Ferlino Falls

Soaking rain derailed our saddle plans so off we went to explore waterfalls. Yay!

Windward

We piled into CB and Chico’s cars and drove over to the Windward side where we left civilization behind us as we drove into Ferlino’s sister-in-laws lush and verdant jungle property. Lucky nobody changed the lock like last time.

Windward

It was a short ten minute drive up the jeep road before we parked in front of the towering dead tree that was our landmark.

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We plunged into the ditch trail to start our hike to the waterfalls. Anybody bring bug spray?

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The group crossing one of several stream crossings. And here I am without my spikes!

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Is that our first waterfall ahead of us? Pretty disappointing to say the least.

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Checking out one of multiple CMU shelters on the trail.

Windward

We arrived at the first waterfall in around 15 minutes. It was a sliver of water coming down the roughly 80′ cliff. Our bodies were already drenched in perspiration. Oh wait, that’s the rain and there’s more waterfalls around the corner.

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No permit. No entry.

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Climbing up the three-tier waterfall. The lower fall was shorter but more voluminous in flow. Rain helps.

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CB following me up the falls.

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The rest of the group wading their way upstream to the next waterfall.

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Checking out the possible routes to climb up.

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CB assuring he got me if I slip and fall. Let’s not slip and fall shall we.

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The rest of the group climbing their way up the fall with the assistance of webbing. Somebody chose to rely wholly on the roots. Roots break. Webbing doesn’t. Tessa would find that out later going back down.

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Ferlino scouted up to see if it was feasible to climb to the top of the third tier. Crumbly and pointless. Come on back down.

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Group photo in front of the third tier. End of the road.

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If you’re wet, might as well get all wet.

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Somebody else thinks the same.

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What goes up, must come back down.

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Group photo in front of the second tier.

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Following the stream back down.

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Team work gets everybody back down safely.

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The boys having fun.

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Searching for another waterfall.

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Group photo in front of the third and smallest waterfall.

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Heading back to our cars.

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CB checking out the first waterfall whose flow had increased somewhat due to the ongoing rain.

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What is the common denominator here?

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Ferlino wanted to explore the upper waterfalls he had seen earlier. We’re hikers, we don’t walk, we just catch a hot minute ride up the road. I don’t think that’s OSHA approved.

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I don’t know what’s worse. Scrambling uphill on hala leaves or pine needles and cones.

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Ferlino demonstrating how thick and deep the uluhe ferns were on the ridge.

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The two upper falls in question. We figured one of them fed the lower falls we had just visited and the other one was too far away. Time to eat lunch.

All pau

Climbing back down to the changing room. Thanks again to Ferlino for showing us the “private” waterfalls tour. Post hike meal at Saito and Pho where Aida joined us for lunch. No family discount. I guess blood is not thicker than water. Some of us then retired to Ferlino’s house where Akira was pressed into service to help make bilo-bilo dessert.

Photos taken by Akira Suzuki, Chris Bautista, Chico Cantu, Ferlino Carinio, Roger Schiffman, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Tagged as: kaneohe, waterfalls, windward