Epic Travel → North America → Hawaii → Oahu → Olomana Ridge

Location: Southeast Oahu, Hawaii

Distance: 4.5 miles roundtrip to cover all three peaks

Elevation Gain: 2200 feet

Time Required: 4 – 6 hours

Red Tape/Notes: Don’t park on the loop road; find parking on Auloa Road and walk up the loop road to the trailhead.

What’s Nearby?: Hanauma Bay, Moanalua Valley to Haiku Stairs, Kaneohe Bay Sunken Island

This hike is becoming one of those hikes that people do so they can tell everyone they did it and get people to think they’re super cool and “so extreme”. It would be more enjoyable if that weren’t the case, but it’s a great hike anyway. The views are very pretty, and the ridge itself is extremely picturesque. If you have a fear of heights and/or aren’t comfortable on somewhat sketchy trails, this hike isn’t for you. There are some exposed sections and some scrambling is required, though there’s almost always a rope to assist in navigating these sections. The security of those ropes is another question. We saw some that seemed pretty questionable, so if you think you’re actually going to need to trust your life to it, then you may want to consider how badly you want to summit that least peak (three people have died on this trail since 2011, and others have sustained serious injuries during falls). Alternatively, you could bring your own rope and rig your own safety line/lines.

Epic Travel → North America → Hawaii → Oahu → Olomana Ridge