One of the most demanding and exciting hiking activities on Oahu, the Koko Head Hike or, in other words, the Koko Crater Railway Trail, is one of the most rewarding and exciting hikes. This famous trail runs along an old rail line that leads vertically straight up the edge of Koko Crater along the southeast coast of the island. Covering 750 meters (0.7 miles) of rough terrain, the track is filled with 1,000-plus railroad ties, serving as steps down a brutally steep staircase whose elevation gain is about 1,048 feet (that is, 319 meters).
Koko Head Hike was constructed during World War II and was used to convey materials and warring peoples to a radar-controlled point at the peak. These days, they have created a torturous yet glamorous path that has tourist attractions, adventure hunters, and fitness enthusiasts.
It is called the Stairmaster of Hawaii, with a good explanation. This extremely steep elevation does not appear to abate along the way up, with every railroad tie step getting progressively more difficult due to tired legs. Just before halfway, there is the so-called bridge part where the tracks hang over a 40-foot fall, literally providing a sense of thrill (or horror) to the excursion.
Location and Its Accessibility
12 miles from downtown Honolulu. The tuff cone in the Koko Head Regional Park is a spot grabber on the southeastern beaches of this island and serves as a can’t-miss location on the southeast shores.
Honolulu and Waikiki
To Koko Head, it will take you approximately 30 minutes (with traffic) if you start around the Waikiki and downtown areas of Honolulu. Go east via the H1 Freeway until the H1 becomes a freeway bearing the name of the Kalanianaole Highway (Route 72). Go on Kalanianaole Highway past Hawaii Kai and Hanauma Bay.
Parking Information
Koko Head Trail has its starting point at Koko Head District Park, which is free to park; the number of parking spaces is estimated to be 4050. This car park is quite famous, to the extent that it can get full very early in the morning, about 7:00 AM, predominantly on weekends or holidays. In the event of full parking in the primary lot, more parking spaces can be found in the larger parking space that is located in the baseball fields, which are approximately 200 yards away.
Transportation by The Public: Public Transportation Options
The Koko Head can be reached by people who are not driving by the public bus system (TheBus) or by car on Oahu. When you are at Waikiki, ride the 22 or the 23 system and have yourself dropped off at the stop of the Koko Head District Park along the Kalanianaole Highway. It would take about 60-75 minutes by bus to travel to Waikiki. Depending on the time of day, buses operate every half an hour to one hour unless there is more restricted movement on weekends.
Details of Trail Access Point
After arriving at Koko Head District Park, find the baseball fields and then, towards the end of them, there should be a dirt path that can be followed up toward the crater. Go down this road a half-mile or so to the edge of the stairs. It used to have a small sign at the trailhead, but it is difficult to miss the railway ties climbing steeply up the mountainside.
Trail Difficulty and Expectations of the Trail
There is no doubt that Koko Head Hike is the most infamous extreme walk locally known as Koko Head Stairs of Doom by hikers. This is unlike a nature walk—it is a vertical walk that will challenge your stamina all along the way.
The route is comprised of railroad ties, which were otherwise used as a track to a military tram during World War 2. These wooden stairs meander almost straight up the wall of the crater and yield an elevation increase of about 990 feet in only 0.7 miles. The gradient begins harmlessly with a 30-degree inclination but gets steeper towards the top with a gradient of more than 40 degrees, an uphill ride, which will scream off your calves and quads.
The initial 300 steps are a warm-up, and the spacing of the steps is quite stable with firm footing. On the way up, you will come across the dreaded bridge section about the halfway point, 500 or so steps up—a 12-foot stretch where the railroad ties have been tossed precariously on top of a small ravine with air beneath their feet.
You’ll need:
- Power legs and cardio endurance
- Quality purporting to be a good balance, and good coordination
- Decent upper body strength (and you will use your hands to hold steady often)
- Mental strength to be able to stick with it when your legs are burning up.
Best Times to Hike Koko Head
The time you decide to hike Koko Head can completely alter your adventure—either making it an incredible adventure or a literal agonizing experience. The exposed nature of the trail and the tropical weather of Hawaii make it have its share of advantages and challenges, depending on what time of year you decide to take on the famous stairs.
Sunrise Magic
There is no doubt that in literal terms, the sunrise is the most fulfilling experience in Koko Head. Starting during your hike 45-60 minutes before daybreak, you also have the best blend of a cooler climate as well as awe-inspiring perspectives. Hanging out at the top would give you a view of the sun coming up over the Pacific horizon and illuminating the gold lights across Hanauma Bay and on the east side of Oahu. In the mornings, the air is usually calm, which provides clear visibility and good shot provisions. Starting early also means there will be no crowds to contend with and the hot, noontime sun will be avoided.
