Hiking Koko Head Crater Stairs on Oahu

Stairway to Heaven might not be accessible at the moment but there’s another stairs hike on the island, and that’s Koko Head Crater. If you’re looking for a physical challenge, this is a great hike to do once, and for the really fit locals it’s something you can run laps on. What’s special about this hike is seeing all the people you pass going up and down, making it a very social hike. Every time I do this I wind up chatting with some new people.

Depending on your fitness level you might make it up the stairs in 15 minutes or it might take you an hour, but the views at the top are amazing. You get a south view of Koko Head Marina and parts of Hawaii Kai and Honolulu, but if you keep going a bit further there’s an awesome view to the East as well, so make sure to go for that.

Is this pet friendly? Really depends on how much physical punishment your dog is up for. Try to avoid the mid day but if you do it near sunset it might be okay. I’ve taken my dogs a number of times and she never complained.