The Hawaiian island of Oahu is famous for many things. The shopping, beaches, and numerous other attractions make it hard for visitors to pin down an itinerary. Luckily for hikers, the same planning headaches apply. The islands provide a wealth of hiking and outdoor opportunities that remain unsurpassed.
Honolulu Hiking Examiner Chris Walker is in the enviable position of wading through this embarrassment of hiking riches. One stand out on the southeast corner of Oahu is the Mt. Olomana trail.
"Mount Olomana is a three-peaked mountain near Kailua on Oahu's Windward side. The trail to its summit features some of the best views of any trail in Hawaii. It requires some serious, steep climbing and there are several dangerous spots on the trail, so it is definitely not for novices! If you go all the way to its third peak, this is one of Oahu's most challenging hikes and is suitable for experts only. As always, tell someone where you are going and hike with at least one friend.
Getting there: from Honolulu take the Pali Highway going towards Kailua. After going through the tunnels and passing Kamehameha Highway on the left, shortly after passing the Kapaa Quarry Road turn right on Auloa Road and IMMEDIATELY left on a road that parallels the highway and then veers right. Park on the side of the road in area where the shoulder widens.
Unfortunately you first have to walk quite a long distance on the paved road. Start walking on the road. Walk around the gate to the Luana Hills Golf Club, and continue on the road for quite some time, looking for a sign for the trail on the left. Once you reach the sign the route is obvious except for one intersection, where you will turn right and soon after that begin your serious, strenuous climbing to the summit.
Bring at least THREE quarts of water for this hike, apply a lot of sunscreen, and wear good hiking boots. There are several places that are so steep you have to use cables to climb up. There are only a few spots with a view at first, but closer to the top you start to see awesome views in all directions. Your first view of the extremely narrow ridge leading to the third peak will make it very clear why only an expert hiker should attempt that climb!
Once you reach the summit, enjoy the 360 degree view of Mt. Olomana itself, the Koolau mountains, and the windward coast from Makapuu to Kualoa. If you have the time, it's not very hard to move on to the second peak. There you will see that the route to the third peak involves not only the razor-like ridge you saw earlier, but also an extremely steep descent to the saddle in between the two peaks.
If you do decide to continue from here, remember that you will have to climb up that same slope on the way back.
On your return, keep in mind that going down is in many ways more dangerous than going up. In the places with cables, descend facing the trail and find your footholds carefully. Allow four hours for this hike if you go just to the first peak, and at least two more hours if you go farther. Do it on a sunny day in the winter if you can.
Don't forget your camera! This is one hike you'll remember for a long time!"
Chris Walker writes as the Honolulu Hiking Examiner. He is a professional photographer, videographer and web designer, and owns a multimedia business. He is an avid hiker, and produced the long-running public access TV show "Let's Go Hiking!", a guide to Oahu's hiking trails. Contact Chris at chriswalker808@gmail.com.
For more of Adam's writing, reviews, and photography, visit AdamSawyer.com
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