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Maunawili Falls
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
75 reviews for Maunawili Falls
75 reviews in English
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Review from Monica M.
Wahiawa, HI
12/29/2011
This is such a easy, breezy hike. I was never afraid for my life. The only catch is that it is muddy, there are not enough signs to tell you which way to go, and you have to cross two springs. We didn't go into the waterfall because I had a giant cut, but if I could I would've jump off the ledge (looked like 10 ft.)
The hike wasn't to crowded, just enough so I could ask "is this the right way?" and if I had to go again, I'd wear some of those water shoes, not sneakers. -
Review from Zar A.
1/8/2012
I would say that this is one of the muddiest and most common hikes on the island next to Manoa Falls.
It's a relatively short trail (around a mile long) and definitely has a lot of great benefits:
1) The waterfall at the end of this trail is very pretty, but there are warning signs along the trail to not swim in the water as it is not clean and full of bacteria! Still, many people take the risk and jump into the water...
2) There are so many people on this trail at any given time, you certainly cannot get lost.
3) The trail is relatively flat and short, so it's great for those not in tremendous shape but still want to enjoy nature.
4) The water streams along the trail are just beautiful and really add to the experience.
Good luck on this trail! You will not find me here but I believe you will still have a fantastic time here!Listed in: Zar gets fit [HI], Zar, Hawaii, Outdoors, Nature…
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Review from Jen jacob J.
Kaneohe, HI
12/17/2011 10 photos
* 1 1/2mi hike to the falls, easy trail
* Intermittent steep incline/decline
* Certain parts are muddy especially after a rain
* Cliff diving for experienced hikers/climbers (be aware water may be contaminated with leptospirosis, before you take the plunge) from 3 different levels
* Lots of shady cover
* Stay on the path, many hikers that don't know the area have gotten lost
* No bathroom/other amenities
* Street-parking
* Lots of mosquitos
* Those with 4g electronics will most likely be stuck with 2g, but at least you have reception
Pretty decent hike, definitely good for beginner hikers and people of all ages. Slip-resistant shoes are a must, be aware that you will most likely be getting your feet/legs wet, maybe even fully submerged in the water. Once you get to the top there's a small "bench"/rest area where you can either go down or straight. There's a sign to continue straight "Maunawili Connecting Trails", not sure where this goes, but I do know it's a lot longer and you may or may not get to the falls, so take the trail downward to the left, if that's your intended destination (the falls). Every time I've gone hiking here, there are always hikers asking me which way to go, so, if you read this, there you have it. Oh, and best to just follow where you see well-worn paths, and not go off those trails, expect to be crossing the river a couple of times. And if all else fails, wait around, eventually other hikers will show.
Have fun, be safe :) -
Review from chett f.
Kailua, HI
11/28/2011
I will be blunt: This is an overrated tourist trap. Even if you've never been to Hawaii and never seen a waterfall up close before you can do much, much better than this. Here are the reasons.
1. Terrible and unsafe approach hike. The trail is marked, but even if it were not there would be no mistaking the rutted, slippery, muddy, dark and mosquito-infested mess that has resulted due to severe over-use from too many people rushing along with little concern for trail etiquette (trash and litter is everywhere). The trail traverses a rainforest, so it is usually (surprise) wet. The resultant mud is very slick, and the abundant guava tree roots make the walk very treacherous. It is NOT a hike for kids below the age of five- they will be unable to finish the 90-120 min round trip and if you carry them you will risk tripping and falling and injuring them.
2. the water is unsafe. It is full of micro-organisms and parasites - check the warning signs. You don't want to get giardia or leptospirosis, trust me on that. And you don't need to drink the water, just getting some splashed up your nose or in a cut or open wound or thought your eye mucous membranes is all it takes. There are lots of feral pigs in these mountains, and their excrement gets washed down the streams and into the falls. About once a month somebody miscalculates and hits the water wrong or even the bottom -and that's an automatic airlift out to the hospital (I work at one of them - I see these people) for a fractured vertebrae or foot or skull. Enough said.
3. The waterfall is dark and uninspiring. And crowded with people, usually, making lots of noise and just standing around watching their buddies jump off the ledges into the shallow pool below. I can almost guarantee that you will arrive, covered in mud, and say to yourself - "What? That's it? The canopy of trees keeps it dank and dreary looking. His is not a waterfall you'd ever see on a calendar or photobook, for good reason. Tray Manoa Falls for a nicer hike and more photogenic fall. Or several of the other falls on the Big Island, Kauai or Maui. This one isn't worth it.
Mahalo. -
Review from Mark S.
12/13/2011
A great hike, although it became a lot longer than we expected it to be. You cross a river about 5-6 times, and walk through a bit of mud so either wear old/water shoes or actually none at all unless you wanna be stepping stones or leaving your muddy shoes like we did.
The payoff is great though, as the waterfall is beautiful and well worth seeing. Bring a lunch or a snack or something, because you'll wanna stop when you get to the falls, so why not be recharging the batteries, right? It ends with some steep stairs down and then back up on the way back, so just be prepared for a fairly strenuous hike. -
Review from Jon F.
12/1/2011
Cool hike, very beginner friendly if you do the falls hike. The falls are cool, nothing too crazy but a fun picturesque place to hang out (and cliff jump if you'd like to risk injury / leptospirosis). There is a great view of Kaneohe and a bit of Kailua on the hike, and it appears there are a bunch of trails that break off into the woods for shortcuts / loops back to the road, though this may be illegal to use.
There are a few places where you have to cross the creek, so if you don't want to be sloshing around all day make sure you have waterproof boots and/or be light on your feet.
