Overview:
Well off the beaten path on the eastern edge of Oahu, is a one hour hike that is a real thigh burner but rewards you with amazing panoramic views from the top. If you didn’t see the cars parked at the base of this foothill, you wouldn’t even know there was a hiking trail there. You hike a paved road all the way, so even though it’s not well maintained, it’s a smooth easy way to get up to the summit. This trail overlooks prime whale grounds, so November through March you can see them spouting off in the distance, even if they are many miles away. There are many great places you can stop and take a picture along the way, but the best views are from the crows nest at the very top of the mountain. From there, you can see all along the eastern coastline, as well as a bird’s eye view of Sea Life Park.
Of special interest is all the unique vegetation along the way. Things like cactus and strange but beautiful star shaped plants can be found here, and not many other places in Hawaii. Be sure to bring your camera and some water along with you on this hike, and enjoy the relatively few people, unlike other similar hikes closer to Waikiki.
