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Crouching Lion Hike On Oahu, Hawaii: The Hiker’s Guide

Crouching Lion Hike On Oahu, Hawaii: The Hiker’s Guide

The Crouching Lion Hike is a short but steep incline hike that offers breathtaking views of Kahana Bay. Overlooking the quaint town of Kaaawaa with the menacing cliffs of Pu’u Manamana behind, this is a stunning coastal hike. The view from the top of this popular hike is seriously one of my favorite landscapes on the entire island of Oahu in Hawaii and is perfect on a sunny day.

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CROUCHING LION HIKE

In this blog post, I will share with you all of the details you need in order to enjoy this hike such as distance, incline, best viewpoints along the way, where to park, the best time of day, photo opportunities, and other attractions nearby. I’ll also share with you the different routes available for the Crouching Lion Hike.

It’s one of my favorite hikes on Oahu and due to its short length, it is one of the best easy hikes on the island.

crouching lion

THE FOUR MOST POPULAR OAHU TOURS

CROUCHING LION HIKE DETAILS

  • Distance: 3km
  • Duration: 1-2 hours
  • Elevation: 150m

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY ON OAHU

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a view of a beach with palm trees and a swimming pool.
  • Ultimate Luxury: Lotus Honolulu – Diamond Head View, Great Waikiki Location
  • My Favorite: Aston Waikiki Beach – Best value in Waikiki & Great location
  • Value Hotel Waikiki: Surfjack Hotel is easily the best value (luxury) hotel in Waikiki

TWO DIFFERENT ROUTES FOR CROUCHING LION HIKE

There are two routes for this hike. One is quite a short, basic ascent up to the peak or a more challenging four-hour route of Crouching Lion Trail, which is slightly more challenging. 

Crouching Lion Hike Short route: The trailhead is located before Kahana Bay in between a ‘Do Not Pass’ sign and a telephone pole. I’ve provided a map with clear information below. It isn’t marked and looks like it’s heading straight into the bushes, but once you get a few steps into the bushes you can begin to see the markings of a trail. When we did this hike there were quite a few other small groups along the way which reassured us that we were headed in the right direction.

The regular trail is a four-mile loop with an elevation gain of 2000ft (609m). This route is the most common and leads you along a safe path through the undergrowth to the viewpoint. It is much shorter than the second route and the popular pick among most hikers.  Below I will put a map with a pin roughly near the entrance to the Crouching Lion Hike short route entrance to help you find it. Generally, we park a few hundred meters down the road on the right-hand side of the road coming from Honolulu. The trailhead is on the left-hand side of the road coming from Honolulu.

Crouching Lion Hike Long Route: Park at the Swanzy Beach Park and then walk up Huamalani Road till you find the trailhead. The Crouching Lion trail can be difficult to follow in parts but ribbons usually mark the way. The trail rigidly follows the Pu’u Manamana Ridge and the entire loop is called Kahakili-Manamana loop taking 4-5 hours to complete. This route is very dangerous and has claimed lives as the drop-offs are incredibly steep and the terrain can be dangerous. I would only suggest doing this hike with a local who has navigated the route before. 

HOW TO GET TO THE CROUCHING LION HIKE & MAP

The Crouching Lion Hike is found on the Kamehameha Highway on the east coast of Oahu. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Waikiki but well worth the effort. You’ll find parking at the beach parks nearby.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE CROUCHING LION TRAIL

Ducking into the bushes from the road next to Kahana Bay, the hike is immediately into the wild with a steep incline. You will definitely work up a sweat as you climb over gnarled tree roots, and duck under stooping branches. As you continue to climb, the trail becomes more and more pronounced.

There are parts that are very slippery due to the dry crumbling dirt but for the most part, the thick vegetation helps to stabilize the trail. Hiking shoes or shoes with good grip are ideal for this steep slippery trail. I don’t advise this trail in the rain whatsoever and it will be very dangerous.

Coming across the first pillbox of the hike, we decided to climb atop and check out the view of Kahana Bay. On this pillbox, someone has painted a giant red, orange, and green ‘Aloha’. The views are already pretty sweet from here and it only takes ten minutes to reach this point.

outdoor yoga

After about 10-15 minutes, the trail began to level out but the sharp shrubbery on either side of the trail prevented us from moving too quickly. You will find some of the smaller trails leading to the rock formations and the cliff edge. We made it a mission to investigate a lot of these and also found a few cool little caves hidden on the cliffside of the formations. This is where the trail really becomes quite scenic atop a wide ridge offering gorgeous views of both Kaaawa to the left and Kahana Bay to the right.

crouching lion
crouching lion views

Here, there is an abundance of little caves and overhangs that you can venture to. The rocks in this area are a bit crumbly though so if you do decide to climb out, use EXTREME caution.

