Kahana Valley - Nakoa Trail & additional loop upstream

Trails: Nakoa Trail (first loop) and another loop that I don't know the name of
Distance: 5.8 Round trip (7.2 miles if parked at Kahana Valley/Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park entrance)
Elevation Gain: 300 - 400 ft
Hiking time: 3 hours at a relatively fast pace.
Note: Allow for more time if you want to go for a swim
Area: Windward Side - Above Ka'aava
Trailhead: Kahana Valley/Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park - end of road
Trailhead Coordinates: Nakoa Trail Head: N21 32.541 W157 53.049
Closest Visitor Parking: N21 33.019 W157 52.897
Sights: Kahana Stream
Directions via bus: Takes about 1.5 hours. Take the 55 from Ala Moana Center towards Kaneohe. The bus will announce Kahana Valley beach park, then Kahana Valley Park. Enter the park and continue to follow the road up, through a quite residential area, and past a gate blocking the road. Walk up
Directions via car:From Waikiki or downtown, find the Pali Highway and go North towards Kailua. At Castle Junction after the hairpin turn on the Pali Highway, turn left onto Kamehameha Highway. Follow this for awhile along the Windward coast. You'll pass Kaneohe, drive through several small towns, past Koalua Ranch on the left. Kahana Valley will be at a point where the road winds around left into a valley. There will be Kahana Beach/bay on the right and a park entrance with a sign, Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park (see pic below). Enter the park and follow the road up. You'll have to park on the right side before the residential area. There's a sign that says vistor parking
Recommendations for hike: The thing that stands out on this trail are the stream crossings. Prepared to get your feet wet, literally. You may be able to find a path of stones on some but others I had no choice but to just walk through the stream. It's also muddy. Some sneakers or boots.
Swim trunks/bathing suit if you want to swim. Just make sure you don't have open wounds and you should be fine.
Bug spray. Water. No sunscreen needed.



This is a relatively easy hike. It's getting to the starting point that is time consuming. It is on the Windward side midway between the northern most point, Turtle Bay, and Kaneohe. It is located in Kahana Valley and is a nice double loop. You have the option of doing just the first loop, Nakoa Trail, which is under 3 miles with less stream crossings. You'll hike all of Nakoa either way. I enjoyed it because it follows the stream and there are many points where you have to cross. There are some interesting spots along the stream to just chill out as well.

So just follow Nakoa trail til you find an open area some bunkers. Please see pictures below. Here you have the option to do the single loop by following Nakoa Trail to the left or continue on. Veer slightly right and take the path to the right of the bunkers. Soon after, there will be a fork. The left descends towards the stream. The right follows a ridge above the stream. I went right.

A majority of the trail is marked with pink ribbon. Always be on the look out as they will guide you through the various stream crossings. At every crossing, I was able to see a ribbon at the opposite side. At the end of the trail, there is wide part of the stream with a dam. It's deep enough to swim and even a rope for you to swing into the stream. After the sign that indicates the end of Nakoa Trail, follow the road up and you'll find the Nakoa Trail entrance.


Entrance to Kahana Valley Park

Walking up to the trail head

Right before this sign, you'll see an open area on the left with a picnic table. At this sign go left...

and look to the right!

One of the first things I noticed. Curious what it tastes like but didn't try.

It wouldn't be an Oahu trail without some strawberry guavas.

An interesting mess of plants

All of them were hanging upside down like this

So this is a significant point on the trail. Here you can either go left and complete Nakoa Trail. Otherwise if you want to see more of the stream, veer slightly to the right. You'll see the bunkers below. Stay to the right of them. There are some other directions that I have not explored yet.



Yes! Bamboo forest! Where's my katana!

View from above the stream. You'll have plenty of chances for views like this.

Told ya.

One more

Crossing. Becareful, it's slippy (slippery)

uh.. me...

Another crossing



Okay the sun was setting. It wasn't that dark though. This was just taken with flash.

Okay these tree leaves were annoyingly sharp. It's like getting a papercut. They are from the Hala trees which are very common.

This is the final crossing back on the Nakoa Trail. Right across the stream is the official End of Nakoa Trail.

The rope on the right. Wanted to try.

Arranged on the ground like that.

Waimae Falls Park

From a bridge right before the falls

Trail: Waimea Falls Park - A walk through the botanical gardens to Waimea Falls
Distance: 2.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 100-200 ft (marginal)
Hiking time: couple of hours depending on how much time you spend in the garden and at the falls
Area: North shore, midway between Haleiwa and the Turtle Bay (northern most point of the island)
Trailhead: Waimae Falls Park Entrance
Trailhead Coordinates: N21 38.175 W158 03.276
Sights: Botanical Garden, Waimea Falls
Directions via bus: Take the 52 from Ala Moana Center or downtown area. It will take you West then North via highways then long the North shore. Ask the driver to drop you off at Waimea Falls Park.
Directions via car: Go to Haleiwa and follow Kamehameha Highway along the North Shore. About 5 miles later, you'll see a Waimea Bay. Follow the road into the valley and you'll see a turn off on the right hand side into Waimea Falls Park.
Recommendations for hike: This is a park. Admission fee The trail is a paved path to the waterfall. Can be done in slippers. Facilities at the entrance and along the way. You can by food/drinks at the entrance. Another drink vendor close to the falls. The falls has a lifeguard on duty. Bring some swim trunks and maybe some water. That's about it. You can easily get to the falls in slippers. Some mosquitoes towards the falls but it's manageable without bug spray.




