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Hanakapi'ai Falls
- Good for Kids:
- No
2 reviews for Hanakapi'ai Falls
2 reviews in English
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Review from Tiffany M.
San Francisco, CA
11/17/2006
8 mile hike in the mud- cheaper than a trainer
Friend opting for new shoes to stain in the red dirt- $62
The obliteration of my old grubby shoes- more space in my luggage
Friend's allergic reaction to plants- bit of worry
Pushing myself to enter the COLD water- loss of several years' worth of heartbeats .
Swimming under Hanakapi'ai Falls and looking up it from the water-
priceless -
Review from Tiffany H.
Honolulu, HI
7/21/2011
The beginning of the hike is a pretty tiring incline. But don't fret just yet. I believe at about the .25 (or was it .5?) mile mark, there's a beautiful scenic view of the nearby beach and Na Pali coast.
Soon after, you will begin to descend towards Hanakapiai beach. Be careful, there are a LOT of red ants swarming the path. If you stop for a second, the ants will climb all over your shoes, so just keep moving and you should be ok.
After 2 miles from the start, you will see Hanakapiai beach. You should probably not swim or go too close to the water because many people get sucked in. There are numerous signs along that path that warn you about it.
From the beach, you head back towards the mountain and into the valley. At first you'll be in a shaded foresty area and pass by some bamboo trees and a helicopter landing zone. Then, the hard part begins. The trail crosses back and forth across the stream and over slippery rocks.
If you are afraid of heights (like me), be wary. There are a lot of narrow parts (esp on the last mile of the hike) with steep edges. The muddiness of the trail made it even scarier knowing that I could slip at any moment.
Although a challenging hike, the view of the waterfall at the end makes it totally worth it. Go for a swim, eat a snack, and just take in the beauty of mother nature.
Be prepared when doing this hike. Pack a lot of water, as the trail to the falls is 8 miles roundtrip, a snack, good shoes that you don't mind getting wet and dirty, and sunscreen. Oh and I'd recommend band aids. I slipped during one of the stream crossings and cut my finger.
A note of caution: Do not attempt the hike if it had been recently raining. The streams are known to rise up pretty high and rage rapidly, making crossing EXTREMELY dangerous. I've heard stories of people being stranded on the hike because they couldn't cross the streams to get back.
