Kalawahine Trail | Moss, Ferns, and Views Above Waikiki

The Kalawahine Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in the Honolulu Mauka Trail System, winding through moss and fern-covered forest above the city. It gains about 570 feet, takes one to one and a half hours, and ends at a T-junction where you can turn back or keep going connecting to Pauoa Flats, Manoa Falls, and a network of trails you could hike for days. The trail is well maintained and clearly marked, with boardwalks over wet sections and shade for most of the route. From the ridge there’s a bench and views of Waikiki and the coast far below.

Returning Home

As we wound our way up Tantalus Road, I felt transported far from the hustle of Honolulu. I rolled down the windows to the welcoming smell of eucalyptus and closed my eyes in the dappled sunlight.

It had been almost 15 years since I had last visited Tantalus. We moved to the windward side after living and working in Makiki for years and I hadn’t been back. Looking at the peace and beauty around me, I wondered why.

We passed ambitious bikers panting their way up the relentless hill and noted people taking in the views of Diamond Head and Waikiki at various pullouts along the way. As we climbed higher, signs for various trailheads flashed past along with sweaty hikers returning to their cars. The entire mountainside is home to a vast network of hiking trails, from short strolls to arduous sweat baths. You can pick and choose and link various hikes together for a custom adventure.

The Kalawahine Trail

The trail winds through moss and fern-covered forest, passing over boardwalks on the wetter sections and weaving in and out of gulches as it curves along the border of Pauoa Valley. There’s a good amount of variety including roots, rocks, patches of bamboo, and filtered light through the canopy. Enough to keep kids moving forward rather than asking when it ends.

The Kalawahine Trail itself is about 2 miles out and back, gaining roughly 570 feet. AllTrails rates it moderate. Budget an hour to an hour and a half. At the T-junction at the end you can turn around or continue onto the broader Honolulu Mauka Trail System, which connects to Pauoa Flats and eventually to Manoa Falls. That extension makes for a long day, but it’s doable if everyone is willing.

There’s a bench at the ridge with views stretching out over Honolulu’s northern end, Pauoa Valley, and the coast toward Waikiki. If you have kids who made it without too much complaint, this is the payoff.

What the Trail Looks Like

This is a short film from a slow morning on the Kalawahine Trail with our own family. Tall canopy, hanging roots, patches of light through the ferns, a boardwalk, boulders, and eventually that ridge. Good preview of what the hike actually feels like with kids who stop to notice things.

Getting There

The trailhead is on Tantalus Drive in Honolulu. Parking is street parking only along the narrow road. As you get close, you’ll see clusters of cars and people on foot. That’s how you know you’re close. Look for the trailhead sign.

Get directions to the Kalawahine Trail

Dogs: Dogs are allowed on the trail on leash.

What to bring: Water, closed-toe shoes with grip, reef-safe sunscreen for the exposed sections near the ridge, and a light layer if the weather is unsettled. The trail is mostly shaded but the ridge is open.

On sunscreen: most sunscreen sold at drugstores and grocery stores contains chemicals that damage coral reef ecosystems. Hawaii banned several of them in 2021 for exactly this reason. They’re not great for humans either. Use reef-safe sunscreen, and skip the aerosol spray entirely. Applying it on a windy ridge means everyone around you is inhaling it, which is not a gift.

Family Photos in Honolulu’s Forests

Families who find their way up Tantalus tend to be the kind who want something a little different from a beach morning. The forest light up here is unlike anything on the coast — dappled, green, constantly shifting. If that resonates, you might also like what a Little Bird session looks like in the forest at nearby Nuuanu Valley Park — here, here, and here. And if it looks like something your family would be into, here’s where to start.

More Adventures in the Area

The Kalawahine Trail is one piece of a much larger network. Want to add a waterfall? Take the trail to Pauoa Flats and head downhill via the Aihualama Trail to connect to Manoa Falls. It makes for a long day but a satisfying one. You can also access Manoa Falls directly from its own trailhead if you prefer. For a full map of the trail network and all the ways to connect routes, the DLNR Honolulu Mauka Trails map is the best starting point.

Kalawahine Trail FAQs