Hiking in Hawaii
From 20-minute lookouts to 11-mile Nā Pali cliff traverses — Hawaii hiking covers everything from easy stroll to backcountry expedition.
Best season
Year-round
Driest Apr–Oct
Typical cost
Free–$150
Self vs. guided
Where
Every island
Diamond Head to Kalalau
Skill level
Easy to expert
Something for everyone
Hawaiʻi's volcanic islands rise sharply from sea level — most peaks are 4,000-13,000 ft within 10 miles of the coast. That makes the hiking dramatic, fast, and accessible.
Every island has a signature hike. Oʻahu's Diamond Head Crater (easy, 30 min, $5). Kauaʻi's Nā Pali Coast (epic, 11 miles, permit). Maui's Haleakalā summit (drive up at 3 AM for sunrise above the clouds). Big Island's Kīlauea Iki (4 miles across an old lava lake floor).
Flash floods are real. Heavy rain on a windward valley can turn a creek into a wall of water in 10 minutes. Locals leave a valley when rain starts; visitors sometimes don't. Pay attention.
The rundown
What to know
Trails for every level
From the paved 20-minute climb up Diamond Head to the 11-mile Kalalau Trail along the Nā Pali cliffs, Hawaiʻi's trails span every ability — waterfalls, crater rims, bamboo forest, and coastal ridgelines, often a short drive from town.
Permits & reservations
Several marquee trailheads now require advance reservations for out-of-state visitors — Diamond Head and Hāʻena State Park (gateway to Kalalau) among them. Book ahead; walk-up spots sell out early.
Island by island
Where to go
Oʻahu
2 upcomingDiamond Head and Koko Head for views, Mānoa Falls for rainforest, Lanikai Pillbox for sunrise.
Oʻahu events →Maui
Haleakalā's crater trails up high, the Pīpīwai bamboo-forest trail to Waimoku Falls, and Waiheʻe Ridge.
Maui events →Big Island
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park craters and lava fields, plus the Pololū and Waipiʻo valley descents.
Big Island events →Kauaʻi
1 upcomingThe Kalalau Trail on the Nā Pali Coast and the Kōkeʻe/Waimea Canyon trails — some of the most dramatic hiking in the U.S.
Kauaʻi events →In pictures
Hiking in Hawaii
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Reservations
Diamond Head and Hāʻena State Park (Kalalau) require advance reservations for non-residents — book before you go.
What to bring
Water, sun protection, sturdy shoes, and a layer. Trails turn to slick red mud after rain.
Flash floods
Never enter streams or narrow valleys during rain — flash floods on Hawaiʻi trails are fast and deadly.
Leave no trace
Stay on the trail, pack out everything, and respect closures and kapu (sacred) sites.
Common questions
Easiest scenic hike?
Diamond Head Crater (Oʻahu, 30-min steep climb, paved). Pillbox Trail (Lanikai, Oʻahu, 20 min). ʻAkaka Falls (Big Island, 30 min, paved).
Best big-effort hike?
Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai Falls (Kauaʻi, 8 mi round-trip, permit required for parking via gohaena.com). Pīhea + Alakaʻi Swamp (Kauaʻi, 8 mi). Mauna Loa summit trail (Big Island, 2-day backpacking, free permit).
What about flash floods?
Don't enter valleys when rain is forecast. If you're in a valley and rain starts, leave immediately. Streams can rise 6+ feet in minutes.
Safety basics?
2 liters of water per person. Real shoes (not flip-flops). Sun hat. Tell someone your plan. Don't hike off-trail (sacred sites + brittle volcanic rock).
Upcoming hiking in hawaii events
Book & reserve
Trail info & reservations
Established operators for this experience. AlohaCalendar doesn't sell tickets — book or reserve direct on their own sites.
Diamond Head State Monument
Hawaiʻi State ParksOfficial state-parks page for the trail and the advance reservation system required for out-of-state visitors.
Visit site ↗Nā Ala Hele Trail & Access
State of Hawaiʻi (DLNR)The state's trail portal — the authoritative source for trail conditions, closures, and rules across the islands.
Visit site ↗Kaimana Tours
Waikīkī, OʻahuRuns round-trip shuttles from Waikīkī to the Mānoa Falls trailhead for a self-guided rainforest walk.
Visit site ↗And You Creations
Honolulu, OʻahuGuided Mānoa Falls rainforest hike with round-trip transport from Waikīkī and a Tantalus Lookout stop.
Visit site ↗Run one of these outfits? Feature your business →
Book it
Tours & experiences
AlohaCalendar may earn a commission from bookings made through these partners — see our affiliate disclosure.
Things to Do in Hawaii
Tours, activities & unforgettable experiences
$55+Diamond Head Hike & Breakfast
$55+Guided sunrise hike to Diamond Head crater summit with breakfast at a local cafe.
$139+Haleakala Sunrise Tour
$139+Watch the sunrise from 10,023 feet atop Haleakala volcano — a bucket-list experience.
$189+Kilauea Volcano & Stargazing
$189+Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, see active lava flows, then stargaze at 6,500 feet.
For business owners
Run a guided-hike or shuttle service?
Reach visitors planning their trail days. List your business free and get found by travelers searching island by island.
Featured in seasonal guides
Maui Whale Season
The winter the humpbacks come home to Maui
Open guide →
Big Island Volcanoes
Where the islands are still being built
Open guide →
Oʻahu North Shore
Where winter sends the world's biggest rideable waves
Open guide →
Kauaʻi Nā Pali Coast
The roadless coast you reach only by sea, air, or foot
Open guide →
Waikīkī Summer
Surf season on the shore where modern surfing began
Open guide →