Ko’olau Hike: Golf Course to Pali Look-Out

This trail is one of those hidden treasures you can drive by for years and never know it exists. After years of visiting friends at First Pres Church in the Ko’olau Golf Club (yep, you read that right), we finally realized there was a hiking trail leading from the parking lot.

The very next day, we returned to check it out. It’s been one of our favorite off the beaten path trails on Oahu ever since.

Updated: January 2024. Originally published: 2015.

Pali Look Out Hike

This is a pretty easy 3.1 mile out-and-back hike up toward the Pali Look-out, with the option to add a side trip to Likeke Falls.

Proceed at your own caution. This is not an officially maintained trail, and there’s evidence of land slides and falling tree branches along the way.

The hike essentially follows the abandoned highway up the Ko’olau mountains, which we think is pretty darn cool. With a few small exceptions, the trail/road is relatively smooth (no big tangles of tree roots to step over), mostly paved, and not all that steep.

Note that when you pass the offshoot to Likeke Falls, which goes off to your right when hiking up, you’ll then have a choice to follow a path down to the left or up to the right, which is more narrow. Go right and continue uphill.

A bit further, you actually go under the current highway and mount a ladder tethered to the rocks. From there you have the option to go left (which we didn’t do, but apparently leads to a Hidden Falls) or right, which is the continuation of the old road up to Pali Look-out.

There are some fabulous viewpoints along the path. One of them is kind of a wind tunnel, so hold on to your hats!

And, of course, once you reach the vicinity of the Pali Look-out, you have a great view over Kaneohe Bay and the Ko’olau’s on either side of you!

I may be biased, but I’d say that the hike up was way more rewarding than driving to the Pali Look-out parking lot.

Heading back down the same way we came up, we decided to add on the hike to Likeke Falls on one trip. We had only read about it briefly and had the impression it would be easy and kid friendly.

Compared to the Old Pali Road we had just done, this hike was definitely more challenging, though. The trail was narrow, sometimes muddy and slick, and required more climbing.

We weren’t really sure we had taken the correct route until some fellow hikers confirmed that we should continue following the bright pink ribbons and painted arrows.

Eventually we found our way to Likeke waterfall, a modest but pretty falls in the midst of jungle. There was a small pool in the stream where you could dip your feet in if you wanted.

Getting to Old Pali Highway Path

Our friend showed us the most direct path from the Ko’olau Golf/Church parking lot, a thin dirt trail heading east and descending quickly to the Old Pali Highway. It might help to reference this map (note that North and South are reversed).

Update 2024: The Golf Club is now charging $10 per day for public parking. Hiker parking may be discouraged on event days.

If you’re not able to find the path east of the parking lot or you want to avoid the parking fee, you can also try to start from Kionaole Road as you drive in. The road makes a Y with the old highway and the road up to the golf course – labelled “Trail Alt. 2” on the map.

There are a few spots along the road with room to pull off and park. There is a fence announcing government property shortly up from the Y, however, a very well-used dirt path skirts around it to the right.

Tips for Happy Hiking on Old Pali Highway

As with almost any hike in Hawaii, it’s a good idea to bring sunscreen, bug spray, and plastic bags for muddy shoes (especially if doing the Likeke Falls part).

If you’re into geocaching, you’ll find a few good caches here. Enjoy!

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Wilhelmina Rise Mau’umae Trail – Oahu
Lanikai Pillbox Hike – Oahu, Hawaii  
Lulumahu Falls hike – Oahu
5 Day Oahu Itinerary
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