Pueo Falls

by kenji SAITO on April 26, 2015

I joined Tom’s hike along with Chris, Glenn, Justin, Rebecca and Thessa to explore a waterfall tucked deep at the base of Mount Ka’ala.

Valley hike

Valley hike

We started off hiking up a paved road in a remote Leeward Valley. Overshot the junction just to put in some extra cardio.

Stream crossing

Stream crossing

Multiple stream crossings in the lush verdant valley.

Heiau

Heiau

Hawaiian temple restored to it’s 17th century details.

Cloudy mountain

Cloudy mountain

Clouds rolling in between the ridges.

No name peak

No name peak

Somebody give it a name already. Tom pointed out Razor’s Ridge. One day.

Where?

Where?

There!

Good flow

Good flow

Bog fed stream.

Tree of life

Tree of life

Between a rock and a tree. Or something like that.

Hear that?

Hear that?

We could hear the waterfall spilling off the summit of Ka’ala.

Bushwhacking ahead

Bushwhacking ahead

Kid gloves are off. Or on? It wasn’t that bad.

Pueo falls

Pueo falls

We gained roughly 3,000′ in elevation from the valley floor to the base of the waterfall.

Up close and personal

Up close and personal

Looking up at the multi-tiered 1,000′ waterfall dropping off the highest mountain on the island. Photo by Tom Engle.

Good flow

Good flow

Group photo at Pueo Falls left to right: Tom, Rebecca, myself, Thessa, Chris, Glenn and Justin.

Looking back

Looking back

The falls feeding the stream that flows down the valley. Photo by Tom Engle.

How does this focus work?

How does this focus work?

The freezing four.

Mahalo

Mahalo

365 days a year. Photo by Tom Engle.

Uncommon fruit

Uncommon fruit

Purple lilikoi.

Banana Falls

Banana Falls

Rebecca couldn’t get enough of being wet. Photo by Tom Engle.

Pigs?

Pigs?

A couple hunting dogs checked us out and went back into the bushes.

Green mangoes

Green mangoes

Shoyu. Vinegar. Chill. Eat.

Which one?

Which one?

The human mango picker. The meandering valley hike covered 10.92 miles through multiple stream crossings and minor bushwhacking with a majestic waterfall payoff at the end. Post hike meal at Tacos and More. Red? Green? Separate checks? Make my life harder. When does Makaha Gene come in?

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Liz May 21, 2015 at 12:49 pm

How long did it take you to do this hike?

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Liz May 21, 2015 at 8:53 pm

Also…Where did you park at? Do you have one of your awesome maps for this hike?

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kenji SAITO May 22, 2015 at 10:29 am

Aloha Liz,
Round trip the hike took about 8 hours. Sorry, my friend brought me on this hike and he didn’t want me to divulge the location as I also found out the trail to get there is supposed to be off limits. That’s why there is no map and no specific locations mentioned.
Mahalo

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Liz May 22, 2015 at 10:32 am

Understandable Thanks for the reply.

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Rebecca June 12, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Was a fun hike! Great write-up Kenji :)

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kenji SAITO June 12, 2015 at 3:46 pm

Aloha Rebecca,
Yes it was! One day, I will get wet and melt!
Mahalo

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Raquel May 15, 2016 at 8:50 am

Is there a legal way to get there… Can u at least say this?

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kenji SAITO May 15, 2016 at 8:48 pm

Aloha Raquel,
As I mentioned above, the trail is off limits as far as I know and I don’t know of a legal way, unless you can get the landowner to give you permission.
Mahalo

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Desiree September 12, 2017 at 1:34 pm

The trail is off limits, as stated, and locally protected. Mahalo all (particularly Tom) for not divulging information about the specific location of this waterfall. We are very protective about our ahupua’a – and are reluctant to indulge visitors and overcrowding.

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sunshine March 19, 2018 at 2:06 am

Is this really flowing all year?

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kenji SAITO March 19, 2018 at 6:04 pm

I believe so, as it is fed from the top of Ka’ala which receives a healthy amount of rainfall year round.

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