HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Wednesday, May 22, KHON2.com decided to go out to the Koko Head Trail to see what visitors and residents truly think of this monstrous climb.
What we found was eye-opening.
Koko Head Trail is a hike up the Koko Head crater ridge. It’s a volcanic tuff cone that has an old railway track to the summit that has been converted into a running/hiking/climbing/crawling trail. The reason most everyone does it? The stunning panoramic views of Oʻahu.
On our way up the trail, residents who are regular hikers were encouraging and surprisingly friendly.
Micah, who we met at the top, works at Island Water Spots Hawaiʻi. He said that each day when their business closes, they all go up the trail together to get a bit of exercise.
“It’s a great way to work off the day,” said Micah. “While some of my work mates climb it a second time, I wait at the top to do some calisthenics.”
He proceeded to use a couple of wooden blocks on the wooden platform at the top (the one with no railing) and did pushups and other exercises with a panoramic view of the island to keep him focused.
A visitor from Australia was making his way down the mountain when we met him. Kyle Hoffman from Brisbane exclaimed, “They’re lying liars! That was not an easy hike!” He was exasperated and said that he was not prepared for how difficult that climb ended up being.
Hoffman said it took him a couple of hours to get up the trail and back down and that the steps were more treacherous than he’d expected them to be.
We met Jonas and Leonardo at the top of the trail. They are two adult students from Switzerland who have come to Hawaiʻi for an immersive English language course and experience.
They loved the hike and said they have done it a few times since moving here.
A group of three students from Henry J. Kaiser High School in Hawaiʻi Kai said they ran up the mountain in 12 minutes 10 seconds, 13 minutes 40 seconds and 15 minutes 20 seconds, respectively. Then, they ran back down so they could run back up again.
The hike is rated easy to challenging. This means that while some find it easy, others find it to be exceedingly difficult. Some hikers can climb the mountain in 12 minutes, while others take 2-3 hours. It all depends on fitness level.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources said this about Koko Head Trail:
“Before we get into the nitty gritty of the Koko Head Crater trail, I want to remind you that you hike at your own risk! Every hike, especially in Hawaiʻi, comes with inherent risks, and this one is no different. In fact, this one might even top the list. For real though, there are so many air rescues from this hike. Don’t become a statistic!”
The Koko Head Railway was originally built and used by the military during World War II to transport supplies and personnel to the bunkers and lookout points at the summit of Koko Head Crater. The railway facilitated the movement of equipment necessary for coastal defense installations.
It became a popular recreational hike after the railroad was abandoned in the 1960s. The trail repurposed the old military railway tracks leading to the summit and transformed it into a challenging hiking route for residents and visitors.
So, if you decide to hike Koko Head Trail, then be aware that the experience for everyone who does it is different. You’ll need to rely on your own physical skills to determine whether this is the right hike for you.