Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail, aka Hanauma Bay Rim Trail, is a 4.2-mile loop trail with a 1,535-foot elevation gain located in Honolulu. This ridge trail overlooks Hanauma Bay, one of Oahu's most spectacular snorkeling spots, and provides excellent views of Hawaii Kai and Aina Haina.
***Please note this trail is on "Private Property," in 2020, some hikers reported receiving citations for hiking this trail; please hike at your own discretion.***
Getting There
There are several parking options for this trail: Nawiliwili street parking (easiest to access trailhead just past the bus stop), Hanauma Bay parking lot (if not full), or Koko Head District Park parking lot.
What To Expect
If you plan to hike the entire loop trail, be sure to bring plenty of water, sun protection, and proper hiking footwear. There is little to no shade along this trail, and parts of the trail present with steep ascending and descending along loose rocks and dirt. This ridge trail is often windy, so be sure to use caution when near the edges of the trail.
Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail Hiking Adventure
Our hiking crew set out to view sunrise overlooking Hanauma Bay and the coastline. We arrived at the trailhead around 6:30 am and found plenty of street parking along Nawiliwili Street just past the Hanauma Bay parking lot.
The trailhead was a short walk from where we parked and easy to locate just past a bus stop. After a quick ascent up a small dirt path, we met up with the trail's paved portion and headed to the right. The loop trail can be completed clockwise or counterclockwise. Our group decided to complete the trail clockwise and began our descent down the steep and rocky dirt trail. Although there is no clearly defined trail path heading down, we used caution and headed towards the rocks overlooking the bay.
After enjoying a beautiful sunrise and snapping tons of photos, we continued along the ridge to find the hidden rock bridge. Again, there is no clear-cut path, and we carefully climbed across various rock formations along the coast. The waves were simply showing off their magnitude, crashing into the rocks along the coast and we all used extreme caution, and kept our distance from the water. Although we could see the bridge nearby, it was simply not safe to get close to the unique rock formation. Mesmerized by the strength of mother nature, we hung out for a while, taking in the views, and then continued on the loop to head back up. (Please use caution if you venture down to explore the rock bridge, there have been several deaths reported from people who have been pulled out by the waves).
The steady climb back up the trail to the paved path is a complete leg burner and a great workout! There is a cut-through trail (as seen on the map above), making the loop trail shorter. Once back on the paved path, it is downhill from there and a much-needed break on your legs.
Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail certainly has some of the best views on the island! If you have a day to spare, this would be a great sunrise hike followed by some of Oahu's top snorkeling below at Hanauma Bay.
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