9 Easy And Beautiful Hikes Everyone In Hawaii Will Love

The Hawaiian Islands are not only home to magnificent beaches, but world-class hiking, as well. And with near-perfect summer weather year-round, there’s nowhere better to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails than our beautiful islands. From panoramic vistas and stunning gardens to cascading waterfalls and unique lava formations, these nine easy and jaw-dropping waterfall hikes in Hawaii should undoubtedly be added to your hiking bucket list the next time you need a great hike on the islands. They make for the perfect day trip when it’s spring in Hawaii!

Honolua Bay Access Trail, Hawaii 96761, USA

Kirt Edblom/Flickr

Kris Nelson/Flickr

With vibrant blue waters surrounded on three sides by lava rock cliffs resulting in calm, protected waters, it doesn’t get much prettier than this. And while Honolua Bay itself is stunning, we can’t deny the ethereal natural beauty of the footpath through the forest you must take to reach this slice of paradise. The trail meanders less than a mile through the forest from a parking lot adjacent to the Honoapiilani Highway above to a mostly rocky shoreline and a small beach sure to take your breath away.

Want to read more? Find out why You Can’t Deny The Beauty Of This Secret Forest Trail That Leads To One Of Hawaii’s Prettiest Bays for more information.

Advertisement

'Iliahi Trail, Hawaii 96778, USA

Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com

Advertisement

Nan Palmero/Flickr

Located less than a mile from the Kilauea Visitors Center, this otherworldly destination is just one of many unique destinations found within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here, groundwater seeps down to the hot volcanic rocks in the area and returns to the surface as steam. Though the steam vents are visible from the road, we suggest pulling into the designated parking lot and exploring on foot via the 1.2-mile ‘Iliahi (Sandalwood) Trail.

To learn all about this terrific trail, read about howThe Otherworldly Hike That Takes You Through Hawaii’s Natural Steam Forest.

Friendship Garden, 45-219 Kokokahi Pl, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA

Seoulsearchingadventures/TripAdvisor

Cat SmallEars/AllTrails

Located high above Kaneohe on Oahu’s stunning windward coast, this trail meanders its way through a 10-acre hiking area in a serene, lush forest. Measuring in at less than half a mile, the lightly trafficked lower loop is an idyllic trail to complete on a warm summer day when you’re short on time but don’t want to sacrifice views.

Need more convincing? Find out why The Secret Garden Hike In Hawaii Will Make You Feel Like You’re In A Fairytale

Wai??napanapa State Park, Hana, HI 96713, USA

dronepicr/Flickr

lifetravelandmore/Flickr

Found off the beaten path along Maui’s Hana Highway, Waianapanapa State Park looks as though it was ripped straight from the pages of your favorite fairytale. This little sliver of paradise is home to every enchanting wonder you could think of, including a striking black sand beach, freshwater pools, a blowhole, cascading waterfalls, sandy sea caves, and a trail that leads to it all. To learn all about this terrific trail, read about how you can Hike To These Sandy Caves In Hawaii For An Out-Of-This-World Experience.

Advertisement

Akaka Falls Road, Akaka Falls Rd, Honomu, HI 96728, USA

Jasperdo/Flickr

Related Stories

The 9 Gorgeous Hikes Everyone In Hawaii Must Complete

9 Gorgeous Hawaii Waterfalls Hiding In Plain Sight With No Hiking Required - REDIRECTED

With Stream Crossings and Footbridges, The Little-Known Makiki Valley Loop Trail In Hawaii Is Unexpectedly Magical

Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState

Pu‘u‘ohulu Kai, Pu‘U‘Ohulu Kai, Hawaii 96792, USA

Kathy O'Connor Phelps/AllTrails

Cat SmallEars/AllTrails

Similar to the wildly popular Lanikai Pillbox trail above Kailua, Pu’u O Hulu Kai is located on the opposite side of the island above Nanakuli — but still just as gorgeous, and far less crowded. This 1.6-mile moderately trafficked trail gains approximately 700 feet and leads hikers on a journey up the side of a mountain via a set of steep switchbacks. And the views once you reach the top will leave you speechless. To get all the details about this terrific trail, read about how The Magnificent Hike In Hawaii That Will Lead You To A Piece Of WWII History.

?Ohai Trail, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA

Sue Dobbs/AllTrails

Advertisement

Sue Dobbs/AllTrails

Nestled on Maui’s northeastern coast between Waihee and Kapalua is the Ohai Trail Loop, an incredibly scenic and short hike you’ll want to check off of your Hawaii hiking bucket list as soon as possible. Measuring in at just 1.2 miles and gaining less than 200 feet in elevation, you have no excuse not to tackle this terrific trail. After all, the sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and rock formations along the Hawaiian coast will take your breath away. The Ohai Trail Loop in Maui is a must-see! Want to know more about why you should visit? Because we think It’s Practically A Criminal Offense Not To Check Out This Easy Coastal Hike In Hawaii for more information.

Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, 62-3601 Kawaihae Rd, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

marcos ojeda/Flickr

Bamse/Wikipedia Commons

Welcome to the Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, a little-known slice of Hawaiian history nestled along Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast. Here, you will find a trail leading to the remnants of the last major ancient Hawaiian temple, as well as other historic sites. The interpretive trail begins at the visitors center operated by the National Park Service and leads hikers on a short 20-30 minute walk to Pu’ukohola. While entry to the heiau is strictly forbidden, guests will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a king and take a step back in time. To find out why you should explore this terrific trail, read about how There’s A Hike In Hawaii That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Temple.

Likeke Falls Trailhead, 45-550 Kionaole Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA

Thomas Nickle/AllTrails

Lillian Perkins/AllTrails

Nestled on the windward side of Oahu below the stunning Nu’uanu Pali Lookout, this secluded two-tiered waterfall is downright dreamy — and it’s not terribly difficult to find, either. With an elevation gain of just 428 feet over 1.5 miles when accessed via the Ko’olau Golf Club, this heavily trafficked out and back trail is perfect for hikers of all skill levels, including keiki. The Likeke Falls Trail on Oahu is a gorgeous trail with plenty of awesome natural features that you’ll want to see in person. We love this hike, and we think will too! Read about why Your Kids Will Love This Easy 1.5-Mile Waterfall Hike Right Here In Hawaii for more information.

How many of these easy and beautiful waterfall hikes in Hawaii have you tackled? What did you think? Was there any we missed? Share your favorite easy trails in the comments below. And don’t forget to take AllTrails Plus with you anytime you head out on a hike. You’ll have maps and trail information at your fingertips!

If you prefer your Hawaii hikes to end with a waterfall, check out all of our favorites.