My original route from Poamoho to Laie got watered down today. Literally. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Trailhead

Thanks to Edgar for driving Aida, Lilyn, Quan and myself up the jeep road. Saved us roughly five miles of wear and tear.

Poamoho Trail

Are we lost or just exploring? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Sliding off the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Winding our way down through the corridor of strawberry guava trees.

Low clearance

Ducking under a moss encrusted tree. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Making our way down to the stream.

Poamoho Stream

We put our micro spikes on and started our search for a new waterfall. Thanks to Allison for the idea. Why isn’t she here as well? She was asking the same question. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

The girls stacking rocks to mark the trail, just in case we got lost on the way back. These stream crossings can be tricky. I also think they might have been goaded or encouraged as well.

Poamoho Stream

There was a mixture of walking …

Poamoho Stream

… and wading and rock hopping … Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

… and tree swinging … Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

… and tree sitting. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Elephant ears or Kalo? Always hard to tell them apart.

Poamoho Stream

I guess we are not done with the tree sitting. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

The walls got higher and closer as we hiked further upstream.

Poamoho Stream

The rocks also got more jumbled. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

Wading into the “Narrows.” Not as grand as the one found in Utah, just more tropical. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Tadpole in training.

Poamoho Stream

Emerging from the ice cold immersion. That water was cold.

Poamoho Stream

I guess we are not done with the ice cold immersion. Preparing to get all wet. Again. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

Elevator service was up and running. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Poamoho Stream

We continued our way upstream like so much spawning salmon. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Poamoho Stream

Edgar making his way across the fallen tree. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Making our way in the stream, rock by slippery rock. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

A tree pose on top of a tree. How fitting.

Poamoho Falls

Approaching the 50′ plus falls. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Falls

Everybody had to get their photo with the falls, except Edgar who was droning us frolicking in the waters.

Poamoho Falls

Group photo left to right: Aida, Edgar, Lilyn, Quan and myself. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

Making our way back as we had exceeded the scheduled time of three hours.

Ewa Forest Reserve

There’s a ribbon up there Kenji, why don’t you go check it out. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

We gave up after awhile as we had enough of our coughing seizures brought on by the uluhe fern pollen and spores.

Poamoho Stream

Back to rock hopping in the stream. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Tree fungi

Colorful mushrooms to match the colorful hikers. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Poamoho Stream

You got this? You got my nickel? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Poamoho Stream

Last man coming down. Photo by Edgar Gamiao.

Poamoho Stream

Lilyn swimming out of the Apocalypse Narrows.

Poamoho Stream

Quan sitting on the big rock amongst the other big rocks. They all look the same.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Lilyn leaving the stream for higher ground. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ewa Forest Reserve

Quan and the group reaching the junction with the Poamoho trail.

All pau

The end of our waterfall adventure covered a little under six miles that were filled with excessive rock hopping, stream immersion and new waterfalls that we found. Good time with fun friends. Post hike meal at Zippy’s. The choice of dine-in eating spots are slim pickings during these covid times.

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our Poamoho Narrows Hike.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Our day was not over yet, so we dropped in to the Red Canyon Visitor Center to get some ideas for another hike in the area. I had an interest in the tunnel trail, but somebody’s legs were burnt out, so we decided on the slipper friendly hike instead. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Trailhead

We drove down Highway 12 and snagged one of the few remaining spots left in the parking area and started our short stroll through Water Canyon.

Tropic Ditch

Crossing over the tropic ditch that is fed by the Sevier River.

Tropic Ditch

Walking on the dirt path that parallels the ditch.

A Bridge Too Near

Another bridge crossing.

Junction

Making our way to the shelter cave.

Mossy Cave

No moss. No icicles. Come back another time.

Junction

Heading our way up to the waterfall.

Waterfall

There she flows.

Waterfall

Does anybody want to go to the bathroom?

Tropic Ditch

Looking downstream.

Tropic Ditch

I went upstream as far as my slippers would keep me dry and then turned around.

Chinese Dragon

The rock formations I was seeking. Trail closed.

Tropic Ditch

Dipping my big toe to gauge the water temperature. No skinny dipping. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Waterfall

Get closer! Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.

Waterfall

Behind the curtain of water.

Tropic Ditch

Irrigating the towns of Tropic and Cannonville since 1892.

All pau

Last chance to use the bathroom before the long, scenic drive back to our motel.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Taking advantage of the rainy week that was saturating most of the island, a bunch of us met at Swanzy Beach Park to hike up to Makaua Falls. I picked out a few familiar faces in the crowd: Marcus, Aaron, Kelly and Randy. Photo by Ashley Douglas.

Follow the rainbow

Following the rainbow down Kamehameha Highway, that would hopefully lead us to a raging waterfall. We soon hanged a left at the fire station and went straight into Makaua valley. Be mindful of noise as the trailhead cuts directly between houses.

Caveman briefing

We paused briefly at the junction, going straight takes you to the waterfall and going left takes you to another hike.

How’s the temperature?

Marcus playing lifeguard in case Randy and Orion showed signs of hypothermia while playing in one of the pools along the way. I understand the water was pretty much ice cold.

Rock hopping

The trail is pretty straight forward, most of us alternated between following the stream or taking the trail that parallels the stream. While heavy rain turns on the waterfall, it also injects possibility of flash flooding and rocks falling from above. Photo by Kelly Quinn.

Small waterfall

Marcus and Randy spotting on our first little waterfall. Expect to get wet and muddy on this hike.

Spottee and Spotters

A tad more challenging climbing up this section under their watchful eyes. Photo by Stephen Jonas.

A path less traveled

Tony decided to take the less rocky path that was covered with heavy vegetation, more hand holds perhaps?

Tree climbing

A huge tree had fallen onto the stream, roots and all. Made a nice little jungle gym. Photo by Kelly Quinn.

Another view of Makaua Falls

We were not alone. Ted and Lyzel had arrived earlier and were exploring the upper parts to find a path to the top. Photo by Ted Calvero.

Makaua Falls

Makaua Falls is usually bone dry without any significant amounts of rainfall. Today the falls was not raging, but still had a nice flow. Group photo left to right: Ted, Kim, Lyzel, Stephen, Orion, Bridgette, Tony, Marcus, Aaron, BobbiJo, Randy, myself, Ashley, Allicia and Kelly.

Headed back

Rain started falling on us as we made our way back. Good time to beat any flash flooding that may come our way. Photo by Kelly Quinn.

GPS Tracks

The hike was just over two miles roundtrip that brought us to a nice waterfall tucked away in Makaua Valley. Some of us had lunch at Brick Oven Pizza after the hike, service was trickling, much like our waterfall today.