The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about Koko Head are the famous stairs, a relic of an old tram line that takes you to the top of the crater after a challenging hike of 1048 steps …
But there is another trail on the southeast side. Much shorter and accessible, it will lead you to a beautiful natural arch. His name: the Koko Crater Arch Trail.
As a bonus you will have some iconic views of the south shore from Hanauma Bay to Alan Davis Beach !
Koko Crater Arch Trail
This hike begins close to the Halona blowhole lookout. Very busy the parking might be full but don’t worry: cars comes and goes permanently so you’ll always ends up finding a spot quickly.
From the start, the view is spectacular with a 180° panorama offering stunning views of the coast.
On a clear day, you can even spot the islands of Molokai, Lanai and Maui.
The first part of the Koko Arch Trail climbs slightly. It runs along the road to get you in the axis of the arch. Looking on your right you can already see it in the distance.
Then the path turns right and becomes more and more steep as you progress.
Once arrived at the bottom of the arch, you can either climb it ( be extremly careful ) or pass underneath to take beautiful pictures.
There is a lot of loose gravels near the arch which can make the access a bit tricky.
The access to the top of the arch is very steep and slippery so I suggest to have shoes with good grips !
The last time I did this hike ( February 2024 ) there was a rope fixed but I cannot guarantee that it will be still there during your visit…
From here you can go down by the same way and have a swim at Halona Beach Cove.
You can also enjoy the beauty of the Halona Blowhole Lookout.
Here is a link for what to expect here: https://hawaiiandco.com//en/top-5-lookouts-oahu/
And If you feel more adventurous, you can continue above the arch towards the summit on the Koko Crater Rim Trail !
Once on the ridge of the crater, you can go up to the summit and join the stairs of the Koko Crater trail or go down towards Sandy Beach.
But it will make the hike much longer !
Informations
1,5 Km roundtrip
1h
The easiest way to get to the Koko Crater Arch Trail is to park at the Halona Blowhole Lookout on Highway 72. Turn left and follow the road to marker 15. But be careful when crossing the road, trafic is often heavy.
Here you are in front of the main access.
Step over the rail and go down slightly before following the rocks on your left to return to the ridge. The path to follow will be easily guessed so don’t worry because it’s not well defined. There is only one way to get there !
A second access is just after the Japanese Fishing Shrine. You can even park here if you find a place.
The rocks form looks like big steps that lead you directly to the path.
For the way back I like going through the other access, making a loop because the view is pretty as we overlook the road and the Halona Cove.
