Makapu’u Tom Tom Trail

Hot Hot Day and red signs saying no hiking no trespassing. But I still went and so did these other 2 hikers. I went all the way to the first handgliding spot. They kept going. Last time we only made it to the puka. But today I was trekking SOLO. Not that fun by yourself. Have a beautiful Hike

This hike takes about two-​way for 2 – 4 hrs just like any other trail (just all the way to the puka). Depends when you take too much time taking pictures. Going all the way to the puka is not bad, (that’s where we stopped). but going back is a little risk because you might not realize how steep it was already going up and going down was slippery. Strongly recommend to bring a hiking stick (divot) as it helps and make you safer to balance specifically for this hike. Going back trail gets confusing. I got lost a couple times because there are misleading trails and you end up realizing this looks dangerous and have to go back, but do not panic, (i turned off my phone to save battery just incase), but make sure it’s safe because phones should be ON too for emergency. There are ribbons for the right track. Just remember if it seems to risky, it isn’t the right trail. I suggest to bring your own ribbons too. Do not go if it looks like it’s going to rain. Overall was a beautiful really amazing hike. The energy is overflowing.

Def love this hike. We took over 300 photos. The view is so beautiful. It’s an up and down hike, so be careful as you are walking down, I suggest bringing a walking stick, wear pants, long sleeve because some bushes have spikes and yes they will poke.
Overall, a must do hike!

I usually write lengthier reviews, with more advice, but I think this hike is now illegal, as I saw a story on Hawaii News Now about people getting ticketed because of the trespassing by the air station (or whatever it is). It may still be legal to get to the puka though, so I’ll say, parking is either on Kalanianaole in the shoulders, or at the Makapu‘u lookout or lighthouse trail parking lots.
You can also access the trail from Mariner’s Ridge trail, which is also illegal, and a few other ridge trails connect to this ridge as well.
So, my review will actually just be on my experience. I love this hike. It’s nice and mellow, easy to do, but also provides a little challenge here and there, and the views are some of my favorites on the island.
I hope in the future they find a way to reopen this hike and others like it one day. If you’re interested in it, I suggest doing your research and prepare for the consequences.

This is our first time doing this hike and SO glad we did. We’ve been doing the same hikes for a while and getting a little boring, and this one did not disappoint.
Our goal was to the puka and this takes about an 2 hours there and back. BUT prepare for a longer hike because of all the selfies and eye candy views that you’ll love to share with friends and family.
There’s ample parking (even on weekends), just be patient. We parked across the scenic point entrance. The trail starts along the fence that hugs the ridge and you can’t miss it. Just follow the pink ribbons along the the ridge and it will lead you to the natural
Mountain hole.
I wouldn’t suggest any of my elders or kids to do this hike, cause although we felt safe, accidents can happen. Bring lots of water and some snacks to enjoy while you rest and enjoy the scenery. It doesn’t hurt to bring a sports jacket or hoodie cause it is pretty windy up there. Sun screen too! Just like every hike! Stay safe Fam and enjoy!

This was my first time doing this hike and boy was it fun and never ending! I went with my bf and our two friends, we decided to go in the afternoon around 3:30 so that we didn’t have to sit in traffic headed back to the west side. We parked at the scenic point at the parking right after Makapuu. There was a cop there but he didn’t do anything or tell us anything. The whole hike is literally up and down three hills. It’s a beautiful view of sea life park and rabbit island!
Through out the whole hike you will see fluorescent pink ribbons follow these ribbons! There are also all different routes when going up and down, they all lead you to the same place. When you come to the third hill you will see waimanalo and you are almost there. The hole is very small, smaller than Pali puka but the view is amazing and you can also climb the rock with the hole! We stopped at this point and it took us about an hour and half with many breaks. If you continue we were told it’s about 5 hours.
Overall this hike didn’t get five stars because the whole time the cop was sitting in his car we were scared of getting caught, but he just sits there the whole time did nothing. This isn’t an actually hiking trail. It’s a great work out and great to do with friends!

makapu’u tom-​tom trail offers summit hiking at its best. the route along the ko’olau cliffs starts near makapu’u lookout and ends in waimanalo. the descend is via the tom-​tom trail. the tracking station is off limit to hikers, detouring from the hike trail to the catwalk is not allow !

