Koko Crater Railway Trailhead

"Unlikely Art with a View Unlikely as it may be, if you climb the steps to 1208ft (or 368m) at Kokohead, there is quite a bit of street art...er, trail art. Usually spotting the tagging at the conclusion of an intense and beautiful hike is a disappointment, but the colorful giraffe graffiti on the old cement military outposts at the summit of the Koko Crater made me smile and added a bit of visual delight to an otherwise typical aqua-marine and tropical-green Hawaiian landscape."

Off the Beaten Path: Hiking around Honolulu

Serene Liew

Google

What an amazing experience! The hike was so much fun, but definitely challenging for those who aren't physically fit. My son and I made it to the top, and the view was absolutely breathtaking — totally worth the effort! The trail is steep, and there’s a level of risk involved, so just be aware and go at your own pace. The sense of accomplishment once you reach the top is unmatched. Highly recommend it if you're up for a good challenge and some stunning scenery. We took about 1 hour to finish the trail, making it a great workout with a rewarding view at the end. Best part? It's free! Definitely a memorable experience!

Arlene Lum

Google

Excellent hike, beautiful views. Although it’s rated as “hard”, as far as hikes go it’s just short & steep and you can take the steps as fast or slow as needed. I went early at 6am to see the sunrise and to avoid the heat. That was totally worth it. While starting off before sunrise requires bringing a flashlight, I didn’t need to have it on all the time. There is a short section called the “bridge” with a lot of warning signs, where there is no ground between the tracks, it’s suspended in air like a bridge so you can only walk on the track ties. If preferred you can walk on a side trail on the ocean-side which I found easier. Once at top there are lots of areas to rest and enjoy the 360 views, it’s totally worth it. The whole trip took me 3 hrs RT including a long time at the top to take various pictures, and I was a very very slow hiker with many people passing me on the way up.

Shahbaz Salehi

Google

One of the most exhilarating and unique hikes I’ve ever done! You can see the tram up the mountain from miles away, and there's a free parking lot with bathrooms located at the base. I recommend starting early in the morning to avoid the direct sunlight. The ascent requires physical stamina, so pace yourself and make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy up. It's not an easy hike—take breaks every few minutes and go at your own pace. It can take about 30-45 minutes to reach the top. The view from the top is absolutely stunning, though there are no restrooms up there. The descent is more of a mental challenge. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and even for me, this hike was tough. It’s definitely one of a kind, and I highly recommend it if you’re physically prepared for the challenge.

Ben Roth

Google

Coming from Colorado, this reminded me a lot of the Manitou Incline, just a lot more tropical. The trail is basically an incline straight up the side of Koko Crater with an old railway functioning as steps. It is pretty steep the whole way up making it tough, but it also pretty short, less than a mile from the start of the trail to the summit. And when you make it to the top, it is worth it. You get a great view of the crater, the ocean, and all of southeastern Oahu. I was lucky enough to see some whales splashing around while looking down from the summit, that was just the cherry on top.

Scott Baker

Google

I have done lots of hiking and some pretty steep trails before but, you should be pretty fit if you’re going to attempt this thing. It took us 35 minutes to the top and 25 minutes back down, but we were going pretty quickly and did not stop to rest very often. The whole thing is built on railroad ties and if you are not very steady on your feet do not attempt this. There’s also a couple of sections where the dirt is washed out from below the ties and you’re only walking on the ties with the significant drop below, you can go around on a safer trail if you like. We loved this trail.

L T

Google

This trail isn't for the faint of hearted. Even fit people need a bit of a breather for this one especially traversing some of the wooden steps . It's not really a place for running unless you have done this trail a hundred times but even then,you have to watch your steps or it's an easy twisted ankle. The first half of the railway is the easy part,the second part is when the trail gets more steep and the wooden rails is a little less forgiving with it's supports. Definitely bring a bottle of water to calm yourself and hydrate yourself when fighting the steps. You see all walks of life tackling this trail so when you are feeling tired or thinking that you are not going to make it,take a break to recuperate and know that you are not in a race of any kind against anyone. This is your adventure ,climb the trail at your pace and your way and have fun.

Alyn Clausen

Google

It was amazing! The hike to the top takes a good deal of physical endurance to make. Testing your skills and physical abilities. A volunteer walked woith me part of the way, sharing information and the best spots for the sunrise. Definitely wasn't expecting that, pretty awesome! The views are absolutely worth every bit of the hike! Trail is very well maintained free of trash and debris. As I hiked back down, i saw another volunteer carrying up railroad ties to replace old boards. I'm super excited to climb Koko Head again!

Vaiola Tenifa

Google

Amazing!! The view at the top is breath taking! I'm not in top shape but I was able to make the hike. I don't recommend taking kids on this hike, I only saw adults.

Off the Beaten Path: Hiking around Honolulu