaena Point hike

The start of Kaena Point trail

We started the Kaena Point Hike from the West side of the island, the Waianae side. We haven’t hiked the Mokuleia side, however, the views didn’t look as epic as the west side did!

The drive up to the trailhead is beautiful, with gorgeous mountain and ocean views. We kept driving until we had reached the end of the road (how crazy is that?), which is also a high-theft area. We parked our car next to the railway, without many people around. If you leave anything in your car, leave it out of sight!

First, we walked through the secluded Yokohama Bay. It’s a large white sand beach with deep blue waters and endless views of the pacific. We saw a big monk seal take a nap on the beach (they can snore really loud!).

Lava rock shoreline

After seeing the boards displaying information about the park, we quickly noticed the jaw-dropping lava rock shoreline. Hiking on beautiful trails such as the Kaena Point hike, is a reminder that Hawaii is created from volcanoes! The trail is right next to the shoreline, which is made up of black lava rock and holds many tide pools that we saw along the way.

We hiked the Kaena Point trail during the winter months, so there were big waves that crashed onto the shore. This created beautiful white sea foam on the black rocks. There were too many beautiful lookouts on the trail! We spotted blowholes and natural arches formed in the lava rock.

At some point we heard a loud sneeze… which were from two monk seals who were playing in one of the tide pools.

At Kaena point

Eventually we came across a gate. It keeps natural predators away from the wildlife that live on the sand dunes. Nikki thought the gate was there to keep us humans out, so she was ready to turn around. Do not do that!

Pay close attention to the trail to spot nesting holes and wildlife!

Wildlife at Kaena Point

• Monk seals. This area is a hotspot for spotting the Hawaiian monk seals. They can be doing anything from snoring on the beach to playing in the tidepools. Look closely though because they sometimes blend into the rocks!
• Seabirds. Laysan albatrosses and wedge-tailed shearwaters are two common species you can locate during nesting seasons.
• Dolphins. Come early in the morning to Yokohama Bay (the beach before entering the trailhead) to spot dolphins enjoying themselves.
• Whales. They can be spotted during the winter months, as the whales migrate from the north. You may need some binoculars to spot them!

What to bring on the Kaena Point hike

• Sunscreen/protective clothing. The trail is exposed, so lots of sunshine with little shade.
• Binoculars. Especially if you hike the Kaena Point Trail during the winter months, you might see some whales.
• Water and a snack. We were gone for 3 hours and brought 2 liters of water, because we took our time on this hike. Too many lookouts to explore!

We want to hear from you!

Let us know what you think of Kaena Point and if you spotted some monk seals!