Unilocal 365 Challenge 2015 #51/​365
This hike is pretty hidden if you didn’t know it was there. My gf Rachel and a friend of hers hiked it once, so she wanted to take a few more of us on this hike, since she really liked it. The entrance to the hike is directly across the Makapuu Lookout, so you can either park there, on the side of the road, or if it’s really busy, the parking lot at the Makapuu Lighthouse trail.
It rarely rains in Hawaii Kai, so the hike is pretty dry. It isn’t very hard or very easy, so I liked this hike because I felt like it was a good mix of everything. Rocks, with not too many places that had loose gravel, and even a bit of forestry along the way. It isn’t a super dangerous hike either, as there’s just a few places where you have to go along a cliff, but otherwise, I felt relatively safe.
The hike took us a little more than three hours (because one of our friends likes to stop and take a lot of pictures) so I think that if it was just Rachel and I, we would have finished within a couple of hours.
The topography of this hike has a lot of ups and downs, so you never really get bored. The views on this hike are pretty breathtaking. While on the hike you can see awesome views of Makapuu Beach, with the lighthouse looking over, a bird’s-eye view of Sea Life Park, the never ending shoreline, and nice looks at Rabbit Island.
The point we stopped at was the natural «puka» (hole in Hawaiian) inside a big rock. It’s almost like a wind tunnel when you stand in front of it, so be careful! The puka is exactly like the one you can find on the Pali Puka hike, but the views are so much better.
Apparently you can keep going and hike all the way to Waimanalo, but we ain’t bout that life… Not today at least. If you need a new hiking spot on the Hawaii Kai side, check this one out for sure!

Wow, what a great way to see the sunrise on Ohau! It is definitely worth it to get up early. The hike takes about 20 – 30 minutes depending on how fast you walk. Once you are at the top all you have to do is wait for the sun to come up. Enjoy!

Illegal, trespassing!

Makapu’u Tom Tom trail hike aka Makapu’u Puka trail hike is located on the east side of the island. It’s approximately 30 minutes by car from Waikiki without traffic. You can either park at the Makapu’u lookout, which is closer to the hiking trail or alternatively at the light house parking lot. Be careful when crossing the highway as cars are usually speeding around the bend.
In my opinion this is an advance beginner hike and took me approximately one hour to reach the puka (hole lookout). Initially there is no path to follow, but is recommended that you stay right of the mountain. Eventually you will be on a path. I didn’t keep track, but expect several switchbacks before reaching the puka. When you reach the puka, you will have a rewarding view overlooking Waimanalo.
Note:
1)As with any other hike, bring lots of water and sun block.
2)Suggest to wear either long socks or pants. There are thorny plants along the hike that may scratch you.
3)Hike early as it can get hot.
4)To avoid crowds, hike on weekdays.

This is a great hike if you like having a mountain for yourselves. This is literally a hike with climbing, compared to the Makapu’u point lighthouse trail that has pavement. I went with a few friends and we only went to the Puka, took a little over an hour, however every second was rewarding because of the scenic view. TO GET THERE, park at the Makapu’u ridge and cross the street and you’ll see a trail, just follow the path and start your adventure. A few tips bring friends that are willing to hike and make it all the way to the puka, and tons of fluids like any other hike, lastly don’t forget your camera.