Sunset Option
A late afternoon ascent timed to give a sunset arrival at the summit is another opportunity to experience the magic of nature among those who are not morning people. The crater has a western exposure, which provides spectacular landscapes during the setting sun in the background of the Koalau mountain range.
Input Equipment and What to Carry Around
Hiking to the Koko Head Stairs needs careful preparation because the trail is very open and unforgiving to the unprepared hiker. The wrong equipment options can spell the difference between an enjoyable success story and a very tough experience.
Recommended Footwear
Good traction athletic shoes are needed on the Koko Head hike. Although proper hiking boots offer great protection to the ankle, most ordinary hikers wear trail runners or rugged cross-training shoes that offer a mix of friction and range of movement. Wear shoes to cope with slippery conditions on the railway ties (when wet or dusty) and no smooth-soled shoes or sandals.
Water Requirements
Take a minimum of 2 liters of water per person, more still when hiking in the heat of the day. The whole path is in the sun with no source of water. Dehydration takes place fast in this demanding hill walk, especially because of the humidity and heat in Hawaii. How well a hydration bladder works is that you have free hands that you can use to balance yourself in the steeper areas.
Sun Protection
The Hawaiian sun is brutal at Koko Head, and there is hardly any shade along the way. His sunscreen should be with high SPF (50+), and the sunscreen needs reapplication since he sweats. The blocking of ultraviolet (UV) rays with sunglasses and the use of a wide-brimmed hat can help divert direct rays of the sun and glare that can be reflected by the ocean back onto your face, neck, and eyes.
Clothing
Lightweight materials are the best fabrics when hiking since they either repel water or accelerate wicking. Without complexes, with shorts or sports pants, it is easier to move on steep steps. Wear a breathable shirt and carry a light windbreaker to the summit because you will be quite chilly in the strong winds, even though the weather is quite warm. A lot of hikers wear shorts on top of compression shorts in order to avoid chafing.
Suggested Camera Gear
Pictures of the panoramas around the Koko Head are worth taking; the only thing is that camera gear is heavy, and the hike is tedious work. Most hikers will do with a smartphone that has a dedicated camera that they bring on the trip. A lightweight but heavy-duty tripod may be helpful in sunrise/sunset experiences or even in taking group shots.
History of Koko Head Crater
The dominant feature of Koko Head Crater on Oahu’s landscape is its compelling military past, and various hikers might not be aware of it as they scale its steep railway traces. The railway, which currently forms the steep staircase up to the top, was initially just a small part of Hawaii’s coastal defense system built by the U.S. military back in World War II.
When Pacific tensions became so high in the early 1940s, the military came up with the Koko Head Railway to take up the supplies and people to the top of the crater, where they developed a radar station and bunkers of lookouts. Its layout provided the best views of the southeastern Oahu coastline and surrounding ocean—places to see incoming enemy ships or planes.
It was in World War II that the installation was added to the Oahu defense system during the Pearl Harbor attack. The troops that were located at the Koko Head lookout were on constant check, and they would observe the horizon with much attention to observe plain dangers. The bunkers and pillboxes that were built at the top included the housing of workers and state-of-the-art radar facilities, which were used as part of an early warning network of the island.
Safety Info and Trail Status
Koko Head Trail is no joke to the hikers. Although thousands of them pass it successfully every year, they have to ensure proper preparation and understanding of the prevailing conditions to have a safe experience.
State of Trail
The railroad ties that constitute the steps of Koko Head are in various degrees of perfection. Foot traffic, time, and weather exposure have made a huge number of ties splinter, crack, or simply vanish into bits. The trail deteriorates with the seasons; in winter, when it rains, this can lead to erosion around the ties, making them loose. The metal rails are very hot in summer; touching them in the middle of the day when out hiking may cause severe burns.
The Bridge Section: Going Through the Rough Part
One of the most daunting parts of the entire hike is something the locals refer to as the bridge, which is about three-quarters of the way up the Koko Head trail. This infamous stretch is marked by railroad ties that hang about 15-20 feet above a ravine that was consumed by some erosion under the tracks, and a gap then opened up between the ground and the track.
There is a special psychological and physical difficulty in the bridge part. In contrast to the rest of the trail, the railroad ties do not touch the ground here: they are lifted off the ground and are supported only by air. The ties are weathered pieces of wood spaced roughly a foot apart so that as hikers pass, they look right through the drop below them.
