Hiking to Maunawili Falls - it's a journey
Maunawili Falls is tucked away deep
in the Maunawili Valley
below the towering
Pali Cliffs. A fun Oahu hiking trail will lead you up and back
down the hillside to this local Oahu waterfall.
The
adventurous 2 mile Maunawili Falls Trail is marked and maintained by
the city & county. But don’t kid yourself…you will still be
walking over tree roots and hopping
rocks to cross the streams.
Reach
the bottom of the trail and you’ll find a Hawaiian waterfall oasis
playground, where some dare to swim and jump off steep rocks into the
mountain pool!
Hike Details
Elevation 1000 Feet
Length 3 Miles Round Trip
Duration 90 to 120 Minutes
Terrain Hills, Stream, Loose Dirt, Mud
Difficulty Medium
Disclaimer – all Oahu hikes have different challenges and hazards that can be dangerous and may cause injury. Know your fitness and skill level before embarking on any hike. Stay on trails and obey posted signs. The information on this site is for your reading pleasure only. Hike at your own risk.
Hiking Maunawili Falls Trail
NOTE: This Oahu trail closed to the public starting in July 2021 and will remain closed for approximately 2 years. Maintenance, repairs and trail alterations will take place at during this time. There are also plans to add a parking lot and restrooms in this area. Please look at alternative Oahu trail to hike in the meantime... Maybe consider Manoa Falls that just finished a beautiful 2 year renovation.
The Mauanwili Falls Trail starts off in a quiet neighborhood
surrounded by beautiful homes. There is a small descriptive sign
at the bend in the road that takes you to a pathway to start your
journey.
The initial path takes you in about 100 yards before you need to
turn up into the hillside. You’ll find a posted map and
description of the trial at this juncture.
Be prepared to walk on eroded soil
tree roots and muddy areas,
as the case for most Oahu
waterfalls! The trail progressively
climbs upward, traveling across overgrown tree roots, up man made
hillside steeps, and a few rock boulders.
This Oahu hiking trail levels out a
bit in a area where you begin to follow the stream. This is where
the fun begins as the trail leads you through a couple
stream crossings.
Be prepared to get your shoes wet, or play a daring game of leap frog. Luckily for me, my hopping and balancing skills kept my feet dry!
Make a final 100 yard stair climb
up to the top,
and you’ll reach a plateau with nice views of the valley and
surrounding jungle. Take a moment and enjoy the scene before
starting your decent down to the Maunawili Falls.
Make sure to take the trail leading down verses continuing onward,
as some hikers do. This is a distinctive area on the trail as you
climb out of the jungle for the first time with the beautiful distant
views.
There is a raise metal platform bar that stands out in this area that could be used for leaning or stretching on. Take your time descending down to the bottom. Some of the steps are large and a little tricky to scale down. Congratulations…you made it!
The Waterfall
Reaching the Maunawili Falls is
quite rewarding! You’ll need to cross over a few boulders
and the stream one more time to get to the waterfall pool area.
The waterfall is a 20 ft trail of
water that runs down an angled rock before cascading into the
mountainside pool.
Although it is not advised to swim or jump off the rocks into this pool, you’ll find lots of daring folks forgoing this warning and taking the plunge.
There are 2 ways to get to the top of the waterfall. You could either swim up to the falls, where I’ve watched folks climb up the side of the waterfall, or take the continuing trail that climbs around and put you on top of the Maunawili waterfall.
For those seeking a larger thrill can climb even higher to a ledge on the side that sets up a good 30ft jump into the pool. The trail located across the stream leads up to this area, where you’ll also find a second waterfall as well.
Maunawili Falls Tips
Don’t start too late – this adventure can easily take you a few hours, as you’ll want to hang out once you reach the waterfall. The foliage is thick in some parts and gets dark quickly once the sun goes down.
Be safe – while swimming in the mountain pool and jumping off the rock into it can be a lot of fun, there are a few risks to consider. Running mountain water from the streams and rivers could be contaminated with leptospirosis bacterial disease that could be hazardous if swallowed or infect an open wound.
Climbing and jumping off the rocks can also be hazardous and dangerous for many reasons, including slipping and falling onto the rocks, or creating injury by landing wrong into the water.
Water shoes – consider bringing a pair of water shoes to better navigate through the streams and pool area…if entering.
Parking – You can take advantage of street parking alongside the homes in the neighborhood. Make sure to park legal and be courteous to residents, by keeping the noise down and not littering.
What to bring
- Water
- Snacks
- Mosquito Repellent
- Water Shoes
- Sun Screen
3 More Amazing Waterfalls
Here are 3 additional Oahu Waterfalls that you might want to consider hiking to after this one...
Getting to Mauniwili Falls - Currently Closed for Maintenance
- From Waikiki, take the H-1 Hwy north
- Merge onto the Pali Hwy Hwy 61
- Pali Hwy turns into the Kalanianaole Hwy
- Follow it down and take the 2nd Auloa Rd entrance
- Take Auloa road until it intersects with Kelwina St.
- At this point you should see the Maunawili Falls Trail sign
- Park legally above in the neighborhood
Mauniwili Falls Map
Maunawili Road Map
In the Area
The downtown Kailua area is just a few miles down the road.
Kailua is a cute small town with lots of new and old shops and restaurants worth
visiting.
Kailua Restaurants
Fuel
up right before you start your hike to the falls. Kailua particularly
has some of the best breakfast spots on the Oahu, including Boots &
Kimos, Cinnamons, and Moke’s Bread and Breakfast. All 3 places
feature signature pancakes and other notable dishes!
Lanikai Juice
If you
are thirsty and feel like living like a celebrity, than stop in at
Lanikai Juice. You just might bump into a famous TV or movie star, like
from the Lost or Hawaii 5-0 cast. Lanikai Juice is known for healthy
juices and unique juice bowls with toppings.
Lanikai Beach & Kailua Beach
There is no better way to finish off your long hike, than with taking a
dip in some of the most beautiful ocean waters on the island.
Both Lanikai Beach and Kailua
Beach Park are incredible Oahu beach
choices worth visiting…and are only 10 minutes down the road.
Kayak to the Mokulua Islands
It’s
amazing enough to just step onto Kailua beach, but paddling out gives
you a whole new perspective. Not to mention observing the crystal clear
waters below as you journey out.
This is a special 2 hour adventure that you must plan ahead and sign up before arriving at the beach. It includes transportation, lunch, snorkel gear, life jacket, dry bag, and caters to beginners to more advanced kayakers.
Pali Lookout
You’ll need to travel across the Pali Hwy to get to Maunawili
Falls. Take a moment to check out the iconic Pali Lookout.
It’s a point of significance in the Hawaiian history, where King
Kamehameha conquered his enemies. Not to mention the Windward side views are some of the best on the island…!
Return to Best of Oahu Homepage
Aloha & Enjoy!
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