Last month’s column featured Hamama Falls, which is easy to reach, but requires permission from the Board of Water Supply to access. This month, I describe another waterfall hike, which requires no permissions, but takes a little more effort. At four miles round trip, it is reasonably short, so it could be done as a half-day excursion. My own preference, as a senior citizen, is to start at a leisurely hour, walk at a leisurely rate, stop often to smell the flowers, and then enjoy lunch at the falls and a swim in the pool. An altitude gain of 600 feet comes on the return trip, since the outbound leg is almost all downhill. There is a steep ascent of about 250 feet back up from the stream.
The hike is suitable for all ages. There are no dangerous drop offs, or high places to worry acrophobes. The descent to the stream can be slippery when wet, requiring care to prevent a fall, and the stream itself could flood suddenly during a heavy rain. It is best not to do the hike under these conditions. Persons unsure of their trail-finding skills may want to go with someone familiar with the route. (The Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club and the Sierra Club regularly schedule this hike). There are two critical junctions, the first when the route leaves the Aiea Loop Trail, and the second when it leave the ridge for the drop to the stream.
Map
The trail begins at the upper parking lot of Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area, at the end of Aiea Heights drive. Initially, it follows the popular Aiea Loop Trail [see next month’s column], which begins uphill from the restroom. After passing a water tank, then a power line tower—both on the right—watch for a side trail on the left, about half a mile from the start, leading down through a heavy growth of strawberry guava. Turn left here, proceeding gradually downhill, past another tower. The trail continues as a narrow path through the strawberry guava until it opens onto a ridge. The guava thins out, followed by paperbark, then ironwood, and finally, tall eucalyptus trees. After about half a mile from the turnoff from the Aiea Loop Trail, the route reaches an eroded spot and then levels out. Watch for a mango tree on the right. A narrow trail begins here and leads steeply down to the stream. Here is where it would help to have someone along who knows the route, or who at least can identify a mango tree. If you have neither, you may have trouble. The trail is not always easy to spot. High grass or other vegetation sometimes obscures its beginning.
Kalauao Valley, looking toward Honolulu
Upon reaching the stream, mark the trail so that you will not miss it on the way back, then turn right.
Stream crossing
After crossing the stream seven times, you reach the waterfall and its pool, about another half mile. As regular hikers know, what you get at a Hawaiian waterfall depends on the rainfall upstream from the falls. Winter and early spring are the best times. The pictures below show the falls on two different trips.
Normal falls flow
Falls in dry spell. Note the hiker in blue at the top of
the falls for perspective
Cross the stream once more, and climb on the left side to the top of the falls.
At the top, some flat rocks provide a sunny spot for lunch.
Swim in the pool by entering it from the bottom of the falls, not by jumping from the top.
After lunch, the return trip begins, circling around a large banyan.
During the low-rain period, the stream was almost dry.
The toughest part of the hike is the climb back out of Kalauao Valley
Climb out of the valley begins.
It is possible to do this hike as a loop, by continuing upstream for five more crossings, where a faint trail climbs steeply back to the Aiea Ridge Trail. This route increases the distance by about two miles. Since this trail is easy to miss, the loop should only be done with someone familiar with it.
NOTE: I will be on the mainland and unable to answer any Feedback postings or email until July 30.NEXT MONTH: AIEA LOOP TRAIL
| The best way to hike the trails on Oahu is with the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club and the Sierra Club. Both have permission to hike many routes not open to the general public. Neither one requires membership to join most hikes, although non-members pay a small fee, and they restrict certain hikes to members only. For info on membership and hiking schedules, see the following web sites. HTMC & Sierra Club. |
