Kolekole Pass | Wahiawa, O'ahu

Want a short hike with a great payoff? Look no further than Kolekole Pass. In less than 20 minutes, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the Wai'anae mountains as well as an amazing view of the Wai'anae Valley. It's far enough inland that you can't get a great view of the valley from the road, so this hike is a real treat.

The trail is located on Schofield Barracks (military base), so if you are military or have friends in the military who can accompany you, you will have no problem getting on base. If not, no worries! You can still get on base...make sure to have your ID and current car registration, etc.

live-fire training in the area.

after a few flights of steps, it's a fairly flat walk to the lookout. you'll pass a big rock that is rumored to have been the place where fallen chiefs were beheaded. the superstitious say it's bad luck to touch the rock, but i have seen many pictures of people touching the rock.

i didn't touch it...just sayin'.

scenic lookout: the first view you'll see on the trail, looking north. 

this is where we went wrong.  definitely confusing as you would assume 'danger' means don't go that way, haha!

we got lost on our first attempt here. approaching this area and sign (above), we kept walking straight (where you see those people coming from). it's a long road down to nowhere. instead, turn left and walk beyond the orange barricade.

and further along, stay to the left.

scenic point: better view looking north.

this is the "big meadow" i kept seeing on reviews.

it was much smaller and overgrown than the photos.

the main scenic point: looking west down into wai'anae valley. it would be amazing if they trimmed those bushes to provide a less obstructed view of the valley.

there are steep cliffs, so use caution and stay away from the edge.

see my periscope video of kolekole pass on katch.

*          *          *

must see: yes, if in area

entrance fee: no

parking: yes

bathrooms: no

good for kids: yes because it's fairly short (< 3 miles) and flat

(you know your child best)

concession: no

approximate time needed: 45 min round-trip,

suggested items to bring: camera

tip 1: for a more challenging workout,

park on the street outside the barricades and brown signs and walk to the trail head for a little more distance.

tip 2: check out this facebook page for dates and times the trail will be open. it is usually not open when there is live-fire training.

what to do after: grab a yummy pie from sunny side bakery. they also serve local-style meals.

Schofield Barracks | Wahiawa, HI | 96857