Also note that there is a sign missing near the beginning of the trail (the bare post is there). We went down walked along, then crossed the creek shortly after along with a couple of other hikers, however about 3/4 of the way down the trail we walked up to the back of a trail-marking sign. It was clear that many people take this way, but I'm not sure if there is a trail that continues on the other side of the creek.
I would recommend bug spray. Sunscreen might not be necessary, but it is a decent hike so never a bad idea and a bit of water is good too. Until right at the falls the mud was avoidable for my route, but I still would wear hiking boots (or junkie shoes) as a matter of practice. It had been raining for 3 days beforehand and was drizzling some of this day... there were big patches of mud but there was always dry trail.
I didn't notice much trash on the trail other than one beer can which I picked up (as usual). Please mind your trash and belongings if you do any hiking!
Apparently there is a trail that goes 10 miles total via some route here, but I'm not sure its the actual trail and may be illegal to use also.
I won't say that the trail isn't over-used and it shows in some places, however it is good for beginners or a more relaxing hike if you are a bit taxed. -
Review from Darnell H.
Ewa Beach, HI
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome hike! Expect to get wet. Really great for dogs since it is pretty nice and cool the whole way. A lot of big steps and pretty slippery though. Tons of spot to stop off the trail and rest. The falls are amazing. You can swim and climb a little bit for a about a 10-15 foot jump or climb really high and do a HUGE jump. We saw 2 people do it today and I could barely see where they were jumping from. Woulf have been nice to pack a lunch and get watch all the people jump.
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Review from Patra B.
I wasn't too keen on the idea of exerting energy on my vacation especially when I read that there were lots of mosquitoes. But somehow I got suckered into doing this hike anyway.
Since it had been raining on and off, the trail was very muddy and slippery. It was a very scenic hike, but it was very exhausting. The slippery trail took way more energy out of you. You had to concentrate on not slipping off the rocks and breaking an ankle.
Once we got to the waterfall, I wasn't very impressed. I was expecting a tall and gushing waterfall. But it was short and dinky. The water looked pretty cloudy, so we didn't bother going in or jumping off the waterfall. There are even signs about parasites in the water. Yeah..I was good on dry land.
We had the bug spray in our luggage, but forgot to grab it as we left the hotel. BIG mistake. We were eaten alive by the mosquitoes. Its been 5 months since I've done this hike, and I can still see faint marks from some of the bites.
Bug spray is a must!!!!!Listed in: Hawaii Adventures
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Review from Penelope W.
Rockville, MD
11/30/2011 2 photos
Now this is a place to hike! It's challenging yet has beautiful scenery! It is quite rewarding.
The whole hike took us about 2 hrs. We parked in the local neighborhood. Be cautious and read the street signs. We were fortunate to go early enough in the weekday and get a good parking spot.
During the initial hike up I refused to get my shoes dirty (I'm very protective!), thus slowing down the trip. We somehow missed the sign that half way into the trail, you have to cross the river. We eventually figured it out and had to turn around. Of course while crossing the river I accidently stepped in a ton of water. This is when I gave up keeping my shoes clean.
After the river, the trail gets harder with an incline and LOTS of mud. You're essentially going all the way up the mountain. Once you get to the top of the mountain, you're only 10 minutes away. Continue down. Once you're reached the buttom of the mountain, you'll find another river crossing. You have to go into it to continue on the path.
All in all, I came back covered in mud! But this was so worth it! -
Review from Inigo M.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2012
Easy hike with two stream crossings and two uphills. Small falls at trail end.
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Review from Jay L.
Honolulu, HI
11/6/2011
Amongst the many fun, adventurous, and exciting hiking trails on this island, Maunawili Falls is indeed one of those adventurous hiking trails that'll give you a run for your money with a special surprise waiting for you at the end of trail.
Having done this trail twice, it's safe to say this trail is considered as a moderate hiking trail that's not really too difficult to accomplish but it's still somewhat of a challenge when it comes to hiking at this trail. If you're in perfect shape and can handle the kind of environment that this hiking trail has to offer, then you shouldn't have any problem whatsoever but that doesn't mean you can get careless and do your own thing.
What you need to be aware of when hiking at this trail is that you're hiking through a rainforest so you can definitely expect the trail to be wet and muddy as you're walking along. It rains a lot especially in Maunawili so be prepared to face wet conditions if there's rain or no rain. Also be prepared to face the wrath of mosquitoes as you're hiking along the trail. There're mosquitoes everywhere on this trail so to prevent yourself from getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes, bring insect repellant and cover yourself with it from head to toe otherwise those mosquitoes will be all over you.
Bringing water is an important thing if you want to stay hydrated but what's even more important is to wear shoes. Whether it'd be old shoes you don't mind getting muddy or hiking shoes, it'll be your best bet when it comes to hiking at this trail because if you end up wearing your slippers or sandals, it's a good chance you'll lose it and have to end up walking the rest of the trail in barefoot and have muddy feet. I've seen many missing slippers and sandals all along the trail and always end up shaking my head in disbelief because of these ignorant fools wearing thinking that they can hike in those kinds of shoes rather than actual covered shoes.
To make it to the end of the trail, you'll have to cross stream after stream just to get to the other side of the trail and especially right after when it rains, the stream can be pretty big so watch your step as you're going across it. The trail starts to slowly gain elevation and you'll be able to see the sky and clouds as you were unable to do so as you were hiking through the forest earlier and you'll eventually see the ominous looking Ko'olau's. Now would be a good time to take some pictures before you trek down towards the waterfall at the end of the trail.
