The Hawaiian Islands are home to countless, incredible hiking trails, but not all hikes are created equal, especially when it comes to trails suitable for the entire family. These nine, kid-friendly hikes in Hawaii all measure in at under one mile, and are perfect for a quick family hike. After all, there’s nowhere better to lace up your hiking boots than our beautiful islands — whether you plan on hiking for one mile or twenty. So read more to check out this great list of trails to hit the next time you want to get out and about.
- Lyon Arboretum Trail, 0.3 miles
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr While this beautiful arboretum has been open to the public for more than 40 years, many locals and tourists alike opt for the more popular Manoa Falls. The 194-acre research site is home to more than 5,000 tropical and subtropical plants as well as 12 beautiful gardens and seven miles of hiking trails. The Lyon Arboretum Trail, though, is only 0.3 miles, with very little elevation gain, and plenty of breathtaking views! Lyon Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- Lapakahi State Historical Park, 1.0 miles
Jen/Flickr Found within the rugged 262-acre oceanfront park is this easy one-mile loop trail through the partially restored remains of an ancient coastal fishing settlement, with a variety of historic structures to check out throughout the carefully-placed footpath. If you’re wondering where to find hiking trails near me, the Lapakahi State Historical Park Trail only takes 22 minutes to complete, and you’ll be wowed the whole length with stunning views. Lapakahi State Historical Park, HI-270, Waimea, HI 96743, USA
- Waimea Canyon Cliff Trail, 0.2 miles
Miguel Vieira/Flickr Nearly 14 miles long, one mile wide, and more than 3,600 feet deep, the stunning Waimea Canyon is full of striking cliffs, incredible colors, and cascading waterfalls; it is perhaps Hawaii’s most unspoiled natural beauty. This extremely short trail will give you a glimpse of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” without any real effort involved. If you’re loving it and want to explore further, pair it with the other trails in the area for a nice little outing! Waimea Canyon State Park, Waimea Canyon Dr, Waimea, HI 96796, USA
- Iao Valley State Monument, 0.6 miles
Steve Rider/Flickr Located just south of the West Maui Forest Reserve and near Wailuku is Iao Valley State Monument, a lush, 4,000-acre valley with miles of hiking trails, stunning vistas, and the famous Iao Needle. The short nature loop Iao Needle Lookout Trail takes you through the park, and is truly one-of-a-kind! You’lll want to add it to your Hawaii bucket list of scenic hikes in Hawaii. ??ao Valley State Monument, 54 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
- Thurston Lava Tube, 0.4 miles
RRDPixelShop/Flickr Located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this short 20-minute walk through a thick forest leads visitors to a 500-foot lava tube that once carried molten lava. It’s easily one of the coolest hikes in the park and is perfect for adventurous kiddos. We think the Thurston Lava Tube Trail is one of the coolest hikes in Volcanoes National Park. Thurston Lava Tube, Hawaii 96778, USA
- Friendship Gardens Trail, 0.6 miles
Karen Balabis/AllTrails This beautiful garden got its start in the 1920s as “Hawaii’s first multi-racial community, called Kokokahi (“of one blood”), a place where people of all ethnic backgrounds would come together to live, work and play,” according to the Friendship Garden website. The tranquil space is open daily to the public free of charge and features a half-mile of easy hiking trails and some phenomenal views. The gardens offer plenty of kid-friendly hikes in Hawaii, easy enough for the whole family to enjoy. Friendship Garden, 45-219 Kokokahi Pl, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
- Polipoli Trail, 0.6 miles
Forest and KIm Starr/Flickr Located 7,000 feet above sea level is Polipoli Springs State Recreation Area, a stunning park home to a redwood forest and countless hiking trails, including the 0.6-mile Polipoli Trail. The short trail gains only 200 feet in elevation and leads hikers on a journey through dense stands of cypress, cedars, and pines. The entire Polipoli Springs State Recreation Area has tons of scenic hikes in Maui that will totally wow you. Polipoli Road, Polipoli Rd, Kula, HI 96790, USA
- Lava Tree State Monument, 0.7 miles
Frank Hamm/Flickr This 17-acre park features a forest of lava trees, the result of a lava flow in 1790 that swept through the forest, leaving behind lava molds of the tree trunks. The park is free to visit and features a 0.7-mile loop path and picnic tables. It’s a quick 25 minute walk, and offers plenty of shade in the heat of the day. Lava Tree State Monument, HI-132, P?hoa, HI 96778, USA
- Ualaka’a Trail, 1.0 miles
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr This short, 1-mile, loop trail through a thick forest canopy begins near one of our favorite lookout points in all of Honolulu, Pu’u Ualaka’a State Wayside, or for those not familiar with the official name, Mount Tantalus. The lightly-trafficked and secluded trail feels world’s away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, while still giving us phenomenal views. It’s an easy hike on Oahu that feels far away from the big city. ‘Ualaka’a Trail, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Have you hiked any of these kid-friendly hikes in Hawaii? What did you think? Were they amazing? Let us know in the comments!
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
While this beautiful arboretum has been open to the public for more than 40 years, many locals and tourists alike opt for the more popular Manoa Falls. The 194-acre research site is home to more than 5,000 tropical and subtropical plants as well as 12 beautiful gardens and seven miles of hiking trails. The Lyon Arboretum Trail, though, is only 0.3 miles, with very little elevation gain, and plenty of breathtaking views!