Incredibly rewarding hike but can be terrifying at the same time! From Waimanalo Beach Park, following the pink ribbon and ending up in a residential area, took me a little under 6 hours. We had a few experienced hikers in our group and they were able to finish in 5 hours. The decent after the second power tower was very steep. Definitely not a hike for the faint, you’re literally walking, climbing or in some instances crawling along the ridge. There were orange and blue ribbons as well but I don’t know where those trails start/​stop. If I were to redo the hike, I probably would only go up to the Puka and turn around. I don’t like hiking, I only do it for the view and that was the best view.
I would pick a cooler day and obviously not after a rainy one because it would be dangerously slippery. Wear pants. I wore shorts and a tank top and was all scrapped up and with decorated with a few bug bites. As the other reviewers mentioned, be sure to bring enough water. I had a 21oz bottle, ran out and felt angry thirsty. Bring a light snack, you’ll probably feel too dirty to eat a full lunch and that’s just more weight to carry. You will also want to bring a camera but make sure you have a rope or something to connect it to your backpack or clothes because there will be moments where you might have to let go to grab on to a rock or a branch to keep from tumbling down the ridge.
Definitely have a second vehicle to pick up at the end of the hike, this is one where you don’t want to hike back to your car.

Did this hike the other day. It was a fun, short hike. Make sure you bring you brings lots of water. It’s very easy to get dehydrated up there. And be ready to use your legs because there are some very steep points. The hike starts from across the street of makapuu look out. You just walk up that hill– careful for the thorns. Follow the fence up and you’ll be at the top. From there, just follow the little markers or the trail. It’s easy to see where to go. You’re basically making your way up the ridge. The Puka is about an hour away from that point. The view is nice, and there’s not many people on this trail.

This hike provides some of the best views on the island. We did the entire ridge from by the lighthouse all the way to Waimanalo. Bring lots of sunscreen and water… lots of water. The views alone make it worth your while.

If you go the «puka» or Hole its only an 1 hour hike in. Not bad But if you decide to do the whole hike than your in for a doozy!
BRING 2 liter WATER & SNACKS, sunblock!!! The climate is dry but windy which you can get dehydrated fast. Mind you This hike is not for amateurs or for the faint of heart. At some points your on a cliff and one wrong footing and you’ll drop to your death. Also it is very gusty and when you rock climb at some points it can be scary but just push through and don’t look down.
Park at makapuu look out and cross the street Towards the mountain and you’ll find a path. You will zig zag up to the top and that’s were your real journey begins. You will go up and down 9 – 10 peaks some of which you’ll have to rock climb up. While hiking you will have stunning views of the bay area and the Hawaiian sun beating down on you. At ¹⁄₃ of the hike you will reach the famous peak a boo hole «PUKA» or HOLE also which you can decide if you want to turn back. If you do venture forth be forwarned the hike gets more steep and lots of loose rocks. At the halfway point you will reach a hanglider launch off pad and a house. You’ll wrap around and go up following the pink markers that will lead you to a road (the path is not clear so use your best judgement) going through a military facility. Once you past that you’ll start to venture into a forest like environment you’ll reach a point were you’ll look down at waimanalo. At this point there will be a fork in the road going left or right. Don’t go down into the valley, it connects to several other trails with different colored markers which you can become lost by. So instead go right or towards waimanalo and follow the pink markers that wrap around the mountain side. If you look you’ll see telephone poles once you reach to the top of the telephone poles with graffiti it’s the final last stretch to the finish line. Youll go down a steep mountain side that will lead you to the neighborhood were you (hopefully) parked the car! it’s about 6 mile hike including going up and down the peaks ONE WAY! It took my group of 5 to finish in almost 8 hours!!! also we are just college kids not advanced hikers so it was a tough hike!

This is a challenging hike that rewards you with glorious views and a sense of in-​the-​mountains freedom that is hard to find on Oahu. Take your time and spend the day on it. The trail is mostly well-​marked, thanks to the folks who tied many pink marker ribbons along the way. The only tricky part is at the beginning: park at the top of the Makapu’u saddle, look across the highway, and find the fence going up the right-​hand side of the slope. The path goes along the fence.
Be warned: this is an intermediate-​plus level hike. Normal humans can do it (six in my party, with varying levels of hiking ability), but it is not a good idea for novices. There are a number of steep climbs and descents on narrow ridges. The last part of the hike literally climbs down from the Ko’olau summit ridge to Waimanalo! The trail is usually narrow. Bring a lot of water (we all ran out), and bring hiking poles if you have them, for the descents.
If you’re a fast hiker and don’t stop much, you can do this in four hours. If you’re slower, it will take seven, and you’ll be exhausted.
So is it really worth the effort? I almost give this hike 5 stars just for the views, which are incredible. For the first part you can look straight down the cliffs onto Sea Life Park. The green cliffs and the blues of the ocean are incredible. In the other direction, you get unique views of Koko Crater and Koko Head, and later on several overlooks into different parts of Hawaii Kai. It’s spectacular.

