Hanauma Bay Ridge Hike

Hiking Hawaii's bay

Hanauma Bay is one of Oahu's staple destinations. This Bay is home to over 450+ species of marine life and is the number one snorkel spot on the island! Thousands of tourists and locals travel to Hanauma Bay everyday. But besides the amazing waters this Bay holds, it is also home to one of the most stunning hikes on Oahu's East Coast! 

This hike is a fairly easy trail and the path is mostly paved! There is lots of opportunity for adventuring on your own, or you can stay on the walkway like us!  Regardless how you explore, the views all around are stunning the hike is well worth it.

Like any mountain, wind is present! But on this day it was particularly windy, so bringing an extra jacket along is never a bad idea. We also chose to do this hike later in the day becuase without many trees, this hike is a hot spot, literally! Always bring lots of water, and a snack never hurts. 

If you are just going to swim at Hanauma Bay, the walk down provides some beautiful views but nothing that compares to seeing it from up here! The water is so blue, and you can clearly see the coral reefs. It is incomparable.

Rashawn is my best hiking buddy. He is always down for my crazy ideas and adventures. I hardly ever go anywhere without my GoPro especially on hikes. It is the best way to capture these active memories on the go. 

One of the best parts of this hike was how many iconic spots you can see. From Diamond Head to Koko Head and the vast oceans in between you will not be disappointed in any direction. Oahu sure has some amazing hikes. 

I know when we leave Hawaii for good we are going to miss spontaneous hiking and beach hopping. It is so amazing how much you can do on the drop of a dime here and I will definitely miss that. 

We stayed on the paved path for most of the hike, but did take one dirt trail for these awesome views. There are lots of paths leading across the ridge and down towards a blowhole. I don't recommend hiking all the way down to the blowhole as this has been fatal for some people and the ocean can change in an instant, creating big waves to sweep you out to sea. It's not worth it!

On any hike, always be aware of your surroundings. Here in Hawaii that is especially true becuase you can often find your self on narrow pathways, near the ocean, or hanging on the edge. Always be cautious and make smart choices. 

I rarely complain about the rain here (unless it's interrupting my beach day) because the rain is sure to bring a rainbow. Even the slightest sprinkle can cause the most vibrant sight. Hawaii didn't get the nickname the 'Rainbow State' for nothing!

This hike can easily be done in slippers if you are just staying on the paved areas. However if you want to do a little exploring I recommend wearing sneakers. That's what I opted for becuase I didn't even know it was paved before coming! It's always better to be over prepared. 

At the top of the hike is a giant cell tower and we figured out it was AT&T, so if you live on east side Oahu make sure you have AT&T ha! Rashawn has them and he had amazing service at the top, go figure :) From here, you can keep going along the paved path, or walk down to the other paths along the ridge. 

You can even see clear views of Diamond head and Waikiki from atop Hanauma Bay Ridge! I always think it is so amazing when you can see multiple sides becuase it puts into perspective about how big, or small, the island is. 

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how to get here

 

You drive to Hanauma Bay like normal but DO NOT park in the Hanauma Bay parking lot becuase you will have to pay $1 and add extra .25 miles onto your hike. Instead park in the neighborhood outside the Bay. On the right hand side you will see a dirt 'trial' leading straight up to the paved path. 

warning

This hike is prone to strong winds so try to keep loose articles to a minimum. Getting to the start of this hike can be tricky so just always be aware of your surroundings. This trail head breaks off into multiple trails so always use best judgment when planning your route. If you are trying to make it down to the blowhole, do NOT get within 100 feet. It can suck you in, knock you off your feet, or cause you to slip and fall. Bring lots of water!