Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail

Gorgeous hike, but if you've only got time for one hike of this sort on the island, I'd recommend the Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail instead for better views at the top, and a more varied and interesting hike all the way up.Check out AllTrails for current conditions.Hike is not challenging for an experienced hiker, but may present some struggles if you're older, not very active, hopping on one leg etc. There's a few sections where you have to rely on a rope quite a bit. At one section, my weight was 100% on the rope as I climbed with my legs, and if the rope failed at that point I would have suffered a pretty nasty, though not debilitating, fall down the trail (but not at risk of going over the edge or anything). Going down can suck, and I scooted on my sizeable ass for some of the way, which helped a lot.Views at the top facing south were spectacular. The north was completely covered in fog.If you've got time for a few good hikes on Oahu, this should definitely be one of them and you won't be disappointed.

Although Koko Stairs remains the hardest trail I've ever done, Wiliwilinui tested my spirit in a different way - the mud. The relentless mud. Though it had rained some the day before, I stupidly thought I was in the clear when I woke up the morning of the hike and saw a beautiful clear sky with nary a cloud in sight. Then, by the time I emerged from the hike, I looked I had lost a fight in a mud pit. This trail was 98% mud. Add in broken stairs towards the top and I gave up with maybe a few more meters to go. Between the exposed parts, the slippery surface, and the decrepit state of the stairs, I decided it wasn't worth a broken ankle to get a picture of the sign marking the end of the trail. Kudos to everyone else I met along the way who powered through. Honorable mention goes to 1) the couple macking intensely in the middle of the path, so wrapped up in each other that it took several throat-clears on my part to get them to notice me and move over to the side; and 2) the girl with pristine white shoes stranded on the side of a mud pie. The ridge is beautiful, with sweeping views on both sides, but towards the end, I got so defeated and in-my-head about the mud that I was more focused on where my feet were going than the stunning vistas around me. I will say, the ridge along Wiliwilinui is easier than others on the island where there's a sheer drop-off on both sides of a narrow trail - here, you have shrubbery lining the path so I felt pretty safe. Parking: The trailhead is at the end of Okoa Street, a super ritzy stretch of houses. You have to pass a guard house where you'll get a day pass to put on the dashboard of your car. I had my ID ready but the guard didn't ask. I was also nervous I wouldn't get a spot in one of the two parking lots and would have to either wait or hike up that treacherous hill before the hike even started so I got there by 7:30 and there were definitely a lot of spots open. When I made my way back down by 10, a few spots remained but I wouldn't chance it on the weekend. It took me about 2.5 hours up and down - but I didn't make it to the tip pity-top. I consider myself to be in pretty good physical shape, yet there were a few spots where I had to crouch down and inchworm my way. Anyway. Mud. Broken stairs. Nice views. A good time if you're careful and have a sense of humor about it. By the time I was done, I was dying for a muffin and a chair.

The trailhead is located in a gated community. Thankfully when you stop off at the gate, security will provide you with a day pass.This hike can be a big muddy mess. The closer you get to the end it can get steep and the stairs that have been installed seem to be eroding so be careful. When I got up to the top the fog was quite thick. As it started to clear the view was quite spectacular. A good hike all in all but I definitely prefer kuli'ou'ou if given the choice between the two.