Easy!

If you're looking for an adventure, this isn't the place. It is still nice though.

So Nicole, her parents (Mike and Nanette), and I went to Waimea Falls Park this morning. It's a tourist spot with a building at the entrance housing full facilities, food, a gift shop, staff to guide you. Along the way you'll find a plethora of plants and some animals. Most of the plants are labeled. You'll find some peacocks, peahens, birds (some endangered). It's a stroll through a park.

The falls is nice enough. The waterfall was mild when we were there. There's plenty of people, all seem to be tourists. It's a good place for the family. You can't climb on the rocks despite some web pics of people diving. There are no jumpoff points. The lifeguard said certain points of the pool are 30 ft deep.

Enjoy the pics!

Entrance to park

Peacock chilling at the top of some stars

Interesting giant lily pads, a couple feet in diameter

The general path

Interesting spiky thing

They had some cultural sites. This was a gaming ground with 3 examples using a stick, puck, and some rocks. We had fun. I have a not too flattering pic of my friend... your welcome.

Bumble bee at least an inch in length... just going from flower to flower... disappearing into them and backing out.

Nice flower

Endangered bird, didn't catch the name

Giant asparagus... young bamboo

Some peahens (did not know they were called that)

Nice overall view of the falls. There are better pics on the web when the water is really flowing. I'm still impressed with what this panoramic program can do. This was originally 3 separate images.

Mauanwili Falls Trail

Trails: Maunawili Falls Trail
Distance: 2.6 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 500-600 ft
Hiking time: 2 - 2.5 hours;
Note: You'll want to spend some time at the falls. You should allow for 4 hours overall to be safe.
Area: Off the Pali, near Kailua
Trailhead: End of Maunawili Road
Trailhead Coordinates: N21 21.547 W157 45.811
Sights: Muanawili Falls (favorite one on the island)
Directions via bus: Take the 57 to Maunawili Road. The stop is past the hairpin turn on the Pali Highway, 3 lights. You'll pass Castle Junction (intersection of Kamehameha, Pali, and Kanianole Highways).
Directions via car: Find Pali Highway. Go North towards Kailua. You'll be going uphill, through a valley, back downhill, past a short tunnel, around the hairpin turn (right then left then right), pass Castle Junction (first light after the hairpin turn), past another light, and at the 3rd light make a right on to Maunawili Rd. Almost immediately, the road forks, stay left. Continue on Maunawili Rd, past a residential area, and you'll see some parking on the left. You can go further past this point and get closer to the trailhead. Continue up the road and it'll wind around to the end. The entrance is on the left at the end of the road.
Recommendations for hike: Bug spray. Water. No sunscreen needed. Need some sneakers but manageable in slippers. It's very muddy so be prepared to get dirty. Also the last part of the trail is along stream so you'll probably get your feet wet. Swim trunks/bathing suit if you want to swim. Just make sure you don't have open wounds and you should be fine.

Green trail is Maunawili Trail

This elevation profile is to and back. It's only 1.3 miles one way. Note the altimeter is a bit off. It should be symmetrical.

My second trip to Maunawili Falls. The first was never really documented. I hurt my back jumping off the high point.
This is an easy trail and one my favorites so far (mostly due to the waterfall). It's a common tourist attraction and a short easy hike to the waterfall. Many locals go here as well.

The trail itself is a bit muddy. You'll actually cross the same stream at 3 different points along the trail. Right after first crossing, you'll notice a fragrance from the flowers in the air. It reminds me of Honeysuckles. You'll climb up a bit and then reach a junction. To the left you'll see some steps leading back down to the stream. Follow the stream up and you'll reach Maunawili Falls shortly.
The falls has a deep pool. At least 8 feet in some parts but I believe it's deeper. The first pool has 3 main jumping points. One is from the rocks that the water is cascading down. The highest one is about 30 ft and on the left (facing the falls). There's a small trail on the left to get there. The other is about 20 - 25 ft. You have to get on the rocks where the water is coming and climb up. Everyone hangs around this pool.
There's also another pool above that you have to climb up the rocks. Just follow the water. You'll see a nicer waterfall but no place to jump off. I'm unsure of how deep it is. I was able to tread water in the middle and near the falls so at least 5 ft or so.




First stream crossing

Second stream crossing

Third stream crossing

Part of the steps leading to the falls

Stream at bottom of steps

Maunawili Falls!!! To the right of the girl is the most common jump off point. About 8-9 ft high.


Looking up

Looking back from the rocks


Looking down along the first falls. This and the next photos were a pain to get. Had to swim while holding the camera out of the water. Actually not as difficult as I thought but if I messed up, there goes my camera.

Second falls

Better view of second falls. Quality isn't as good but more of a panoramic.