HONOLULU (Island News) — For most people, reaching the top of Koko Crater Railway Trail once is an accomplishment.
For Hawaii endurance athlete Michael Chin, it’s just the beginning.
The fitness creator, who has gained a growing following online through what he calls “KOKO maxxing,” is preparing to attempt one of the trail’s toughest endurance challenges next month: completing the Koko Head trail five times up and down faster than anyone before him.
“I’m about two and a half weeks out from the attempt,” Chin said. “I’m going after the Koko Head 5X record — the fastest time up and down Koko Head five times.”
The current time to beat is 1 hour, 25 minutes and 10 seconds. Chin came within two minutes of the record three years ago and said that close finish has fueled his training ever since.
“I know I’m close to it,” he said. “I just want to get it because it’s right there.”
The Koko Crater Railway Trail is one of Oahu’s most recognizable hikes, attracting thousands of locals and visitors each year.
The former military railway climbs roughly 1,200 feet in elevation over approximately 1.8 miles round trip, following more than 1,000 railroad ties to the summit overlooking Hawaii Kai and the southeastern coastline.
While many hikers tackle the trail once, Chin’s attempt will cover approximately:
About 9 miles totalsayNearly 6,000 feet of cumulative elevation gainTen trips on the trail — five ascents and five descents
To stay on record pace, Chin estimates he will need to average about 12 minutes uphill and roughly 4½ minutes downhill with virtually no breaks.
“The hard part really is the downhill,” Chin said. “That’s the part that destroys your quads. I really have to pace myself.”
Preparing for the attempt has become a routine.
Chin said he’s currently climbing Koko Head two to three times per workout, about three days each week, carefully balancing enough training without overloading his legs.
Even after years of climbing the trail, he said one section never gets easier.
“Usually that last quarter,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s rep one or rep four or five. You’re so close to the finish, but it’s still just crazy steep.”
His athletic background includes track and field in high school and college before transitioning into marathon running, endurance racing and Spartan competitions.
“I like weird challenges,” he laughed.
Chin said one reason Koko Head has become such a popular training destination is the variety of people sharing the trail.
Fitness enthusiasts often carry weighted sandbags for extra resistance. Tourists hike it for the panoramic views. Many local residents simply make it part of their weekly routine.
“There’s a whole mix of people,” Chin said. “Everybody’s super supportive. They’re always cheering me on. It’s just a really cool environment.”
That supportive atmosphere has inspired the online movement he jokingly calls “KOKO maxxing,” with thousands of people following his training videos, workout tips and countdown posts leading up to record day.
For anyone inspired to tackle the trail themselves, Chin offers one piece of advice above all else:
“Pace yourself.”
He said the lower portion of the trail can fool hikers into starting too quickly before the climb steepens dramatically near the top.
“The first half isn’t so bad,” he said. “Then the second half gets really steep.”
He also recommends bringing plenty of water, taking breaks when needed and remembering that finishing safely is far more important than finishing fast.
As for his own record attempt, Chin hopes fellow hikers will simply be aware of runners moving quickly on the trail that morning.
“If people have time, just move off to the side,” he said. “Having a clear track is crucial.”
Whether he breaks the record or not, Chin said he will keep returning to Koko Head for the same reason that first drew him there years ago — because every climb offers another challenge.