It is a 30-foot stretch that can evoke anxiety in case a person is afraid of heights. No hiker is going to lose their footing after walking across these hanging ties and experiencing the slight bounce/swivel of each step they take. One of the effects of the size of the ties on some visitors is the statement that they feel that they were looking into a bottomless pit through the spaces in the ties.
It is possible to go through this section in three major ways:
- Direct crossing: Several skilled hikers, without hesitation, just wade across the railroad ties—step by step, with concentration on the ties, not the downward plunge. This needs a stable balance and assurance.
- Hands-and-knees: This is normally the position of crawling on all fours, which makes certain hikers feel more secure since they are distributing their mass and can never lose more than three points of contact. It is more sober, and despite it being time-consuming, people with a fear of heights would not be so nervous.
- The bypass trail: In case the bridge seems too scary, there is an alternative trail. A dirt path takes off to the right, about 15 feet in advance of the bridge. This bypass trail goes around the ravine through brush and loose dirt, then rejoins the main trail after the bridge section. Know that this shortcut is steep and so slippery after rain.
The Summit Views
With such a panoramic view that is one of the most fantastic views of Oahu, the hikers attain a height of 1,208 feet above sea level when they reach the top of Koko Head Crater. Viewing a 360 is a complete visual to give a spectator all the struggle of physically journeying to the top, worth every bit of pain.
Off to the east, the beautiful bend of scenic Hanauma Bay blends like a green jewel amid the blue ocean set in the Pacific. The horseshoe shape of the safeguarded marine sanctuary is especially impressive at this altitude, and the arrangements of reef developments underneath the transparent water might be obvious. On a sunny day, snorkelers can be seen as minuscule specks on the surface of the bay.
When one looks south, one can see the infinite Pacific extending to the horizon, with whitecaps often seen on windy days. Winter months show a scan of the waters where you may see humpback whales breach in the distance. The eastern edge of Oahu continues downwards at the southeast coast to include Sandy Beach, Makapu Point, and the Makapu Point Lighthouse trail.
Alternate Trails And Routes
Although the infamous Koko Head Stairs (a.k.a. Koko Crater Railway Trail) steals all the accolades and Instagram likes, there are also a few surrounding paths to take to avoid the crowds when hiking the iconic Koko Head and also having to climb the steep railway ties.
Most notable is the invisible backside trail, which is up the eastern side of Koko Head. The path starts close to the Koko Crater Botanical Garden and weaves down the indigenous Hawaiian scrubbery as it slowly climbs up the outer sides of the crater. This is the wispier trail and the more irksome to navigate because it is not as deep as the main stairs.
Naturally, the more adventurous goers will be desirous of extending the adventure by ascending the ordinary stairs and descending across the back path (and vice versa). This package gives the complete Koko Head experience and eliminates the difficulty of having to go down the slippery railway ties. You should note that performing this loop involves transportation plans or an extended return to the starting point by walking.
Training to Do the Koko Head Hike
Koko Head Hike is commonly referred to as Koko Head Stairs, or Koko; it is not an ordinary walking trail. This is not an easy path, as the 1,048-rail-tie-step staircase up to 1,200 feet of altitude requires good physical condition not only to keep you safe but also to have fun.
Prescribed Fitness Level
Koko Head is something to try only when you have an adequate level of endurance. Even though you are barely in a position to jog for about thirty minutes or become huffing after three flights of stairs, do not give up yet. In that case, you may need to increase your endurance before this trial.
Koko Head Vs Other Oahu Hikes
Oahu hiking has huge diversity, with easy coastal excursions and difficult mountain treks. Of these trails, Koko Head is the most distinctive, but in how many ways does it radically compare to the other well-known hikes throughout the island?
Koko Head vs. Diamond Head
These hikes are very different, though both are volcanic craters that offer a panoramic view:
- First is difficulty; Diamond Head offers a moderate challenge to hikers with its gravel-like pathways and the presence of stairs; most visitors in their fair shape should be able to hike without trouble. The 1,048 railway ties that are located on Koko Head make a relentlessly steep upward climb that challenges even experienced hikers.
- Views: Diamond Head offers traditional postcard scenic views of Waikiki and Honolulu. Koko Head has a broader view to the east, which includes Hanauma Bay and Hawaii Kai, and on a clear day, it includes nearby islands.
The Verdict
Koko Head is the ultimate training camp in Oahu, the reward of which is equally massive. It is entirely different than the tourist-friendly environment of Diamond Head, the easy family walk of Makapu’u, or the illegal Haiku Stairs. Koko Head is an actual legitimate endurance test that locals go back to jog down time after time.