Trekking down towards the end of the trail where the waterfall is requires you to walk down a flight of stairs, which eventually you'll see an arrow pointing towards and continue walking down the stairs until you make it to the bottom and keep walking along where the rocks are scattered along and you'll then come upon the huge looking waterfall. Now the real fun begins.
The waterfall is such an awesome sight to see and you'll definitely wanna take as much pictures of the falls as you want to because of its awe-inspiring beauty and nature it shows. There're many local and tourist hikers alike jumping from the top or at mid-range from the top of the waterfall into the pond below. it looks really fun to do so but be advised that the water is contaminated. If you were to look closely at the water, it looks murky and it's filled with leptospirosis and pesticides, which is obviously the reason why the water is contaminated and having any open cuts on your body whatsoever will contaminate you and you'll have to seek medical attention immediately.
The hike at Maunawili Falls is worth it only if you make it to the end of the trail where the falls is but swimming in the contaminated water or jumping off from the ledge of the falls isn't really worth it unless you really don't care if the water is contaminated. For me, I just stop to take pictures and that's it. I could care less about wanting to go swimming in the contaminated water and get myself contaminated. Absolutely not worth it for someone like myself.
Overall, the hike is a lot of fun as you'll get the experience of hiking through a rainforest and get your shoes muddy. It does take quite some time just to make it from the beginning of the trail on Kelewina Road to the ending point of the trail where the falls is located but as long as you take your time, you'll definitely enjoy the hike and have a kick ass time.
Make sure to have company along with you if you're planning to go hiking at this trail; it can be easy to get lost by yourself if you have no one to accompany with you and that's the last thing you'd wanna do on especially at a trail like Maunawili Falls. -
Review from Kendal T.
Kailua, HI
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Right in my backyard. Well this hike I swear is one of the easiest to do, I don't know how ppl get lost in here cuz I always here the helicopters flying in at night. You can literally walk this thing in slippers. No worries cuz. You get to hop over the
stream like 3 times till you get there that's pretty cool and go up and down the mountains to see some nice views along the way. I thing that if you are a little bit more daring and wanna just go off the beaten path, literally you can follow the stream up and or down and you will get to the same waterfall.
Once at the waterfall it is overcrowded with locals and tourist watching the acrobatic of jumping off the waterfall doing backflips and the occasional bomb or suicide (not to get confused with death)
This place is famous cuz Jason mraz had shot his video 'I'm yours' there as well. And possibly from all this yelping. Lol. Good family hike. -
Review from Claudia M.
Fort Shafter, HI
Awesome hike, wouldnt let me check in bc i couldnt get service. But like i said awesome hike! Be prepared to get your shoes wet bc you will be crossing rivers (well thats what my friends and I did) but once you reach the end, there is an awesome waterfall where you can jump off of. The water is very deep at the bottom so there is no worries about touching the bottom when you jump off. There is a little cliff edge of the waterfall if you wanna jump from a higher distance. I was so scared to do it but it was cool watching others do it!!!!
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Review from Jamila J.
9/26/2011
"How did that hiker get up here in slippers and not get mud on his feet?"
Yes, first thing I thought when I reached the falls shoes covered in mud. And no, this guy had not gone in the pool at the falls. Still a mystery.
Fairly easily to find. Turn onto Auloa St. off the Pali Highway. There's a big sign and just follow the road back. There was plenty of parking in the residential area. Be kind to the residents, be quiet, don't litter.
Read the signs at the beginning of the trail head. Totally missed all the Ahupua'a (land districts) markers and the rock terraces. Should have known there would be some in the area, but there's a good bit of history on this hike.
The hike is by the side of a stream, so it's damp and muddy. Somewhat slippery, if you don't charge it, then you'll like be fine. Sure steady steps will keep your butt from finding the mud. Also, these mosquitoes are pretty stealth, so you will get bites even if you think you haven't felt any. If you are really bothered by bites wear some repellent. But the good thing is, it's covered for most of the hike.
The falls is very beautiful and crazy people will jump from high up. But it seems like the pool is really deep. I personally would not go in this water, it's way too murky. There are other great hikes to falls with clear fresh water. This one looked like a pool of leptospirosis waiting to happen. I'll pass.
It's a beautiful leisurely hike. May take you 2 hours tops if you take you time to savor the walk, even for those who are not avid hikers. If you need a challenge there's the much longer walk past the falls.
Glad I did it. -
Review from Jon M.
9/4/2011
This is a great hike with a great reward at the end. It's not too long a hike and not too difficult, around 40 minutes or so and only one stretch where there's some steep stairs that provide a stairmaster workout. The only difficulty comes in when it's wet. If it's either rained pretty recently or currently raining it can get very muddy. A lot of the hikes tucked into the mountain have this same issue though as it tends to rain a lot near the mountains.
But the mud isn't too much of a problem if you don't mind getting dirty. It's only a problem if you have brand new pristine shoes you were trying to keep squeaky clean. But then you probably wouldn't be hiking in them.
There are a few parts where you can cross the river to the other side and continue on a trail, but it also looks like the trail on your side continues. When you encounter those spots, you probably want to cross the river. A couple times we followed what looked like our continuing trail only to end up in a dead end of shrubbery.
There is also a spot where the trail branches to the right and it looks like maybe you should start walking in the river; definitely walk in the river. You're almost there at this point, but you need to cross the river stepping on stones or just stepping in the water (it's shallow and not fast flowing).