BTW, I’ve been notified by other hikers that the correct name for this hike is Makapu‘u Ridge, not Tom Tom.
Last I hiked this trail was probably around the time when «300» first came out because I remember calling everyone in our hiking party Spartans. Greek orgy fest was another story. No but really, this trail is fun, a bit rough but scenic. I’d say an intermediate hike, due to the length, terrain (hills, very rocky) and danger (steep cliffs).
Apologize for the short review, as most of my hiking write ups are quite lengthy with video. Right now I’m a pretty sunburnt Filipino, who’s legs feel like pig skin noodles. Yeap, that’s right. PSN, prends!
However, i did take a bunch of pics: D
MTT Trail in my top 3:
3. Makapuu Tom Tom (again Makapu’u Ridge)
2. Koko Head Rim Trail
1. Mariner’s Ridge
4 Stars
Makapuu Tom Tom Trail

attempt (–tmpt)
tr.v. attempted, attempting, attempts
1. To try to perform, make, or achieve.
n.
1. An effort or a try.
2. An attack; an assault: an attempt on someone’s life.
I say «attempt» because the definitions above described this day. I had no intentions of doing the entire hike that was suppose to be a one way trike from Makapuu lookout side all the way to Waimanalo. Which means you would need to be able to get dropped off at Makapuu lookout then have another car waiting for you at Waimanalo. I was told the estimated one way hike would be about 4hrs. BUT today, that would’ve been too long for me. So on my first attempt, all i wanted to do was get to the «puka» (hole) which I was told would be about 45 minutes or so.
1. v. «To try to perform, make, or achieve.»
Keyword: try. I was gonna try to make it up to the puka. And I was gonna TRY to accomplish it with my 16 and 14yr old sons.
First we had to find the trailhead. We parked at the Makapuu lookout parking lot, looked across the street towards the ridge and seen the trailhead. You can’t miss it. Just be careful crossing the street because cars will be coming around a blind curve. The path is not too distinct but clear enough for you to follow. Follow it up the ridge and once you get to the top for the first time, you’ll see your first scenic view spanning from the makapuu lighthouse to Sandys beach. And as you keep going, the view gets better.
n.
1. An effort or a try.
2. An attack; an assault: an attempt on someone’s life.
Did I say I had my two sons with me? Probably a mistake being that they’ve never done a hike like this with me before and because they said they were just being overprotective, «mommy be careful», «mommy don’t!», «mommy stop», «mommy you’re gonna die!», «mommy, no!», «mommy you have so much to live for», «mommy we have football practice, lets go!». I was starting to wonder who the mommy was. O_​o Too much love I tell ya!
With that said, my attempt to the puka was unsuccessful as we rushed back down the same path and raced back into town for their football practice!
But it’s okay, because the views we experienced was magnificent. We got a Birdseye view of Sea Life Park, Makapu’u beach, the ocean with every different shade of blue, and Rabbit Island as the backdrop. So if you’re afraid of heights, unfortunately, you may want to avoid this trail. I was also able to research the trail and be more prepared on my next attempt to the puka.
Key points on my next attempt to the puka:
1. Go earlier than 8am. 6 or 7am would be a good day to start. Or after 2pm. Just avoid noon because there are not a lot of trees or shade.
2. When you get to the huge cactus plant covering the trail, go to the right, toward the ridge.
3. Best to wear long sleeve because there are bees, wasps, and spiders on this path that you may have to brush off on the side as you pass some tall grass.
4. Don’t bring the children. Bring someone who doesn’t love you as much or someone who doesn’t have football practice. Ha!
Looking to update my review soon =o)
To be continued…