Koko trailhead hike

- July 13, 2021

KOKO TRAILHEAD HIKE: 1,048 RAILWAY STAIRS TO THE TOP OF THE CRATER.

The first motivation

Having read about the Koko trail on the island of Oahu, we wanted to give it a try. We believed that it would test our strength of endurance, determination, stamina, willpower, and fitness. We had scheduled the Koko trail for the last day of our holiday.

The ascent - any second thoughts?

During WW 2, the summit of the Koko head crater held a strategic position. Several bunkers were built there as observation stations to keep an eye on the surrounding islands and their waters. There was a railway that carried supplies and personnel up and down. A gasoline-powered tramcar with a winch helped in the transportation. The railway line is now known as the Koko head stairs.

The state of tracks

After the world war, this place became an Air Force station before turning into a district park. The Koko Head Trail starts at this district park. The distance to the top of the Koko's head is just .7 miles. It is a small total of 1.4 miles. It sounds like a short distance; however, this short distance to be covered has an extreme elevation. Koko head stairs take you to 990 feet up. There is a gain of 1 foot of elevation for every two feet of distance. At the top of the summit, we are at the height of 1208 feet, with panoramic views of the island.

We trudge along

We reached the parking lot around 6 am. Walking along the sports field, we arrived at the start of the trail. This part of the trail was relatively easy till we got to the beginning of the railroad steps. We were surprised to see some of the morning walkers were returning. As we looked up at the level of ascent, I wondered if I should or could make it.

No more second thoughts - we begin

Meanwhile, my sister, husband, and children started their climb. Taking a huge challenging breath, I followed in pursuit. There are 1,048 railroad steps up to the end of the railway and then another 30 or so feet of walking to get to the lookout points. There are three distinct sections of the climb... Steep, Steeper, and Steepest. It was important to pace yourself and climb at a steady pace. It was tempting to rush through the climb at certain spots. However, it would leave you gasping for breath unless one is in fit physical shape.

The cityscape far below and the pot of gold awaits

The steps leading to the Koko's head have uneven construction. The height of the steps is almost double the width of the standard stairs. So we either take two steps for each stair, or we climb stairs taking long strides. With practically no maintenance, the steps appear worn out in many places. The loose pebbles on the ground also make it a bit slippery. It was challenging to find a rhythm for the ascent. The only option was to continue to forge ahead. At about 600 steps, there is a railway bridge that stretches over the openness below. The ground disappears completely below the tracks. The bridge has a bypass via a small rocky passage. If one thinks this is the challenging part, more is to come. There is an almost 90-degree incline right before the summit. Powering ourselves through the last leg, we got to the end of the railroad trail. There is a cool breeze that helps to refresh the mind and body.

The stretch of Pacific from the summit

The views from the top were breathtaking. The Panoramic view of Hanauma Bay and the ocean beyond was worth the hike. Standing on the pillbox is an unforgettable experience with the winds blowing. We found that the numerous youngsters were posing for social media glory in dangerous positions. After resting for a while, we started our steep descent.