Our Favorite Hiking Trails In The Hawaiian Islands

When it comes to long open roads and the ultimate RV road trip, the Hawaiian Islands probably don’t spring to mind. In fact, you would rent a campervan if anything on these islands to get around in style, but the truth is that the islands that make up the Hawaiian archipelago are fantastic and overlooked road-trip destinations. For many outdoor enthusiasts there are many hiking trails around Hawaii and it’s neighboring islands that are worth the flight or cruise to experience.

With short driving distances, stunning scenery, year-round blue skies, and some of the best beaches and trails on the planet, Hawaii is a bucket-list destination for anyone. Combine that with a campervan, aka: Class B RV, and your family or best friends, and you have a recipe for the best RV trip ever. Forget the over-hyped luau and tourist traps. Get into the tropical forests of these magnificent islands for hikes with incredible views to create memories for a lifetime.

You don’t need us to tell you how beautiful Hawaii is. You’ve seen the Insta-photos. Let’s dive in to the best hiking trails across the Hawaiian islands; trails with stunning views where you can immerse yourself in nature and end the day feeling rewarded. But when should you go?

When to Visit Hawaii

Hawaii is synonymous with perfect weather, endless ocean, and a tropical beach lifestyle. And for good reason: the Pacific island chain enjoys ideal weather year-round. However, the summer, a drier and hotter version of the Hawaiian winter, runs from March to September, which is the hottest time to visit the islands. 

A mid-winter trip, from November to March, is also a wonderful time to visit. Hoards of traveling surfers descend on the islands to meet large winter swells. And while there may be plenty of rain, something has to keep the islands lush and green, right? You can still enjoy shorts-and-t-shirt temperatures with bright blue skies in a typical Hawaiian winter. 

March and April is also an excellent time to visit. Between the summer tourists and the winter surfing hoards, flights, accommodation, and excursions are often more affordable at this time of year, and you’ll be able to enjoy the island’s spoils with fewer crowds. 

Here Are The Best Trails Across Hawaii

While there are far too many breathtaking hikes throughout Hawaii to include them all here, we narrowed this list down to the best of the best. These trails are the crème de la crème of hiking in Hawaii, rewarding you with picture-perfect landscapes and stunning coastal views. 

Diamond Head (Le’ahi) Summit Trail

First up is the famous Diamond Head Summit Trail, otherwise known as Le’ahi. This trail is a short drive south of Honolulu with an easily accessible trailhead. 

This hike is incredibly popular, so don’t expect to have it to yourself. However, the summit is nothing short of stunning, and you’ll enjoy views of luscious green landscape across Honolulu city and iconic Waikiki beach. 

The hike is not particularly strenuous, and the 1.6-mile trail climbs up 560 feet of elevation and takes around 2 hours to complete. Given the sticky summer heat on the island, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and your best-hiking boots. Oh, and your camera, obviously. 

Manoa Falls Trail 

The Manoa Falls Trail is another excellent hike close to Honolulu city, but its proximity to town doesn’t mean this hike is any less beautiful than others. The trail takes around 1 hour to complete and is part of the Honolulu Makua Trail System. 

The trail leads you to, yep, you guessed it, Manoa Falls. This incredible waterfall is well worth the challenging trail. The path does get narrow in places, and during winter spells of heavy rain, the track can get washed out. 

During winter, the falls rage harder; in summer, it’s more of a gentle pour. So if you want to check out the falls in their full glory, time your hike with a clear winter’s day. Just be sure to check the weather and trail conditions before you go: the track is sometimes closed during spells of heavy rain. 

Awaawapuhi Trail 

Hopping over to Kauai, this trail screams tropical paradise. Situated in West Kuaui, the Awaawapuhi Trail is part of the Kōke’e State Park and rewards you with draw-dropping views over this legendary section of the Hawaiian coast. 

A jungle trek gives way to stunning coastal views of the surrounding valleys and the famous Nāpali Coast, a coastline synonymous with Hawaii and one that you’ve seen crop up on Instagram (and in movies) a few times. 

However, this hike isn’t for the faint-hearted and is one of the most strenuous on this list. The hike is a 6.2-mile round-trip journey with an elevation gain of 2,000 ft, which starts easy and gets progressively more difficult as you go. However, the intense 3-hour trip is a stunning hike and one that all enthusiastic hikers must go on when visiting Hawaii. 

Kalalau Trail

This hike is one of the most famous hiking tracks on Kauai and arguably in the whole of Hawaii. The Kalalau Trail takes you on an incredible journey along the Nāpali Coast with views of the dramatic green mountains plunging into the crystal clear ocean below. Yep, that’s the Nāpali Coast, and this fantastic trail will treat you to numerous views of the gorgeous place. 

The trail leads you to the most perfect beach you’ll ever see. We’re talking secluded, golden sands with crystal clear waves lapping the shore and palms swaying overhead. Oh, and because the trail is the only land access to the beach, you might even score the place to yourself. This Kuaui hike is something pulled straight from a dream. 

Kauai is an ideal-sized island for cruising around in an RV, traveling from beach to hiking trail in style and luxury. Whether you’re renting an RV rental or heading off on your own adventure, RVnGo has a wide range of luxury RVs to help you create the perfect road trip in Hawaii. 

Haiku Stairs 

The world-renowned Haiku Stairs walk on Oahu is legendary, and no doubt you’ve seen a picture or ten of this iconic Hawaiian hike. Despite the incredible views and Insta-worthy shots, it is closed to the public due to damage to the stairs and trail. 

The hike is also very strenuous and should only be taken on by experienced and fit hikers. Reach the top, and you’ll have incredible views across Oahu’s landscape and the ability to snap the infamous Stairway to Heaven shot. 

Lanikai Pillbox Hike 

To finish, we’re rounding off the list with another stunning hike on the island of Oahu, the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. This gorgeous trail leads you along the Kiawah ridge and rewards you with views of striking blue waters on Oahu’s south shore. This hike is magnificent as it gives you the option of two routes. You can also choose between the long and short versions of the hike, with the former taking 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. 

PS, Check This Off Your Bucket List!

The beauty of Hawaii is no secret, and you don’t need us to tell you how stunning this chain of islands is. However, when it comes to RVing the islands, it’s a trip style often overlooked. Admittedly, an RV trip around Hawaii may not be the cheapest RV trip you can do, but it could be the best. 

With short distances, stunning scenery at every turn, perfect beaches, and some of the most beautiful hikes in the world, why not hire an RV and hit the road? Head there in March or April, and you’ll enjoy the walks at their least-crowded and best time, combined with perfect weather. 

If you’re antsy to rent the perfect RV for your next road trip, rent an RV through RVnGO. We have a range of luxury RVs to suit all needs and budgets, and would love to connect you to the perfect home on wheels to make your dream Hawaiian RV road trip come true.