Once you finally arrive at Maunawili Falls you're rewarded with a beautiful little cove and about a 15-20 foot waterfall surrounded by 50+ foot cliffs. Take off your shoes and swim around in the cove a little bit, or jump off the waterfall. There's all different heights to jump from. The lowest is about 15 ft, then a 25 footer or so. And then some daring folks climbed around the left and right sides and jump from all the way on top of the 50+ foot cliffs. From where everyone is sitting you can't even see them, you just hear some cracking branches and they come flying out of the sky to plunge into the waterhole. I don't know how deep it is, but if they can safely jump from that high it must be pretty deep.
It was a great hike, we got some videos of the falls and us jumping, cooled off in the water, then hiked on back. We'll definitely do it again when we're in the mood for some waterfall jumping. -
Review from Amanda V.
Salt Lake City, UT
Easiest way to get to Maunawili Falls: Google "Royal Hawaiian (Formerly Luana Hills) Golf Course." When you turn off the highway onto Auloa Road, continue on the road until it forks. Take the left fork onto Maunawili Road. Continue as the road curves and becomes a small lane-less drive. You will shortly see a sign on the left that marks the path to the trail head. Park in front of the houses near the trail head and as always, be respectful of the residents by keeping noise to a minimum, and be sure to pack out all rubbish.
This beautiful hike on Oahu's east side is a quickie on a dry day. Hiking at a brisk pace, it took us about 45 minutes in and 30 minutes out. The clouds overhead made for a pleasant sun-free hike, and there was minimal mud (again, it had been dry the past few days). If you've ever been on a hike in the Kailua area, you know that the foliage is thick, a vivid green and intensely beautiful. Most of the time you're hiking through trees, but toward the end your view opens up and you can see the endlessly green mountains surrounding you.
If you haven't been on a hike in this area, Maunawili is a great start to what will surely become an addiction to exploring this beautiful part of the island. The trail is mostly flat with only a few steeper parts that have been groomed into stairs and packed with gravel to reduce the risk of slipping. The trail can be very muddy in places, even on a drier day, so it would be wise to wear sturdy shoes. Slippers slow you down, and with the mud and ample tree roots your feet will thank you for offering them protection.
It was fun to hike to the falls. On a couple occasions we had to hop over rocks as we traveled back and forth over the very small and very slow-moving creek. The falls is tucked behind a small pool at the end of the creek and it is quite a site to see! It's not a very tall falls, but as you can see from the photos, it's still very entrancing. The water is cool and refreshing. My husband showed off his masculinity by jumping from one of the 40 ft. launching points on either side of the small pool, which he estimated is about 8 or 9 ft. deep. For the height averse like myself, you can swim across the pool, climb up a few rocks and jump off a point that's about 6 ft. high.
Many Yelpers mentioned a high concentration of bugs, but I opted to go without protection, mostly because I didn't feel like spending my dollars on a can of bug spray. I might have gotten a bite or two, no biggie. We hiked on a weekday afternoon, and there were less than 10 people at the falls when we arrived.
Maunawili Falls is a wonderful hike with a stunning reward. Go already! -
Review from Louanne D.
Ewa Beach, HI
10/17/2011 3 photos
This is a great hike, a little bit of a challange when it is raining out or had rained. You need some really good hiking shoes or what i saw from the locals they were doing barefoot. The trail is not always marked or the signes are hard to find because they are across the river :)
If you plan on cliff diving make sure your stuff (phone, keys ect.) are on a safe dry place.
Totally going to do this hike again but going to cliff dive next time :) -
Review from Chelsea A.
Aiea, HI
10/16/2011
Beautiful trail, though I need to try it under more favorable conditions. Went when my parents came to town--they're in their late 50's but in good shape and so the trail down to the falls was pretty easy. That being said, there are definitely some spots where erosion has hit and could use some trail repair. Anyway, it's nature so that's to be expected to a degree.
The experience was dampened early on by a group of shitty 20 somethings dragging this poor old dog with arthritis through the mud and telling us she was 'just lazy'...And did they have water for the poor thing? Of course not. We wanted to slap her but figured the punishment of killing her family's dog would be bad enough.
So we get to the falls and it's beautiful. We all just want to dive in even though the water is colder than hell. It's refreshing, right? So there's some younger guys jumping into the water from a ledge on the right, gotta be 30 ft up. After jumping off the shorter ledge for awhile (maybe 10 ft? Not far, anyway) my dad gets the idea that he can do the 30 ft jump. Up he goes, scaling the side of the waterfall. Only trouble is, when he gets to the top he realizes he's 58 with a host of medical problems and this maybe wasn't the best idea, but there's no way down except to jump. Other guy jumping tells him to jump out and maybe bend his legs when he hits the water to avoid the rocks at the bottom. Gulp. Basically, he got psyched out, and jumped way wrong. Way wrong. Talking, compression fracture in his vertebrae and airlifted out of the falls, kind of wrong.
Granted, that's not the fault of the falls. I'm not a big proponent of a nanny state, constantly protecting us from our own stupidity. But judging by what the paramedics told us about the frequency of this happening, it's only a matter of time before someone more litigious points out that there's no warning signs on this state trail and sues Hawaii over it. Again, not really the fault of the trail, and it really is a nice little hike, once again ruined on the way out (only the old man got airlifted out to Castle, the rest of us had to hoof it to the car and his insurance card...) by the same poor old dog barely breathing and still laying in the mud. At least they'd stopped tugging on the leash but still hadn't gotten her any water. Some people shouldn't have animals, you know?
Gonna try this fall again in a couple weeks and hopefully it goes a lot better. -
Review from Tze M.
6/20/2011 1 photo
Great family hike! Highly recommend bringing kids. Wear clothes and shoes you don't mind tossing after. It is about a 3-mile round trip. Easy adventure.