Lyon Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Jen/Flickr
Found within the rugged 262-acre oceanfront park is this easy one-mile loop trail through the partially restored remains of an ancient coastal fishing settlement, with a variety of historic structures to check out throughout the carefully-placed footpath. If you’re wondering where to find hiking trails near me, the Lapakahi State Historical Park Trail only takes 22 minutes to complete, and you’ll be wowed the whole length with stunning views.
Lapakahi State Historical Park, HI-270, Waimea, HI 96743, USA
Miguel Vieira/Flickr
Nearly 14 miles long, one mile wide, and more than 3,600 feet deep, the stunning Waimea Canyon is full of striking cliffs, incredible colors, and cascading waterfalls; it is perhaps Hawaii’s most unspoiled natural beauty. This extremely short trail will give you a glimpse of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” without any real effort involved. If you’re loving it and want to explore further, pair it with the other trails in the area for a nice little outing!
Waimea Canyon State Park, Waimea Canyon Dr, Waimea, HI 96796, USA
Steve Rider/Flickr
Located just south of the West Maui Forest Reserve and near Wailuku is Iao Valley State Monument, a lush, 4,000-acre valley with miles of hiking trails, stunning vistas, and the famous Iao Needle. The short nature loop Iao Needle Lookout Trail takes you through the park, and is truly one-of-a-kind! You’lll want to add it to your Hawaii bucket list of scenic hikes in Hawaii.
??ao Valley State Monument, 54 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
RRDPixelShop/Flickr
Located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this short 20-minute walk through a thick forest leads visitors to a 500-foot lava tube that once carried molten lava. It’s easily one of the coolest hikes in the park and is perfect for adventurous kiddos. We think the Thurston Lava Tube Trail is one of the coolest hikes in Volcanoes National Park.
Thurston Lava Tube, Hawaii 96778, USA
Karen Balabis/AllTrails
This beautiful garden got its start in the 1920s as “Hawaii’s first multi-racial community, called Kokokahi (“of one blood”), a place where people of all ethnic backgrounds would come together to live, work and play,” according to the Friendship Garden website. The tranquil space is open daily to the public free of charge and features a half-mile of easy hiking trails and some phenomenal views. The gardens offer plenty of kid-friendly hikes in Hawaii, easy enough for the whole family to enjoy.
Friendship Garden, 45-219 Kokokahi Pl, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
Forest and KIm Starr/Flickr
Located 7,000 feet above sea level is Polipoli Springs State Recreation Area, a stunning park home to a redwood forest and countless hiking trails, including the 0.6-mile Polipoli Trail. The short trail gains only 200 feet in elevation and leads hikers on a journey through dense stands of cypress, cedars, and pines. The entire Polipoli Springs State Recreation Area has tons of scenic hikes in Maui that will totally wow you.
Polipoli Road, Polipoli Rd, Kula, HI 96790, USA
Frank Hamm/Flickr
This 17-acre park features a forest of lava trees, the result of a lava flow in 1790 that swept through the forest, leaving behind lava molds of the tree trunks. The park is free to visit and features a 0.7-mile loop path and picnic tables. It’s a quick 25 minute walk, and offers plenty of shade in the heat of the day.
Lava Tree State Monument, HI-132, P?hoa, HI 96778, USA
This short, 1-mile, loop trail through a thick forest canopy begins near one of our favorite lookout points in all of Honolulu, Pu’u Ualaka’a State Wayside, or for those not familiar with the official name, Mount Tantalus. The lightly-trafficked and secluded trail feels world’s away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, while still giving us phenomenal views. It’s an easy hike on Oahu that feels far away from the big city.
‘Ualaka’a Trail, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Looking for slightly longer trails? Check out these 15 Hawaii easy and enchanting hikes under two miles. They’re a little more challenging, but just as fun!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Kid-Friendly Hikes In Hawaii March 10, 2022 Megan McDonald How many trails are in Hawaii? There are hundreds of trails all across the Hawaiian chain. The Big Island has over 300 trails, Oahu has 50 very popular trails, and the popular hiker’s website AllTrails names over 620 of them spread throughout the islands. But we think there’s even more, especially as many of the trails on the islands require special permission to cross private lands. What is the highest hike on Oahu? The hike that will bring you highest on the island is a trip up Mount Kaala. This mountain in the Waianae Mountain range is the tallest mountain on the island, and located on Oahu’s north side.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Kid-Friendly Hikes In Hawaii
March 10, 2022
Megan McDonald
How many trails are in Hawaii? There are hundreds of trails all across the Hawaiian chain. The Big Island has over 300 trails, Oahu has 50 very popular trails, and the popular hiker’s website AllTrails names over 620 of them spread throughout the islands. But we think there’s even more, especially as many of the trails on the islands require special permission to cross private lands. What is the highest hike on Oahu? The hike that will bring you highest on the island is a trip up Mount Kaala. This mountain in the Waianae Mountain range is the tallest mountain on the island, and located on Oahu’s north side.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are hundreds of trails all across the Hawaiian chain. The Big Island has over 300 trails, Oahu has 50 very popular trails, and the popular hiker’s website AllTrails names over 620 of them spread throughout the islands. But we think there’s even more, especially as many of the trails on the islands require special permission to cross private lands.
What is the highest hike on Oahu?
The hike that will bring you highest on the island is a trip up Mount Kaala. This mountain in the Waianae Mountain range is the tallest mountain on the island, and located on Oahu’s north side.
