Kahekili-Manamana: Narrow Ridges and Gorgeous Views On O'ahu's Windward Side
- Stephen Warner
- Aug 24
- 4 min read
Located on Oʻahu’s lush windward coast, the Kahekili-Manamana traverse is an iconic adventure and one of the most thrilling ridge hikes in Hawaiʻi. You’ll wind your way through overgrown rainforest, scramble along narrow ridgelines, and be rewarded with surreal views of the Pacific below. This trail is not for the faint of heart, but if you're up for the challenge, the payoff is immense.
Trail Info
Trailhead Name | Kahekili-Manamana |
Distance | 5 miles / 8 km (loop) |
Estimated time | 4-6 hours |
Elevation gain | 2,000 ft / 600 m |
Highest point | 1,900 ft / 580 m (Manamana Turnover Summit) |
Permits / fees | None |
Parking | Paved lot (Swanzy Beach Park |
Toilets? | Yes |
Dog friendly? | No (Scrambles and narrow ridges) |
AllTrails link (Note, I prefer hiking this in the opposite direction of this track, but you can do either direction)
Know before you go
This trail is often overgrown and muddy. That Hawaii rain keeps these ridgelines nice and lush. But that also means lots of overgrowth and mud. Long sleeves, long pants, and grippy shoes are recommended for this one.
Expect some scrambling.. You may get some rope assists, especially for the muddy sections, but expect to be using your hands.
The trail involves some narrow and exposed ridges. If you’re not comfortable with heights or technical terrain, this may not be the trail for you.
Other trails nearby
Crouching Lion
Distance: 1 miles (1.6 km) out and back
Elevation gain: 400 ft (120 m) gain
Details: This shorter route shares the same views as the Manamana descent and offers a taste of the ridge experience without the technical exposure.
The Trail
The hike begins at the end of Huamalani Street near a break in the trees.
Immediately upon entering, take a left at the first junction to begin ascending the ridge.
After a short push, you’ll gain the ridge. If you detour left for a few minutes, you’ll reach a lookout with sweeping ocean views
But we’re headed right and up the ridge. That quick warm-up is followed by a much more intense stretch.
Kahekili Ridge serves up a challenging mix of steep scrambles (some rope-assisted)...
...sections of thick overgrowth...
... and narrow, partially exposed ridgelines. It’s a tough climb, but in my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful ridges in Hawaiʻi.
You’ll eventually come to a large rock face that looks like it must be climbed. But don’t worry, there’s a clear traverse path to the right that avoids the climb.
This route is still tricky. It is rooty, uneven, and assisted by ropes in spots. But probably preferred to some crazy free solo.
Eventually you’ll reach a picturesque waterfall... ok maybe with this lack of flow, it's not that picturesque.
But that view of the ocean and beyond is sure to be picturesque. It's a great place for a water or snack break.
From here, it’s time for the final push to the Manamana summit. Navigation gets tricky — after crossing the pond, ensure you are heading uphill and to the left. There are some junctions that make it easy to veer right and downhill, which will take you off route (I've done this on more than one occasion). There are some trail markers, but I recommend using GPS here to stay on course.
This stretch is also the most overgrown part of the hike. I'd throw on those long sleeves / pants if you've got them.
And just like that, you’ve reached Puʻu Manamana, the high point of the route.
From the summit, continue toward the coast to connect with the Manamana Trail. It starts off overgrown...
....but opens quickly into a narrow ridgeline that’s part scramble, part traverse. The scrambles are manageable, but you need to be comfortable with exposure here.
Perspective 1 of that narrow ridge.
Perspective 2 of the narrowness. There's some space at the bottom of this climb, but it's not huge and that dropoff is shear. A little extra focus is required for these scrambles.
The views on that ridge? Unreal. These narrow, knife-edge ridges deliver some of the most photogenic moments of the trail.
After finishing the exposed traverse, the trail hooks left into the descent path toward the ocean, where it merges with the Crouching Lion Trail.
As you descend to crouching lion, you’ll encounter several well-worn paths that lead back down to sea level. You’ll likely see other hikers coming up — just follow the same route down.
The descent path will look something like this. It’s steep and can be slick, so stay focused even though you're nearing the end.
Once you reach the road, simply follow the coastal highway back to your car ~1 mile back to your parking spot.
Another wild and gorgeous day on the Kahekili-Manamana loop.
SS Reflections
I'm not sure there’s a better quintessential Hawaiʻi ridge hike than Kahekili-Manamana. It has all the challenge: scrambles, mud, overgrowth, and exposure — and all the beauty: waterfalls, ridgelines, and stunning ocean views. I’ve made a habit of returning here again and again. It’s a hike that makes you work for it, but if you're up for the challenge, it will absolutely reward you.
Other helpful resources
Noah Lang's post about doing this in the other direction
