What to Do in Hawaii: Hike the Kawaewae Ridge Trail

The Kawaewae trail is not often hiked because it is not well-known. It's a point-to-point hike but can be done as an out and back for those who don't want to arrange for transportation logistics or have to endure a road walk back to their car.

How To Get There

From downtown Honolulu, drive westbound on the H-1 freeway. Exit H-1 on Likelike Highway north. Travel up Likelike thru Kalihi Valley and through the Ko'olau mountain range via the Wilson Tunnel. Continue downhill passing along Likelike passing Kahekili Hwy (do not take Kahekili) to a large intersection with Kamehameha Highway. Continue straight ahead as Likelike transitions to Kaneohe Bay Drive. Pass Castle High School on the right then Bay View Golf Course on the left. Right after a pedestrian overpass, turn onto Kokokahi Place. Follow the road uphill till bends right and levels off. The trailhead will be on the left. Parking is limited to two vehicles there. Park down the hill and walk if need be.

If you travel by bus from downtown, take Route #56 (Kailua-Kaneohe). Exit at Kaneohe Bay Drive and Likeke Place. The ride costs $2 and takes about 40 minutes. Walk up Kokokahi Place to the trailhead.

Hike Description

The initial part of the hike climbs up through a trail in the Friendship Garden, a route built and maintained by community volunteers. Enter via a concrete staircase and continue straight ahead up the rocky trail. Switchback to gain elevation, passing a small grove of bamboo en route.

As the ridge top nears, make a sharp left to gain the crest. The trail straight ahead is part of the Friendship Garden loop.

Once you reach the ridgecrest, continue straight ahead for a short distance to a nice viewpoint. This is a good spot to take pictures and enjoy the views of Kaneohe Bay and sea vessels and boats within it. The island off to the left is Coconut Island, which was used as an opening image for the 70s television show Gilligan's Island.

Backtrack to the main trail and follow it straight ahead as it climbs steeply up an eroded section to a hilltop with a telephone pole.

Continue along the ridge trail, which can get brushy and overgrown due to lack of hiker traffic.