I have never gone when it was muddy, but a few friends of mine went after the rains, they were knee-waist deep into mud. Some of my gf's are the outdoors kind of girls, but for my city friend, she was NOT having it. LOL!
My friend's daughter loves this hike! So when my friend asked what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said Maunawili hike with her aunties. I don't remember how long it took us round trip, but we stayed in there for a while. We did a picnic at the pool, jumped off the waterfall, explorer-ed the trails and did a trail clean up with the kids picking up rubbish along the way out. After all, we all live here in paradise, gotta teach the kids to respect the aina.Listed in: One With Nature!
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Review from William C.
Kailua, HI
11/27/2011
sketchy, slippery, muddy, crowded, with lots of trash. Lots of car break-ins. Haaaa
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Review from Fernando G.
Honolulu, HI
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
STOP COMPLAINING DAMN IT... :) ok, ok, i will !
had a "most incredible" time hiking into this place. had heard and read so much about it in the past -- even best, i thought i challenged myself to finding it all on my own. well, i am not that much of a dare devil. especially since i knew that the best part of the adventure was when in the company of friends. unbelievable !
yes. yes. yes. mud and more mud the place over. supersized mosquitos ? you got it ! plenty of them. hello ! you are in the foothills of the koolaus ... no wonder !
any how, my experience, although great -- it was fortified with a solemn return to civilization sans slippers. ouch ! :) that's right, after stepping into a non-conspicuous pool of mud, my sandal broke and so the rest is history. luckily i was already by the waterfall and the excitement to "jumping" off the cliff into the awesome and superbly refreshing waters helped me forget the troubles ahead.
my return to the car "sans slippers" wasn't in any manner a form of punishment; it was in fact humbling. my duty now "avid yelpers" is to politely remind you to being prepared -- never litter and fully enjoy this amazing oasis. you will love it ! :) -
Review from Janel L.
Portland, OR
7/6/2011
Love this hike. Took my husband and cousin on it back in May. More often than not take the forks to the left to get to the falls.
You park in residential neighborhoods, which may seem weird but its better than parking down the road and having to walk up the hills.
Go early in the morning, fewer people near the falls/swimming hole.
You will also find a lot of guys who think they can jump off the high hills but, again, more often than not, they will reach the top and just stand there while people down at the bottom are waiting to cross to the waterfall. A-(N)NOY-ING! -
Review from Jeanne H.
Honolulu, HI
5/8/2011
I went to this hike once, it's not that hard but it took my friend and I approx. 30-40 minutes. There's a shortcut that gets you to Sacred Falls in like 10 minutes, but I have no idea where that is. Let me tell you something: WEAR YOUR JUNK CLOTHES. It gets SUPER SUPER muddy, especially if it has been raining. Slippers I wouldn't recommend because it's super easy to slip... I fell twice. This hike WILL get you very dirty! Unfortunately, we couldn't find the falls (we went on the day of the Tsunami... so there weren't much people there) so we left the hike very dirty and muddy.
OH AND ALSO: BRING INSECT REPELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot stress how much you need to do this! I got like 10+ mosquito bites and I was itching the whole time!
I'm not a big fan of this hike because from the past experience, but I will definitely go back and see if I can find that damn Sacred Falls... -
Review from Kimberly T.
Honolulu, HI
4/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Summary: Muddy good fun! And bloody good crowded!
Wear water shoes, tabi, or other shoes that won't sog and squish their way through your comfort level. I opted to be the dork in the white longsleeve collared shirt, long black pants, and dorky water shoes. But guess who didn't get bit my mosquitoes? ME! And guess who frolicked about the upriver trek, crossed streams with ease, and didn't worry about stepping on anything pokey in the waterfall or river bed? ME!
So...guess who had to go to great lengths on the trail to sidestep mud? Oh, and who had to precariously jump from rock to slippery rock to cross streams? Oh oh and who also finally slipped into the water and hiked in squelchy wet heavy tennis shoes? THAT'S RIGHT! EVERYONE ELSE!
Don't worry if you think you're getting lost because you've taken a trail that's forked off, or came back on a trail that no way in hell looked like the same trail you went in on. It seems that there are a few different beaten paths to and from the waterfall because there are soooo many people hiking in and out every weekend. When we got to the waterfall it was totally packed with men, women, children, and dogs of all ages, shapes, and sizes. We did get to see a few dumb people jump in from realllly high up, scare the dogs, and declare "whew I hit the bottom really hard!"
WARNING (of a different sort than "slippery when wet"): If you park in the little lot and then walk up the road to the trailhead, WATCH OUT for the local version of Mr. Wilson! He is sitting in the dark in the 2nd story of his house, surrounded by barking dogs, cussing hostilely at every unlucky hiker who parks across from his house: "F****EN GET YOUR F**** DOG OFF MY F**** YARD BEFORE I CALL THE COPS, F*****ER. YOU ARE F****EN SIX F****EN INCHES FROM MY PROPERTY LINE. YEAH, YOU, F*****ER!"
The thing was, we were walking on opposite side of the street from his yard . . . and when we finished the hike, 2.5 hours later, he was STILL sitting in the dark next to his upstairs window, just waiting to cuss out the next poor victims. So, you've been warned, don't let him get to you and shake up your mood for a fun hike!
Minus a star for the overcrowding and the crazy property owner near the parking lot.Listed in: Dog Friendly, Hi-Ho! It's Hiking? We Go!
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Review from Stephen S.
Kailua, HI
3/29/2011
Great hike. Not terribly long or difficult, but no doubt will be muddy and slippery, so be careful.
Make sure you climb up above the first waterfall and check out the second waterfall and other small swimming holes.
