Bowman Trail

Let me first start off by saying this is not a hike for beginners! This hike is as hard as it gets on Oahu, it combines steep climbs, with long distances, muddy ground, and a trail that leaves you guessing on where it leads. The old saying is that «The Bowman Trail doesn’t build character, Bowman reveals it.» This statement couldn’t be more true.
What makes this trail and hike worth it is the amazing views from the start. You have beautiful 360 degree views of the island like you can’t get otherwise!
Bring lots of water, snacks, and plan on it being an all day hike so start early. Oh and don’t make the mistake we did. When you get to the sign that says middle ridge with the arrow pointing to the left dont take it it won’t get you to the Haiku Stairs. Take the trail to the right and in about 15 minutes you will arrive at the top the Haiku Stairs.

On a whim, I decided to come try this trail during a busy weekday and see what this trail is all about. Took couple of hours off in the morning, along with my lunch hour, and came up here and just enjoyed the atmosphere and the ambiance. Quite nice to be here when the craziness of life and work was just a stone’s throw away. The trail is beautiful and pretty well kept. I must admit that this trail kind of kicked my butt, since the initial climb was gave some sort of intitation into trails that I did not really see coming. There is a steep climb in the intial phase of this trail, so you just got to be on your toes for a while. Try not to fall down, since it can be dangerous on a regular day or double dangerous at night or when raining.
The trail itself stretches for a good 5 – 10 miles, perfect for those longer hikes that really take your breath away. Spectacular views once you get on the ridge, so you can get a good shot around town from remote views along the trail. I didn’t go the entire way, since I needed to get back to the office. You can certainly get lost here, mind, body, and soul, so it’s great to be here and lose yourself in nature. The fitter you are and the more experience you have with trails, the more enjoyable it can be.
The entrance to the hike is located behind Kalihi Elementary School. Thanks to the first review by Gloria S to point me to the right direction. If not, I would be frustrated in finding this place and probably would have gone to do Tantalus instead. Parking is on residential streets, so do respect private driveways and do not block them. I enjoyed myself on the Bowman Trail and hope to be back soon. Wear good shoes and bring water, if you do go. It’s not too hard to get lost, but yet, you would want to pay attention on where you go, just in case you do find yourself lost and confused. The best time would be early morning /​day break for cooler temperatures.
Support nature!
A+

The round-​trip hike is 12 miles! On the day I went we went with a hiking club, and only did a partial hike (6 miles round trip). The entrance to the hike is located behind Kalihi Elementary School, look for the basket ball court and monkey-​pod tree! The best area to park is on Na’ai Street. It’s street parking and can get crowded. Since this is a residential area, make sure you don’t block someone’s drive way or leave trash.
The first 25 minutes of this hike is very strenuous, a steep 400-​foot climb straight up to a jeep road. There are lots of trees, certain areas are rocky or flat.
When you hit the jeep road (dirt) you walk up the hill, this will take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes depending on how fit you are. Once you reach the top it will level off for a few minutes then you will come across another hill give or take another 5 to 10 minutes.
If your starting to see the trend… YES! This hike is all about climbing and I mean major climbing! Once you complete that second hill you will see the back of a bunker. Look for the door to the bunker because that is the trail you want to take for the Bowman hike!
Note that it is on a «ridge» so you have a great view of Honolulu, Kalihi, Pearl Harbor from various points as you walk along the trail. There are some sections were there is a bit of a drop, but… lots of trees to help break your fall! Just step carefully and make sure your shoes have good traction, definitely needed when hiking back down.

Here are some additional resources on the trail if your interested:
Reading Material:
Hiking Club:
Sierra Club does this hike along with other hiking clubs.