Koko Head District Park — Attraction in Honolulu

Not for the faint-of-heart, this 1.6-mile, out-and-back trail is a must-do hike. Expect a rapid jump-start to the heart as you climb this 1,200 foot elevation gain on WWII-era railway ties up the side of this extinct volcano. Catch your breath at the top, and enjoy the fresh ocean breeze while taking in the panoramic views of the island. Including Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Kai, Diamond Head, and the Pacific Ocean.

Nancy's-nice-to-know

Trail: Paved, gravel, and railway ties

Level: Moderate to strenuous Very steep – over 800 railroad ties (I lost count). It is like being on an inconsistent stairmaster, with no handrails.

Elevation gain: 1200 feet in 0.8 miles

Average Incline: 22⁰ with incline reaching 40⁰ near the top.

Time: 30 - 1.5 hours

TRAIL LIMITATIONS This trail is not suitable to those with mobility limitations and certain medical conditions (i.e., respiratory or heart conditions, hip, knee, or ankle issues). Consider 1:1 ratio with small children.

There’s a “bridge section” with no ground below for a short span, which is quite daunting. If you have a fear of heights, I suggest holding on to the rails or taking the shortcut off to the right.

Go early as the trail has no shade. Bring water and sunscreen, and wear good shoes.

History: The trail is an old WWII military tramway built to transport supplies to the summit bunker. (Traces of the ruins are still intact at the top)

Getting There $$$ Driving From Waikiki: Car rental and fuel Distance 11–14 miles Time 25–30 minutes FREE PARKING in the Koko Head District Park lot.

$$ Rideshare from Waikiki: $25-30 one-way Distance 11–14 miles Time 25–30 minutes

$Bus from Waikiki: $6 USD round trip Time 1 hr 15 min one way Take the 13 or 2L and transfer to the 1L. Walk 7-10 minutes to the trail head. Bus drivers are awesome and...

I've walked through this hike many times as a local and it is definitely not easy when it's your first time. For first time users, be aware that your legs may get sore from this trail. I highly recommend to bring a water bottle with you or any other beverage container as it can get very hot and tiring as you progress through the trail. Bring sunscreen as well as there is little to no shade through the hike. It can get very hot when the sun is fully up. I would also bring a small towel to wipe way sweat. Another note is to walk with running shoes as walking with sandles or other non-athletic footwear can make the walk far more difficult. A note is that restrooms are at the bottom located near the parking lot so I suggest using it before starting as it would be inconvenient to feel the need to go during the hike. The summit at the end of the trail has a lot of great views that are worthy of numerous pictures and selfies. There are a good amount of areas at the end to take pictures in. There is also a strong breeze at the top which is something to look foward to. I can assure the effort to walk up this trail will be worth it. Another note, there is a small section where the road tracks have no ground underneath. For first time users, I highly suggest taking the presented alternate path that is less risky and goes around that area. I would make this a requirement to parents/guardians bringing your children to this hike. Overall, I love to go on this hike and it really makes you work to get to the top. Good for cardio and enjoying the beautiful landscape!!! Lastly, I suggest to go eat somewhere after finishing the hike. Helps to restore...

Our small family of three decided to hike up to Koko Head this morning 🌄. It was definitely not for the faint of heart! It's a steep incline with approx 1,043 steps which were originally train tracks or trolley tracks dating back to WWII Era to haul military equipment up and down. So now all that's left are the wooden tracks and that's what you walk on to get to the top of Koko head.

Lots of hikers on the a mission to reach the top!my son who's a teenager and my husband went ahead of me..I almost gave up a few times but I turned to my meditation music on Spotify and made frequent stops to breathe and rest before continuing on.

We all made it to the top and back down. Some of us with shaky legs!! Hydrate and eat a healthy snack beforehand. There's a section of the tracks which give way to a bottomless stairs...so lots of folks freak out-there is a trial adjacent to that section for folks like myself who are a bit more anxious about accidents.

All in all-i highly recommend this hike!! You can do it!! Best of all, there's lots of parking, you can go at your own pace, and there's no fee to enter. I did see some dogs hiking with their families but online, there's a warning that prohibits dogs. I loved seeing the little dogs!!! It...