Definitely worth the trek if you feel like cliff-jumping. Most people make the 10-15 jump, but I've also see people climb up the sides and pencil in from 40-60 ft up. Just check the depth first - it's a waterfall and the rocks move around. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Millbrae, CA
5/11/2011
AHHHHH!!!!!!! BEST and worst thing that has ever happened to my life!!!
(exaggeration..)
BEST: We hiked this 3 hr roundtrip trail in the mud and slight rain in our sandals and everyday clothes. We didn't expect this hike to be through the jungle! It sounds as cool as the hike was. I LOVE hiking and this was the best hike yet. It was dangerous yet adventurous. You had to be on edge yet you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and nature all around you 360. I bet it'd be more enjoyable on a sunny day, but the rain made it so much more riskay. I felt like I was on the show Lost or Survivor!! (Definitely not a hike on wet weather days for older people :))
The hike wasn't too bad, but the best part was reaching the waterfall! Yes, it was a small waterfall and if you climb up the rocks, you see another small part of the same waterfall...but my gosh, the best part was CLIFF DIVING. They even have a rope set up if you want to use it.
Cliff diving is something you just see in magazines or on TV but we got to live it forreals!!! I felt so alive jumping off those rocks. It was amazing! It was so fun just being with your friends and doing something out in nature, experiencing life together (corny yay!).
Definitely one of the best moments in my adult life.
WORST: WEAR BUG REPELLENT. We didn't realize all the mosquitoes around since it was so muddy and we were trying to be careful. HOWEVER, we all got back to the hotel covered in bites!!!! I got 21 bites on my legs and 4 on my arms and back. My friends got about the same, finding some bites even on their butt and face. Crazy mosquitoes looking for a party! I've been waking up in the middle of the night wanting to chop my legs off. It's really that bad. SO, moral of the story, USE SPRAY.
I love you, Maunawili Falls. Don't let anyone give you less stars. Maunawili FTW. -
Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2010
Dear Future Hikers Possibly Interested In Bravely Tackling the Maunawili Falls,
DON'T WEAR CONVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wasn't planning on hiking terrain like this. In fact, I never hike terrain like this or really do much hiking in general. This was made apparent by the copious amounts of sweat exiting my body and of course the beet red flush across my face and sopping wet hair. I know, I know, pretty sexy huh?
Anyhoo, not really knowing what to expect, I simply threw on a pair of pants I wouldn't mind ruining and my Cons, since it was either those or my flip flops. As we started walking in, I wasn't worried. What's a little mud gonna do, it's all pretty flat anyway and wow, it's all so pretty and gorgeous and naturetastical.
Then the incline started. At first, no biggie. I was actually pretty proud of how well I was doing and foolishly started wondering who would be the first of our group to bite it. Duh, that would be you, Stephy. As we crossed a patch of water and tried to balance on the slippery rocks, Splash! Yep, that would be my foot. Awesome. Wet shoes hiking! Yay.
Oh look, a really steep incline now. Sweet, this should be fun. Step up, more steps, more steps, a few more steps, what's that, more steps, and what, there's even more steps up...Jesus Christ, how far up is this anyway?!? After almost passing out a few times and getting smacked in the eye with heat seeking missile branches, we finally made it to the top. Yay! From there we hiked down a very slippery path and I was ready to see a waterfall!
Oh wait, what's that? We went the wrong way and now we have to climb back up the steep hill? Ugh!! Helicopter, please?
As I made it back up the hill, I was reciting many internal curse words and yes, it was beautiful, but dammit all, this is a friggin work out and I'm supposed to be on vacation, not sweating like a wilder beast after a rough night of heavy partying!!!
Finally we got back up to the top and started to head down a really muddy slope. This is where things went south for me. After almost biting it a few times, but recovering not so gracefully in the partial splits, I finally ate shit...big time. So big in fact, that my elbow swelled up to the size of a golf ball. Hematoma, party of one!
Luckily we were with a nurse, who knew what to do and that was push very hard on said hematoma and watch as tears rolled down my sweaty, red cheeks. Awesome. Not wanting to keep Mother Nature unamused, I managed to fall a few more times, once landing on and twisting my left knee and the other smacking down on my left thigh. Oh the joy. But we finally made it to the waterfall and it was very cool.
By the end of the hike, I managed to jack up my knee, pull my groin muscles, destroy my elbow and probably lost 48 pounds of sweat, so I guess there were advantages.
So, lessons learned, don't hike in Converse when muddy terrain is the main course and if you are as out of shape as I am, know that this isn't the easiest hike going in. If you are in tip top workout shape, hey congrats, you will do just fine, but for the rest of the humans, be warned!
Okay, I need to go ice my body...again.Listed in: Hawaii The Beautiful
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Review from Luanna Y.
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know what's a moronic thing to do? Wearing WHITE shorts while doing this hike!!! But that's exactly what I did, lol. Woooo, go me!
People weren't lying when they said this hike is muddy, MUDdy, MUDDY!!! Over half way to the falls, I got over-confident and slipped... falling FLAT on my butt. I thus walked around with half a brown booty for the entire rest of the day.
But the hike itself, although extremely messy, was really fun! An easy hike in the sense that there isn't long stretches of big incline or anything... but it is still challenging in that you are going to be jumping around from rock to rock, trying not to slip, and avoiding mud. You'll also be crossing some small streams here and there. I totally didn't expect to be able to do something like this on my trip to Hawaii - the surroundings were so LUSH, green, and gorgeous! Beautiful place to take pictures and just a wonderful way to get away from the city environment and experience something besides the typical beach/tanning that everyone does.
