Hiking Wailupe Middle to Pulekeamoa Trail Oahu, Hawaii
Hiking the Wailupe Middle to Pulekeamoa Trail on Oahu, Hawaii, is an exhilarating journey through lush tropical forest, offering breathtaking views of the island’s dramatic landscapes. Starting at Wailupe Valley, the trail ascends gradually through native vegetation, including ferns and tropical flowers, with occasional views of the surrounding ridges. As you progress, the trail becomes steeper, offering a challenge for more seasoned hikers. It’s pretty challenging, so be prepared for a long day on the top of the Ko’olau mountains.
I did this hike with my cousin Jennifer and a new hiking friend from one of the Oahu Hiking Groups, Eric.
We started this hike at the end of Wailupe Valley at the end of Hao street. From the end of the road, you’ll start to walk up into the valley and look for a small opening to the right that will then take you to the base of the Wailupe Middle Ridge hike. There’s lots of websites that can guide you there and plus you can use your phone’s map feature to get you to the right place. Loop up Wailupe Middle Ridge hike for more accurate description of where to start.
This Wailupe Middle Ridge is steep but gets you up the mountain quickly. You can also have the option to do this hike using the loop trail, which should make it slightly easier, but longer because it’s on a more gradual trail.
You’ll pass through a few different forest zones – like one with strawberry guava and then another with Ohia. The light green trees on the side of the mountain are Kukui, from which the nuts can be used for making natural candles.
Even though it was Saturday, we saw no one on this trail. And it’s overgrown, so bring pants and lots of water and snacks. If you start at 8am, then you’ll likely finish close to 4pm with some long breaks in between.
At the top of the ridgeline, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of East Oahu, the Ko’olau Mountains, and glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. The trail then connects to the Pulekeamoa ridge, where the hike becomes more rugged, with sections that require careful navigation and steep climbs. I don’t know the exact distance between this Wailupe Middle peak till Pulekeamoa, but it was a little over a mile long with very steep drop offs on both sides. It’s exhilarating like no other feeling.
We briefly discussed why it’s so special. It’s probably the fact that every step needs a huge amount of concentration otherwise you’ll fall off the side of the mountain, and also because you’re so immersed in the nature with trees and plants as your foot and handholds, and that the wind sweeps up the mountain gaining speed and blows so strong.
Getting to the top of this mountain takes about 2.5 hours. I’d recommend brining a jacket for when you’re at the top, and to wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. A pair of gloves are also good so that you can grab onto things and not cut your fingers.
At the top of the hike, there’s a small path to the right that follows the ridge. You’ll want to watch each of your steps and there may not actually be ground under your feet. It’s best to brush each patch of bushes ahead of you away so that you can see each step forward.
Here’s a better perspective of the drops.
Every place along this ridge has great views. Hopefully you get a time where the clouds lift off the mountain and the sky clears up.
Below is Waimanalo Valley and Lanikai in the distance.
Then it’s time to climb down the Pulekeamoa ridge.
This first few hundred meters are really steep. And the ridge is the most knife-like I’ve been on in a while.
This first few hundred meters are really steep. And the ridge is the most knife-like I’ve been on in a while. But this one seems easier on the descent rather than compared to the ascent.
A final note is that you’ll likely want four or more bottles of water. I ran low near this point and the afternoon sun heats up the ridge more than you think. Luckily we had a nice breeze the entire time, but without it, it may have been too hot to hike.
Overall, it took about 7 hours, and 6.5 miles total with around 2,000+ elevation gain plus some small up and down inclines on the ridge itself. Some hiking sticks to help at the end of the descent are helpful and saved my knees from being too roughed up by this long hike. Hope you get to hike this one or one of the other close/nearby hikes.
Location:
The trail begins at the end of Hao St in the Aina Haina Valley. You’ll likely want to stage a car at the end of Anolani St (where you’ll end the hike) and then drive over to Hao St to leave the car at the beginning of the hike. For an easier hike, try Wiliwilinui Ridge or Kuli’ou’ou Ridge.