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
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
Multiple stream crossings in the lush verdant valley.
Heiau
Hawaiian temple restored to it’s 17th century details.
Cloudy mountain
Clouds rolling in between the ridges.
No name peak
Somebody give it a name already. Tom pointed out Razor’s Ridge. One day.
Where?
There!
Good flow
Bog fed stream.
Tree of life
Between a rock and a tree. Or something like that.
Hear that?
We could hear the waterfall spilling off the summit of Ka’ala.
Bushwhacking ahead
Kid gloves are off. Or on? It wasn’t that bad.
Pueo falls
We gained roughly 3,000′ in elevation from the valley floor to the base of the waterfall.
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
Group photo at Pueo Falls left to right: Tom, Rebecca, myself, Thessa, Chris, Glenn and Justin.
Looking back
The falls feeding the stream that flows down the valley. Photo by Tom Engle.
How does this focus work?
The freezing four.
Mahalo
365 days a year. Photo by Tom Engle.
Uncommon fruit
Purple lilikoi.
Banana Falls
Rebecca couldn’t get enough of being wet. Photo by Tom Engle.
Pigs?
A couple hunting dogs checked us out and went back into the bushes.
Green mangoes
Shoyu. Vinegar. Chill. Eat.
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?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
How long did it take you to do this hike?
Also…Where did you park at? Do you have one of your awesome maps for this hike?
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
Understandable Thanks for the reply.
Was a fun hike! Great write-up Kenji
Aloha Rebecca,
Yes it was! One day, I will get wet and melt!
Mahalo
Is there a legal way to get there… Can u at least say this?
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
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.
Is this really flowing all year?
I believe so, as it is fed from the top of Ka’ala which receives a healthy amount of rainfall year round.