Best Honolulu Hikes & Lookouts

These are legal, open hikes and viewpoints within an hour of Honolulu, picked for locals and visitors who want big Oahu views. Most trailheads are in town around Diamond Head, Manoa, Hawaii Kai and Nu'uanu, with one windward pick above Lanikai in Kailua. Diamond Head Summit Trail runs 0.8 miles each way and ends with stairs and a view over Waikiki. Manoa Falls Trail heads under bamboo and banyans to a 150-foot ribbon waterfall. Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail is paved and shadeless, and whales are often visible offshore in winter. For the least effort, Nu'uanu Pali Lookout sits about 1,200 feet above Kaneohe and Kailua, steps from the car, so bring a jacket for the wind.

Parking is the real challenge. The Manoa Falls lot fills by mid-morning, and for the Ka'iwa Ridge Trail it's smarter to park legally in Kailua and walk in.