Oahu: Top Three Trails

The Pu'u Manamana Trail on Oahu, photo by Caroline Treadway.

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Oahu to shoot a story on rock climbing for Deadpoint Magazine. In the 10 days our team spent on the island, there was little weather dry enough to climb, but it was perfect for hiking, especially if you don’t mind getting a little muddy. When traveling, I love to explore my immediate surroundings, whether it’s unfamiliar city streets or exciting natural landscapes. Learning the ins and outs of a new city, or the plants and animals in a place like Hawaii, orients me in space, gives me a new perspective on life and an understanding of the place I’ve landed.

With nearly 1 million people, Oahu is an island of extremes. There are crowded, touristy beaches like Waikiki, across the street from glitzy, high fashion stores that require a credit card swipe before entering, and wild, unpopulated areas like Kaena Point, a protected sanctuary for rare Monk seals and Albatross, that’s relatively deserted.

I consider myself a pretty good hiker. Coming from Colorado, where the typical climbing approach is an hour an a half hike up steep talus and loose scree, I was like, Hiking? Hawaii? No problem. Needless to say, we got our asses kicked. Island hikes can be steep, slippery, loose, treacherous, grueling, hot and buggy, but are always breathakingly beautiful.

Here’s my guide to Oahu’s top three must-hike trails. Check out the photo gallery and the rest of the story on venturethere.com