HAWAII HIKING PACKING LIST

Many people come unprepared for hiking on Oahu and that’s why there are so many rescues. Make sure you at least have the basics and you will be prepared for bad weather or any mishaps on the trail. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. Below are my four Hawaii hiking essentials.

  • Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
  • Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots: For the best ankle support, waterproofing, and durable exterior I’m a fan of tough but light hiking boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
  • Black Diamond Head Torch: I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve arrived back from a hike unexpectedly late. I always keep this lightweight but strong headtorch in my bag for the unexpected.
  • Darn Tough Socks: These are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever worn and last for years. They also have a lifetime warranty and you just send them in with a hole and they replace it no questions asked.
outdoor yoga

In the midst of all the rock formations, we came to a small clearing overlooking Kahana Bay.  Crouching Lion Hike is named for a rock formation along the hike that from the right angle, looks like a lion laying down. This rock formation comes up on your left as you continue hiking towards the bigger clearing.

Once we reached the clearing we stopped and took in the entire view. Despite the overcast sky, it was beyond beautiful.

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WHERE TO STAY ON OAHU

  • Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort (Overall Favorite): In the heart of Waikiki, this high-end resort is right on the beach with a private lagoon.
  • Sheraton Waikiki (Luxury): A luxury resort with the most amazing infinity pool on the island, which overlooks the beach.
  • Ewa Hotel Waikiki: (Value): Ewa Hotel is just one block back from the beach and is just over $150 USD.
  • Waikiki Beachside Hostel (Budget Choice): A budget alternative, which is still in an amazing location.
  • Disney Aulani Resort (Family Choice): This is a resort your kids will never forget. It honestly feels like you are living in a theme park.

MORE OAHU BLOG POSTS

I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip!

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Kory

Monday 27th of November 2023

From my experiences most people want to understand what is pono, what isn’t pono, and why. Once they do they are more inclined to do what is pono. I’m sorry. Pono is a word in the Hawaiian language. Attempting to translate it into English you might use such words as, righteous, right, uprightness, moral, correct or proper procedure, just, well being, true condition or nature duty. Like most places in Hawai’i, the area around Kahana, O’ahu are sacred. Once again in the Hawaiian language many of these places were recognized as being Kapu. When a place, object, or practice was considered Kapu it meant that it is so sacred that a person doesn’t go there, touch it, or conduct themselves accordingly. So, the subject here is the Crouching Lion hike. Do I go or not? That area is the resting place of Kauhike’imakaokalani. There are many old stories that refer to this demigod and why the area is Kapu. Yes, Kapu. It’s also closed and illegal to enter this area according to state law. I hope this information causes you to make the right choice. Do what’s pono! Respect the ‘Aina.

Julia

Sunday 11th of September 2022

Just moved here and can’t wait to try this hike out. Is the picture of the guy holding onto the cable climbing up for this hike also? It looks amazing and I want to do it! Thanks for the great content!

Monday 14th of March 2022

The trailhead is located before Kahana Bay in between a ‘Do Not Pass’ sign and a telephone pole. Interesting how you mentioned this and yet still you hiked. Blogs like this share hiking locations that are closed. This hike should not be done even by experienced hikers. First responders are put into rescues from people who go past signs that clearing show its off limits. Maybe Google open hikes and enjoy those..

cristina

Friday 7th of October 2022

@Jackson, because it's a sacred place? The fact it is a basic hike does not mean it should be open, there might be other reasons why it is off limits. For example, Uluru is not difficult to climb, yet it is forbidden to do it. As an Australian you should know better.

Jackson

Monday 28th of March 2022

Why would it be off-limits? This is a very basic hike for anyone with 'very basic' experience. Accidents can happen on any trail but closing them isn't the solution. If you ever venture out to countries around the world where hiking is the culture such as Switzerland you will see no 'do not enter' signs and anyone doing a hike or climb does so at their own risk and takes full responsibility. America has a bad relationship with liability and taking responsibility. Crouching Lion should never be 'closed' nor should many other trails on Oahu.

Kealaokamaile Jones

Tuesday 27th of July 2021

This trail is closed. The mountain and valley are both sacred to Native Hawaiians. Please do not disrespect our land and damage our natural resources by attempting to hike on closed trails.

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Monday 7th of June 2021

[…] best filling your camera roll with the top hiking views Oahu has to offer including Three Peaks and Crouching Lion. To maximize your hiking time, you need resting days which involve afternoons laying in the sand. […]