High above Pearl City, at the top of Pacific Palisades, a 3-mile round trip hike leads to two small pools backed by a fine waterfall. Although short as distance goes, the route drops steeply enough down into Waimano Valley to require caution, especially in wet weather, or when previous rains have made the trail slick with mud. However, there are no dangerous drop-offs or exposed places, which makes the outing suitable for hardy families. Keep in mind, though, that the steep trail must be climbed back up at the end of the hike (a 700-foot gain), and it has earned its nickname, “cardiac hill.”
I made this hike with the Sierra Club on February 9th, after more than a week of nightly rains. This insured that the pools would be full and the falls flowing, but it also made for slippery conditions.
Leader Phil Booth (crouching) signs up hikers
The trailhead is the same as that for the Manana Trail, which begins at the end of Komo Mai Drive. (From Kamehameha Highway or Moanalua Road, turn mauka on Waimano Home Road, then left on Komo Mai, and follow it to the end). The trail begins behind the walk-around gate, at the Public Hunting Area sign.
The route follows a narrow paved road until it reaches a water tank.
It then becomes the Manana Trail, which, at this point, is a relatively wide dirt track. After passing a utility tower on the left, the trail continues along the ridge. Ignore a small side trail to the right, keeping to the main route, which bears right just below a wide hill. The trail drops downhill slightly, and a brown-and-yellow trail marker soon appears, pointing left, indicating the route of the Manana Trail. Do not turn here, but keep right and downhill. You may see a small hand-lettered sign “Falls,” just before descending along a wide ridge, covered with exposed roots.
Care must be taken on slippery roots and slick mud
Entering a thicker forest, the trail narrows, and the going becomes steeper and rocky in places. For a time, the route contours along the side of the valley, but soon drops sharply again. A fixed rope helps in one of the more difficult places.
Finally, the falls comes into view.
Looking down to the first pool, the scenery improved considerably.
An attractive hiker takes first tentative steps into the water.
The pool provides a great place to relax, kick back, and enjoy the solitude. There is not much room at either pool for a crowd, due to the narrowness and steep sides of the valley. We found ourselves alone, but this was a weekday. The pools are more popular on weekends.
The first pool. The second pool is just above the
small falls in front of the hiker in the water.
After lunch, we began our return trip. This can be either returning by the same route, or walking downstream a short distance then turning uphill on a narrow path which later rejoins the main route. We opted for the downstream walk.
Back on the main trail, we had to face cardiac hill before returning to our cars, tired but fulfilled after a fine outing.
| 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. |
