Laie 18 Waterfalls

by kenji SAITO on September 4, 2016

Hurricane Lester chased us off the mountains and into some deep waterfalls this Labor Day Weekend. I had been talking to Scott earlier as the approaching mass of rotating storms had canceled both our three day weekend hikes. He agreed to show us the 18 waterfalls of Laie, as he had hiked the canyons multiple times. Three times to be exact. Met up with Ani, Chris, John, Scott, Shirley, Stuart, and Yoly at Laie.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

We all met at the ball field and looked up at the blue skies. What hurricane? The good news was that we wouldn’t be swept away in a flash flood in the confined canyons. The group pushed off a little behind schedule. Hawaiian time. At least somebody would be buying lunch. Right?

Trailhead

Trailhead

Group photo left to right: Stuart, Scott, Yoly, myself, Shirley, Ani, John and Chris. Have permits, will hike.

Scrambling Hills

Scrambling Hills

Hikers straight ahead. Dirt bikers to the right.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

The group going up the eroded section of the trail.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Something new. Leave a bottle. Donate a nickel. Pretty sad when people can’t pack out what they pack in.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Edible fungus? Shade for bugs. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Panoramic view of the trail going up. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Strawberry guava

Strawberry guava

Trail snacks. Ripe for the picking. No spitting. No spreading. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Norfolk Pine Trees

Norfolk Pine Trees

Looking for the junction and the proverbial needle (pine tree) in the haystack (grove of pine trees).

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

We couldn’t find the big tree amongst the other big trees, so we continued up the trail. Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Laie Falls

Laie Falls

Group photo at the junction. Now would be a good time to waterproof.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Headed down into Kahawainui Gulch.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

We can hear water!

Waterfall #2

Waterfall #2

Some people just can’t sit still for long. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Waterfall #2

Waterfall #2

Shirley taking the dry way up.

Waterfall #1

Waterfall #1

Yoly already on the top. No more waterfalls ahead.

Waterfall #1

Waterfall #1

John taking the wet way up.

Waterfall #3

Waterfall #3

Time to go, as other hikers started to make their way down. Who’s in charge of counting the waterfalls? Shirley?

Waterfall #4

Waterfall #4

Too steep and slippery to climb down, time to contour.

Waterfall #4

Waterfall #4

Chris making his way down.

Waterfall #4

Waterfall #4

Looking back. Photo by John Caicedo.

Waterfall #5

Waterfall #5

Scott stepping his way down.

Waterfall #5

Waterfall #5

The water was cold. Ice cold. Well, at least refrigerator cold.

Waterfall #6

Waterfall #6

Time to break out the webbing.

Waterfall #6

Waterfall #6

Shirley making her way down.

Waterfall #6

Waterfall #6

What are you waiting for? Take the plunge. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Have life vest, will float.

Waterfall #7

Waterfall #7

Waterfall leads to pools. Deep pools. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Waterfall #7

Waterfall #7

Sunbeam for Stuart.

Waterfall #8

Waterfall #8

Scott making his way down.

Waterfall #8

Waterfall #8

Who’s counting? Stuart? Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Waterfall #9

Waterfall #9

Ani making her way down the slippery rocks under Scott’s watchful eye.

Waterfall #10

Waterfall #10

Going down the water slide. Nature’s waterpark. Photo by Shirley Hamamura.

Waterfall #10

Waterfall #10

Stuart trying to delay the inevitable. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

The canyon walls seemed to contract and expand as we made our way downstream.

Waterfall #11

Waterfall #11

Time to contour again. Don’t trust that old rope.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Stuart and Yoly threading their way down through the dense pocket of strawberry guava trees.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Lunch time for some … Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Waterfall #13

Waterfall #13

… while John, Shirley, Stuart and Yoly climbed up to see the waterfalls that we had contoured around. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Waterfall #11

Waterfall #11

Instagram photo of the day. How many likes can I get? Photo by Stuart Krempin.

Waterfall #12

Waterfall #12

Yoly and Stuart making their way down. Photo by Shirley Hamamura.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Going back to rejoin the rest of the group. Somebody was getting restless. Photo by Shirley Hamamura.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Over the rocks. Under the branches.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Rock hopping down the stream.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Walk or wade. Take your pick.