Hiking trails are awesome so when I got a chance to explore our new territory, I found this one in the back of Aina Haina valley. it is nice to find something unique about Hawaii.I happen to discover this hiking trail by happenstance, or playing, Pokémon GO, whichever. It was the middle of the afternoon on a brisk Saturday afternoon in January 2024 and I was dressed sort of appropriately. Didn't have any water with me but ehh, we'll see how it goes. Easy to turn back, I guess, The trail head is situated in a residential neighborhood so it was nice to start the hike in tranquil surroundings. The course was somewhat of a beginners course but can be challenging at times if you don't know the course. I ended up googling information about the trail and it was 3 ish miles one way. The day started nice with no rain and it was enjoyable. There was people I saw on the course and the trail large enough for 2 people to pass without incident. It was nice to just be in nature and good spirits, especially when it was the weekend. 3 miles isn't too bad of a hike. I was glad that the weather was more mild than during the summer months. It was an enjoyable time to be outdoors and do this incredible hike, loaded with such lush and great island scenery to behold. If you do go, consider bringing water with you to stay hydrated and go during the cooler times of the day to have a better experience. Although my experience was good, it could have been better with cooler temperatures during the early morning or late evening. It is what it is. Mother Nature is awesome! The overall experience here at the WiliwilinuiRidge Trail was good and nice. Very subtle and good, best to come when it's not raining or else the mud will be a good little issue if you are prone to falling. One of the signature marks of this trail is the number of stairs along the 3 mile route. I thought it was never ending, but 3 miles is 3 miles, just on trail, which makes it tougher to traverse even on a sunny day. I walked it from end to end just because I didn't have anything else better to do, plus I needed to increase my exercise quotient of the day. I loved being in nature and just being outdoors, to be honest. For the most part though, it was a good day for a hike. The weather held up but ended up being somewhat dehydrated after 6 miles of walking the trail. Wasn't looking forward to the next morning when I supposed to do 10 miles on the roads around the neighborhood. It is what it is. Trails are a great alternative to roads and for good reason. So much more to discover and explore on trails. Lucky thing for me that I didn't take a spill or break anything that afternoon. All in all, a pretty pleasant good day out on the trails. Best to have someone with you and carry your phone, in case trouble happens. As long as you stick to the main trail, you should be okay. Avoid hiking in the dark or overnight hrs, could be a disaster waiting to happen. Definitely a trail worth hiking. A lot of stairs though, but worth the trip and effort.Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is located in East Oahu. Many of the recognized hiking trails are in the eastern side of the island. Like many community parks and hiking trails, there is no admission fee. Come as you are and you'll be okay. As far as parking goes, best bet would be to find street parking in the residential area near the trail head and head in that way. Not much else to say, since parking at Aina Haina Shopping center and walking it can be a long one for some people. Probably mile and a half-ISH. If you are like me, you can take the route 18 bus from Ala Moana shopping center and it will take you all the way into the Aina Haina Valley where it will stop at near the Aina Haina Baptist Church. You'll find a trailhead near there and you can start your hike. You can also take the route 23 bus from Sea Life Park in the east or Ala Moana in the west, and stop at the Aina Haina shopping center. From there, either walk it or take the route 18/24 into the valley. There's not much rest areas for you to sit down on the trail. Best bet is to come here early and do what you need to do live your best life. On the trail if you do go, come early to avoid traffic congestion, and to find the best parking And dress appropriately because they can't get really humid depending on the time of day you go.5.0 stars for the overall experience.Support local!A+

If you are looking for moderate-intermediate type of hike, this one is for you. you can have some stairmaster vibes but really good workout while trying to navigate thru the muddy hills and puddles. I went for my first time with my friend who servicing in Navy who from HI, has done this hike a few times, having his experience helped me feel reassured throughout the entire hike going up and going down. As I hiked thru the difficult muddy hills, I even sort of cried even wanted to call it quits, just hesitated on some of the sketchy muddy inclines with little rope to hang on. But my friend kept encouraging, was pretty impressed we got up within 1 hr. i'm so glad I got hiking gloves to hold onto the rope sections, came in handy. My friend and I also found a 4 year old hiking with his mom and aunt go to the top and back. If a 4 year old child can do it, you can conquer this hike. I would say come on a not rainy day, it will make it more difficult for the incline especially the muddy hills. Be careful going on steps, full of rain water, slippery. Once we made it to the end of the trail, it was so worth it and the views of windward and both East Honolulu were clear, just kept taking a bunch of photos until the rain comes down again. Also recommend you come early so you can get parking and it won't be super humid. There is parking lot when you reach past the guard tower, but if there is no stalls, there is also several stalls next to start of the trail. Take on the challenge and be my guest.

