These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
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Crouching Lion is one of our favorite short hikes in Oahu. For a short 0.5-mile round trip, not only does this hike offer spectacular views of Kahana Bay, but it also has an exciting ridgeline section for those of us who crave that little bit of adrenaline. That being said, Crouching Lion Hike is not that difficult. For Hawaii’s standard, it could even be considered to be on the easier side. Of course, this rating is only for Crouching Lion, not for the difficult Puʻu Manamana, which shares the same trailhead as Crouching Lion. The view from the top of this popular hike is definitely worth making the trip.
Crouching Lion Trailhead:
21°33’30.5″N 157°51’57.1″W
Small parking on the side of the road, about 300ft from the trailhead.
Free
No restroom
Dogs are NOT allowed.
0.5 mi R.T.
216 ft
Moderate. (Easy for Hawaiian’s standard)
1 hour R.T.
We don’t recommend hiking this trail if there’s rain in the forecast. The trail can get very slippery.
The trailhead for Crouching Lion Trail is located along the Kamehameha Hwy in Kaaawa, HI, before Kahana Bay. We have the map and the coordinates above so you can map your way there. There is a small pullout for parking on the side of the road, about 300ft from the trailhead.
We got to the parking lot for the Crouching Lion Trail bright and early. Even so, we were caught in a quick rain as we parked. Luckily, the rain came and went very fast. So, we were ready to get on our way. After parking, we walked about 300 ft along the Kamehameha Highway to the trailhead.
Leaving the trailhead, we followed a worn trail to ascend a very steep hill. There were tons of tree roots and rocky steps along the way. It reminded us of one of our favorite difficult hikes in Oahua, the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge trail. The trail got a lot steeper as we climbed higher. Since it rained earlier, the Crouching Lion Trail became very muddy and slippery. Luckily, in some of the steeper sections, there is a rope there. We found it very helpful on the way back down. Even though the trail is only about 300ft gain in elevation, it is steep due to its short distance. We were breathing quite heavily on the climb up.
After about 20-30 minutes of steep incline, we reached a flat hilltop where we stopped to take photos. Once we were on this flat hilltop, there were 2 options. Going left, toward the ocean, will get you on a rock platform for some of the best views of coastlines and mountain ranges. Going right, toward the mountain range, will take you to a different viewpoint and if you’re up for it, continue to a more dangerous hike Pu’u Manamana. This hike is rated hard and not recommended unless you know what you’re doing.
We went right first to check out the second viewpoint. It is a short incline with drop-offs on both sides. However, the trail is wider and tucked between two dirt walls so it’s not that bad. We stopped at the viewpoint and didn’t go any further. It was a very windy day, so we weren’t up for anything too sketchy. From this viewpoint, we could see the ridgeline toward the rock platform of Crouching Lion Trail. The view here is decent. Nothing too spectacular.
After bracing the wind, we made our way back down to the flat hilltop. The way down is a bit more difficult than the way up. But it wasn’t too bad.
Now, we made our way toward the rock platform of Crouching Lion Trail. This section is a bit sketchy, especially when it’s windy. We followed along the narrow ridgeline that ran under a rocky overhang. The ridgeline then curved left and climbed up the hill. This is nothing compared to our crazy ridge hike to 3 Peaks. Near the top, there is a short, scramble section. There is a rope here to help with the climb. It wasn’t that bad for us, but it could be tricky for some people.
Once we got up on the top, the view was spectacular! From here, we have a 360-degree view of the whole area. On the right, there is the small town of Kaaawa. On the left, we could see the teal water of Huilua Pond and Kahana Bay. Even on a rainy, windy day, this view is already beautiful. We can’t imagine how much more breathtaking it would be on a sunny day or during sunsets.
After taking in the view, return the same way you came from. For beginner hikes in Hawaii, we love the Lanikai Pillbox for sunrise, Manoa Falls is awesome, or Kaena Point. For more things to do, check out our list for Oahu!
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
If you tend to have foot blisters on hikes, get this! We use this all the time.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
It's always good to bring a GPS tracker with you. We use the Garmin inReach.
This is Vy's favorite hiking bag! It has tons of room for snacks and water!
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
Nice to meet you!
Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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