Waterfall #14

Waterfall #14

Looking back at twin waterfalls. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Does this count as a waterfall?

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Low clearance ahead.

Waterfall #15

Waterfall #15

Looking back. Photo by Shirley Hamamura.

Waterfall #16

Waterfall #16

Stuart climbing down into the pool.

Waterfall #16

Waterfall #16

Hey guys, turn around. Group photo by Shirley Hamamura.

Waterfall #16

Waterfall #16

One climbing in, one swimming and one getting out. Rinse and repeat. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Waterfall #16

Waterfall #16

Shirley and Chris taking memories. Photographic memories.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Stuart rock hopping down the stream.

Waterfall #17

Waterfall #17

Chris and Shirley scrambling over the mossy rocks.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Chris trying not to get wet. More wet.

Waterfall #18

Waterfall #18

Who needs rope? Not John.

Waterfall #18

Waterfall #18

Ani making her way down. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Waterfall #18

Waterfall #18

The last waterfall discharging into the deep pool.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Stuart making his way downstream. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

The waterfalls had ended and now we had to find our way out of the canyon and back onto the ridge.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Yoly wading through a pool ringed with ginger scented flowers.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Splish, splash, the camera was taking a bath. Photo by Shirley Hamamura.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

The group heading into the hau jungle gym.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

We were hanging and walking on branches suspended over the gulch floor. Snap, crackle and pop.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

It felt like we were trying to extricate ourselves out of a giant spider web of mossy hau branches.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Somebody was happy to get out of the thicket of hau trees. Skipping happy. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

Ani threading her way up through the densely packed strawberry guava trees.

Laie Falls Trail

Laie Falls Trail

The trees thinned out as we neared the top of the ridge.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Back on the trail again.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Still looking for that junction? Just look for that big tree.

Laie Trail

Laie Trail

Where’s the fire?

All pau

All pau

Wet. Muddy. Tired. Happy. Not necessarily in that order.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our waterlogged hike covered 8.54 miles. We saw 18 waterfalls, give or take. Which begs the question, what defines a waterfall? Water? Falls? Amazing adventure with fun friends. Post hike meal. Seven Brothers? Mormon Sunday. North Shore Tacos it is. Cut the dessert six ways. Let me get a knife. We also unwittingly provided embarrassing and entertaining conversation for the lady sitting next to us. You are most welcome.

Note: I have been made aware the some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. It is not advisable to hike to waterfalls during heavy rain as one will be at risk to flash flood conditions and falling rocks. 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.

Leave a Comment

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

Scott Bowling October 14, 2016 at 7:03 am

Kenji, you have a knack for finding the right caption for any picture. It was a very enjoyable day hiking with you and your capable crew. Reading your write-ups is always enjoyable and this one brought me back to that day.

Reply

kenji SAITO October 14, 2016 at 1:56 pm

Aloha Scott,
Thanks for showing us the 18 falls on that hurricane free day. That was a fun filled day!
Mahalo

Reply

Yoly October 14, 2016 at 1:40 pm

Let’s go back!!

Reply

kenji SAITO October 14, 2016 at 1:57 pm

Aloha Yoly,
Yes we should start from the bottom next time!
Mahalo

Reply

HawaiiSunshine October 25, 2016 at 1:53 am

This looks like a blast!!!

Reply

kenji SAITO October 25, 2016 at 9:35 am

Aloha Elijah,
Yup crazy fun. Just don’t try it before, during or after heavy rains.
Mahalo

Reply

Matt January 5, 2017 at 2:02 pm

Love the write up and you have some amazoing hike photos, we’d love to have your review (and pics!) on the hike here if possible: https://lookintohawaii.com/hawaii/48953/laie-falls-laie-ridge-trail-activities-oahu-laie-hi

Reply

kenji SAITO January 7, 2017 at 8:19 am

Aloha Matt,
Thanks. Feel free to link on your site if you wish.
Mahalo

Reply

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