My hubby and I had such a blast hiking this trail, even if it dumped rain on us...twice! We got there early to make sure that we got a parking pass and parked right at the trailhead. It started to drizzle at the beginning of the trail which was covered by trees and relatively flat. There was one area early on with a rope to help get up the muddy trail. Later during the hike, the trail became more steep with sections of some steps as well. But the sun at come out so it was pretty easy to ascend even without using the ropes. The view at the top was absolutely beautiful and there was a bench at the top to enjoy the view as well. After a little while, the rain started to dump again which made the hike down pretty challenging as it was super muddy and slippery. We definitely utilized the ropes and still slipped in a couple places but had SO MUCH FUN as it was very exhilarating. We made it down safely and wished that we had brought extra shoes and clothes to change into. We look forward to hiking this trail again but plan to look ahead at the weather first!

Spectacular views as you move up to the second half of the ridge. Went here on a mostly sunny with a slight cloud weather and it's the most optimum environment for a ridge hike. The first half consist mostly uphill and some gravel to help with traction. The second half as you come along the stairs is where the challenge starts. I really underestimated how much stairs there was even though I've watched YouTube videos of people going to this trail. There's a couple sketchy climbs that I knew to make sure I take my time with. Better safe than sorry. As you get to the tower the clouds started to creep up and you can see views of the ridge you just traversed from. The final ridge was covered in fog and it felt like an accomplishment worthy before the New Years.Make sure to bring trail/hiking shoes. I've seen a couple hikers wearing running shoes and they had a challenge moving up these sketchy stairs and loose dirt. Also I used a hiking stick to help me move up the stairs as well as lessen the impact on knees when coming down the ridge. Bring a snack and at least a liter of water, it can get hot halfway through. And just in case, bring crampons if the path is muddy after a rain. In this case I didn't have to use it. I had to park before the guard as they had run out of parking permit, but I did see some stopped and waited. This was around 9am. The walk from the guard post to the start of the trail is a mile. It took me about 20-25 minutes to get to the trail from there. Looking back, I don't recommend it as the walk up is mostly uphill with some very steep. This adds an additional 2 miles in your hike to and back. I will wait next time.

BEAUTIFUL UNREAL VIEWS! One of the best hikes I've been on - a must in Oahu. We did this hike October 2021. We started at 2:30pm which I don't recommended because it was pitch black by the time we got back to the car. We were the only ones doing the hike then so it was awesome just to be in nature alone.The intensity of the hike wasn't too bad. It's just difficult at the end where there are steep stairs. Slightly dangerous so definitely take your time to make sure you don't slip in the mud. Parking - we were able to get one of the coveted parking passes at the gate since nobody else was doing the hike at this time but I cannot imagine having to park by the entrance and walking up... it wouldn't be worth it imo.

The trailhead for the Wiliwilinui Ridge, a 5.3 mi moderate hike with 1600 feet of gain, is located in a ritzy gated neighborhood community, so there are only 20 passes available corresponding to the designated parking stalls inside. You'll need to check in with a guard at the gate where they will provide you with the pass. I took a chance on a rainy morning, a bit torn on whether I should attempt a hike in such conditions. Hawaii is always rainy though, so the trails will ALWAYS be muddy. My main concern for a rainy hike was the potential for a fogged out viewpoint at the top. In a downpour, I checked in with the guard, secured a pass, and waited it out after parking. I then headed out equipped with trail runners, pack, my rain coat, and micro spikes (very helpful in mud).This is a fairly developed trail I'd say being mostly wide; one could avoid any muddy puddles with relative ease. There are some steep, slidey sections where ropes are present, installed probably by some passerby but they felt relatively safe and secure. In my opinion, the ascent was fairly gradual until mid-way where some stairs appeared. The set of stairways do end at a viewpoint where I was indeed fogged out! Despite the fog and rain though, the views of Waikiki through the sheets of pewter-opulent clouds were magnificent. I did not receive the all encompassing view of the island so that was a bummer! However, I appreciated the cardio invigoration for somehow I knew I'd have a fogged out view so what better way to make up for it by embarking on a fast, heart pounding ascent!

Beautiful hike. Lots of switchbacks! Great views. Not too difficult. Just long enough - about two hours long round trip. I wish we took more photos but it was raining so we tried to make it up and down as fast as we could. My favorite part is the set of staircases at the end.