Located on Oahu, this short, yet stunning trail will not disappoint. Scramble up some steep slopes and traverse a narrow ridge while accompanied by the beauty of windward Oahu over your right shoulder. The trail culminates at the "puka" (hole), which perfectly frames the lovely coastline.
Trail Info
Know before you go
There is a parking fee. Unless you are a Hawaii resident, it is $7 to park your car at the Pali Lookout lot.
The trail has narrow and exposed sections. While there are some opportunities to cut back into the trees to avoid the very exposed sections, this trail is not for those that fear heights.
The trail requires scrambling. Some sections have ropes to assist, but the final scramble down to the puka is a short, ropeless scramble.
This trail can get very muddy and slippery. This part of Oahu sees a lot of rain, making this trail a muddy mess at times. The mud also makes a few of those scrambles more treacherous.
Other trails/alternate routes
Pali Notches is the notorious neighbor trail with even more intense climbing than Pali Puka.
It's possible to continue past Pali Puka up to the Lanihuli saddle. This is an extremely dangerous climb and should only be considered if you have experience with highly exposed Hawaii ridge hiking.
The Trail
The trail starts on the northern side of the parking lot marked by this small hole in the rock wall.
The climb starts right away to reach the ridgeline. No warm-up on this trail!
In no time you will get to see some of those epic views. It's cool to see how far the Ko'olau Mountain Range extends north.
The climbing ain't done yet. Up and up we go. Luckily there's a few ropes to support some of the steeper sections. If it has been raining recently this section can be a mess. Try to hit this trail on a dry day.
The trail has some narrow sections, like this one Indre is courageously traversing. I will say some of the most narrow sections like this one are avoidable. You can find some side paths in the trees that help you avoid the most exposed sections.
Almost there! The puka itself is possible to miss. It's actually down and to the left of where the ridge ends.
It does requires a short scramble down to puka level. I will say this is the most "technical" part of the hike, but it's a very short climb (probably only 6 or 7 feet).
And there it is. The Windward Window! (Think that nickname will stick?)
And a shot of the crew that made it here with me! Always a thrilling day hiking to this Windward gem!
SS Reflections
Pali Puka was one of my go to "bang for your buck" hikes. The views are stunning, it will get your heart pumping, and those skinny ridges are narrow enough to make you feel alive. What truly sets this hike apart is the Puka itself—a small, almost magical hole in the rock that feels like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.
Other helpful resources
Noah Lang Photography's post about this hike
Comments