The waterfall itself was not that impressive. But it was just a fun way to end the hike and the pool below was a convenient way to clean off the mud and just wade around and relax. Little fish come by and suck on your toes, lol. There are also rocks you can jump off of. Definitely colder water than the ocean, though, so be prepared for that.
Some helpful tips:
1. Bring bug spray. I covered myself with OFF but still got bitten 3 times.
2. I would not wear flip flops unless you really don't mind mud or have pretty good balance, since it can get quite slippery in some areas. I saw some locals doing this as well as some tourists. All ended up with feet covered in mud.
3. LIkewise, do NOT wear new shoes. I saw a tourist girl wearing gleaming white, beautiful new tennis shoes. I'm pretty positive those shoes will never be truly white again. Wear either old hiking shoes that you wouldn't mind getting dirty or even shoes you could just throw away if you don't want to deal with the clean up afterwards.
4. Do NOT wear anything white... unlike retarded me. ;)
5. Come early if you want the pool/waterfall area to have clearer/cleaner water. Later in the day, the waters get all churned up and everything gets pretty cloudy.
6. Most of all... have fun.. embrace the mud and keep a good attitude if you happen to fall on your butt! -
Review from Eric B.
Dubuque, IA
10/14/2011
Great hike! Even on a dry day expect lots of mud and slippery spots. Wear good shoes!
Helpful info from a local we met on the trail: When the trail appears to cross the stream (aka: there is a trail on the other side), take it! (even if the trail on your side still looks OK). This should happen three times.
***After the third cross, you come to a major fork in the trail. You can take the low trail left (which seems to make the most sense, as it goes closer to the river) or you can take the high trail right, which seems to head away from the river. Both trails will take you to the falls, but taking the high trail on the right will avoid the nastiest, muddiest, and most difficult section of the trail. If you are in for the challenge, go for the low trail! If you are with a family or just want to see the falls, take the high trail and save yourself a lot of mud, stairs, and angst. :)
The high trail will meet up with the other trail. After taking a right at the fork, follow the trail until you come to a T. Go left at the T (taking a right will land you in someone's driveway... you can tell if you've done it incorrectly). When you get to the top of the hill, the trail will fork again- keep to the right into the larger section of clearing. You are now back on the primary trail! Down one more big staircase, walk up the stream bed, and you are there!
We would like to thank Girl-with-Dog for this helpful trail information-- she saved us from a giant mudbath! -
Review from Gina B.
Honolulu, HI
9/11/2011
My bf & I went on this beautiful hike yesterday. It took us four hours to complete! Lol. We took our pup along with us & we also saw other dogs strutting by w their owners too. Definitely muddy & slippery but thankfully no falls...thanks to my babe who bought me rubber boots & guided me thru :) Loved the stream & sound of the waterfall as we came closer to it. We didnt swim but we enjoyed watching ppl diving into the water w crazy splashes! Lol
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Review from Maddie F.
Seattle, WA
11/25/2011
I did this hike about 6 years ago when I lived on Oahu one summer and loved it. I remembered a picturesque spot so when I made my way back to the island recently I wanted to share the experience. Unfortunately it was not exactly what I remembered. The first time I went the water was blue and more lagoon-like whereas this time it was grey and murky. We didn't even want to make the jump because if it and of course the leptosorosis (sp?) sign wasn't exactly encouraging either. I was also disappointed in the amount of trash leading up to the waterfall and once we got there. Empty beer cans, soggy socks and left behind shoes were strewn all about and I just hadn't that image in my head from the time before. The waterfall still looked pretty cool and I was glad we made the trek because it was something fun to do other than slothing it on the beach, but all in all I was disappointed and left wondering if I had pumped it up in my mind and it actually wasn't that cool when I went 6 years ago or if it had in fact gone down hill.
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Review from Soul i.
Long Beach, CA
9/4/2010
We park and start our trek towards Maunawili Falls. It starts off dry, and my 4 year old niece expresses her disappointment -- she wants mud. Well then, the mud goddess must have heard her because there was plenty of sticky slippery mud in the latter part of the trail! (Note: don't wear white - it will be stained brown forever!)
The hike took us longer for us (3-4 hrs) than most groups (1-2 hrs). It was my niece, my 2 year old son, and myself. Even though we had a lot of fun, I wouldn't recommend this hike to other parents with small children in the 2-5 year old age range, but definitely older children. I ended up carrying my 30 lb toddler majority of the time. It seemed like every mud puddle beckoned for a jumping break which extended the hike even more and more. And then we had to of course hang out at the waterfall and swimming hole for a bit when we finally got there. Very peaceful and relaxing... or as peaceful as it can be with two small kids in the middle of nature...
Ultimately, the length was a bit much for my niece who was miserable on the hike back, as was my back and neck from hauling my son. The water bottles, bag of almond, cranberries, and sunflower seeds, and breaks helped us get through it. The kids didn't care but the plants and view were absolutely beautiful. It was a much needed and pleasant escape from urban living.
Very important -- take bug spray with you! I left mine in the car thinking that initial application would last... uh bad decision, I ended up with 23 bites.Listed in: Visiting O'ahu
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Review from Jamie M.
Daly City, CA
5/28/2010
Wow. Reading the other comments from people make me think that they didn't actually go to this waterfall.
Let me explain:
The "entrance" is hidden in the way far back of a suburb. Parking isn't hard to find, but there are no signs, and the signs that do exist, are covered in graffitti rendering them useless.
The whole hike is through the woods, and it starts out alright, but then it get's really muddy and super slippery. We helped a lot of people up, and I even fell myself. You have to cross a river a few times to get to the waterfall, but after an hour of hiking, we asked some people on their way back how much longer and they said we were barely half way. We never made it.
