Experience this 2.6-kilometer out-and-back trail close to Kailua, Oahu. Widely acknowledged as a demanding route, it attracts many hikers and runners, ensuring you'll likely encounter others along the way. Open throughout the year, the trail offers scenic beauty regardless of the season. Dogs are permitted but must be leashed while on the trail. This trail along Ka'iwa Ridge provides stunning vistas of Lanikai and Kailua. It features challenging sections with steep inclines that require scrambling, and there are no guardrails along the cliff edges. The trailhead is located on Kaelepulu, opposite the Mid Pacific Country Club & Golf Course, just before reaching an exclusive, gated community. The initial stretch of the trail is steep, slippery, and can be disorienting. Near Waimanalo Beach, Lanikai and Kailua Beaches boast pristine white sands and tranquil waters. The Kaiwa Ridge Hike is ideal for sunrise or late afternoon excursions. Though relatively short, it includes steep segments with rewarding panoramic views. It typically takes around 30 minutes or less to hike from the trailhead to the second pillbox at an elevation of 565 feet. Another 10 minutes brings you to the ridge's highest point, marked by a geodetic marker—a small concrete platform with a broken surveyor's pole.