The thing that makes Koko Head unique is that it is accessible, challenging, and rewarding at the same time. It is an easy trail to tackle (just keep walking uphill), no special gear is necessary (other than a good pair of athletic shoes and some water), and it offers its hikers a feeling of accomplishment that not many of the other legal hikes on Oahu can provide. It is close to cities, so you can slay this natural StairMaster and still get your post-StairMaster beach plans or dinner reservations in.
Tips and Local Advice
To get a feel of Koko Head when visiting this volcano, here is what people in the islands know that most visitors do not.
One, it is all about timing. The local go-to sunrise hike is the hour before sunset (5-6 PM, depending on the time of year). This will provide you with beautiful golden hour light conditions to take photos, cooler weather, and the rare experience of seeing the lights of Honolulu starting to twinkle in the dark. Make sure you bring a headlamp down, though.
When parking, bypass the main lot during 8 AM-3 PM times, in particular, over the weekends that are like a shopping mall in the second week of the holiday season. Rather, park at the secondary lot of the Koko Head District Park, along the baseball fields, and walk the extra 5 minutes to the trailhead. The little secret does not get crowded easily, even when the main lot is full of cars swirling like sharks.
Weekday and weekend hiking could not be more different. Saturdays and Sundays will result in a lot of hikers using the stairs, occasionally with the need to stop and give way to other hikers on the narrow parts. Weekdays, especially Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, are a far more relaxing affair, about which you may find only about a dozen fellow hikers.
After Hiking and the Surrounding Attractions
Having managed to conquer the 1,048 railway ties in Koko Head, your body will appreciate a careful recuperating period. The upside is that you are in one of the most beautiful parts of Oahu, and there are tons of places to recharge your batteries, rehydrate, and prolong your day of activities.
Cooling off At the End of Your Climb
The Hanauma Bay is only a few minutes away by road from the Koko Head trail start, and it has one of the most beautiful snorkeling experiences one can have in Hawaii. The unblemished waters of this sheltered cove are ideal for calming worn-out muscles. It should be noted that bookings are mandatory, and the bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays because of conservation.
Refueling: Food around the Hood
Hawaii Kai: Koko Marina Center (5 min drive to trailhead), some good restaurants here:
- Kona Brewing Company—Having burgers, ales, and seascapes of the marina
- Moena Cafe—The go-to place in town to get a filling Hawaiian-style breakfast and lunch
- Coconut Thai-Thai dishes that are delicious and a perfect replacement for the burned calories
Conservation and Trail Work
Although emblematic, the stairs are confronted with a major conservation issue because of their popularity and a naturally occurring erosion of the volcanic terrain. This ex-military railway that was never intended to be used by foot traffic has to be regularly maintained so that it becomes a safe place and accessible to humans at the same time, without destroying the ecosystem around it.
There have been some volunteer groups formed whose efforts to preserve Koko Head became the core of it. One group, called the Friends of Koko Head Railway Trail, formed in 2018 with monthly workdays to repair broken parts, secure loose railroad ties, and trim overgrowth. Another grassroots group, Kokonut Koalition, has been able to influence city financing and work with local authorities to institute larger-scale structural fixes to the trail.
These initiatives reached fruition in 2020 with a large-scale restoration project during which the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation made a $1 million investment in repairing the many safety fixes that were needed, especially in the infamously troubled bridge section, where the lack of railroad ties had caused potentially fatal holes to open along the tracks.
Tourists are considered very pivotal as part of conservation.
Trail preservation can be achieved by hikers through the following:
- Remaining on the official trail to avoid widening and erosion
- Carrying out everything (pulp gum, fruit peels, tissues, etc.)
- Never hike when it is raining heavily, as erosion is more likely to occur.
- Reporting problems on the trail to park management
- Timely volunteering during the scheduled maintenance events (during which visits can be made) on workdays
- Giving gifts to local conservation societies
It is not only the environment of the trail. Its environs are the nearby Koko Head District Park, which has its own native Hawaiian plants and harbors the local wildlife. There should be a strike between improvement in foot traffic and possible expansion of the trails on the one hand and preservation of these natural resources on the other hand.
Moving forward into the future, conservation groups and city officials are creating a long-term management plan that tackles the issues of safety as well as the impact this has on the environment. Suggestions have come up, including the use of more permanent steps in the high-erosion zone, the introduction of dedicated rest spots to limit off-trail roaming, and a possible reservation system at critical times to control visitor capacity.
The conservation of Koko Head is a very thin line between access to this treasured hike and the sustainability of this amenity that can be utilized by people in the future. With cooperative efforts among government agencies, volunteer organizations, and responsible visitors, such an iconic landmark can remain a source of breathtaking views of the summit and a way of protecting the natural and historical aspects of the trail.