From what it sounds like, it's not much to see anyways. Save your time and check out the local, famous beaches close by (waimanalo) -
Review from Kelly J.
1/23/2011
During the terrible weather streak that occurred on Oahu a week or two ago was when a visiting friend decided he wanted to hike this hike. It probably didn't help that it was continuing to rain while we hiked. This made the trail even more muddy and slippery.
I actually made it through the trail relatively clean, until my foot sunk ankle deep in mud. Additionally, we figured out the end part of the trail had been submerged into the risen water levels of the river. So my foot got muddy but then clean again.
We found the falls at the end of the [submerged under the river] trail, GUSHING with water. He was brave enough to attempt a climb up the first waterfall we see, only to find another one up top! So although I didn't see it for myself, he said he was a very tranquil and nice waterfall up top.
I'd rather pay to hike Manoa Falls again.Listed in: Hawaii Hikes
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Review from Gloria S.
Honolulu, HI
6/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am not reviewing the falls portion of the trail, I am reviewing the 10 mile Maunawili Trail, which goes pass the waterfall. So, with that disclaimer identified... on to my review...
If you are looking for a good 10 mile walk/jog in the park or looking to do some mountain biking, this is the ideal trail!!! This trail begins at the Pali Highway and ends in Waimanalo and weaves through the base of the Ko`olau Mountain Range on the windward side. On the day we went 80% of the trail was hot and humid, we finally got some breeze towards the end! Not a lot of major hills on this hike, in fact most of the trail is fairly leveled with some exceptions, no crazy cliff drop offs or ropes either! Most of the trail is shaded with trees, which I was happy about, since I forgot to bring my hat! From start to finish it took us about 5 hours to complete, we had very few stops!
I got a chance to see various birds in the area! Pretty and amazing!
If you decide to go on this hike, here are some quick notes and tips:
1.) Visit the following site to get a free print out of the trail, warnings, directions, etc... http://hawaiitrails.eh...
2.) Bug spray
3.) Walking stick (especially if you do not have good traction on your shoe.)
4.) Comfortable hiking shoes...
5.) Minimum of 2 Liters of water
6.) Snacks (Take your trash out please)
7.) Friends (they keep you sane after the 5th mile, when you start to forget why you decided to go on this insane walk in the park)
8.) Iphone had certain spots where I could not get reception.
9.) Recommend having a car at the end! Unless you want to walk back and make it a 20 mile journey!!! 8-0
10.) binoculars to see the birdies!! -
Review from Chad Y.
10/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Maunawili Falls hike is sure to please the hike novices and the adventurers alike. it isn't a hard hike by any means nor does it have any challenges, but it certainly does get your heart rate up and gives you a jungle experience that is quite an adventure.
Parking can sometimes be a pain since you are in a residential neighborhood, but be nice to the owners there and park legally and not be a pain to them. If you can't find parking along the main strip, just go down one of the side streets and you are bound to find a spot.
The trail itself is pretty well done, although there are moments where you think you can be lost. If you ever feel that way, just back track and make sure you follow the signs and the clear markings that line the trail.
The falls at the end of the trail is fairly simple, but offers a pool at the end that people tend to dive into. I didn't, cause I think the water is a little dirty, but you can do it and it is a refreshing change when you hike all the way in! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Oakley, CA
4/28/2011 2 photos
Great hike! If you go, go barefoot. I did! The trail is muddy and VERY slippery. I saw several hikers fall on their asses (my hiking companion included). Makes for a good laugh.
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Review from Elizabeth N.
Honolulu, HI
4/21/2011
Did this for the first time several weeks ago. Easy hike, although the mud and slippery rocks (when you had to cross the river) proved more tricky than difficult. GO EARLY. We were the first ones on the trail on a Saturday at around 645a-7am. Worth it, because by the time we were making our way back, we encountered 20 people (different groups). The waterfall area is pretty small so sharing it with 20 folks would feel crowded in my opinion.
I have no pros/cons for this one, as hikes are just great, especially when there's a lovely waterfall at the end. However, I personally wouldn't have swam in the waterfall pool, it looked scurvy and mossy.
Tips:
-It was super, super muddy (and from what I read, seems to always be!) so wear hiking boots, tennis shoes with good tracking or go barefoot. But again, I wouldn't go barefoot, there's lots of rocks, twigs, roots, critters etc out there.
-Go early or on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowd
-Bring bug spray, for those are sensitive to mosquitos
-Empty your bladder before you go, there's no port-a-potties or anything out there. Bushes if you really need.
-I did see some keiki out there but I personally would bring 5yr old and up variety. You could bring a 3-4yr old but they would slow you down as you'd have to really help them out or carry them through some areas.
I don't think I would have any kid under 2 in a back pack either because it was just so muddy and slippery, just not safe to have baby on your back at that time. Everyone in our group had a slip or fall or unintentional foot in the river at least once. -
Review from Camille D.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2010
REALLY muddy when it rains. I always start from the beginning (no shortcuts) to get a full workout :) Hahaha.
It's really an adventure to get to the falls, and an adventure when you get there and see how far back the falls actually is.
Water is always freezing balls.
Difficult when the stairs are muddy. -
Review from Justin B.
Kailua, HI
1/20/2011
I LOVE THIS HIKE! Making the trip is well worth the privilege of jumping off the waterfall at the end.
Warning: if you expect to get there and have privacy forget it! This is a popular hike and locals love to go there, have a couple beers, and swim. If quiet is your thing there is a church in the neighborhood at the trail-head.
