Hiking the Waimano Falls Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.5 km
Elevation Change: 550 ft. / 168 m
The Waimano Falls Trail, also called the Waimano Pools Trail, in the central Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu is one of the island’s best-kept secrets and can most similarly be compared with the Kalauao Falls Trail off the ʻAiea Loop, just to the south.
By this, I mean that Waimano Falls is not a designated or maintained trail. In fact, it is one of two popular adventures off the Mānana Ridge Trail in Pearl City, which is the only maintained trail that begins from this trailhead at the top of Komo Mai Drive.
That said, the Waimano Falls Trail is a steep and typically very muddy adventure that descends off Mānana Ridge to the hidden waterfall. This means the trail’s difficulty should not be judged solely by the 2.8-mile (4.5 km) roundtrip distance, as the steep elevation change can make the hike more challenging than it may initially seem—especially if it has recently rained!
Waimano Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Waimano Falls Trail is located at the very top of Komo Mai Drive in Pearl City, the same trailhead that also serves Mānana and ʻIliahi Ridge.
It is for this reason that finding parking near the trailhead can be difficult—especially on a weekend or holiday!
Google Maps Directions: Waimano Falls Trailhead
Hiking the Waimano Falls Trail
The Waimano Falls Trail begins at the Mānana Ridge Trailhead at the top of Komo Mai Drive and follows the Mānana Ridge Trail for the first 0.9 miles (1.4 km), where it then branches off the ridge to begin the steep descent to the waterfall.
The Mānana Ridge Trail to Waimano Falls begins on a paved service road for a little more than 0.4 miles (0.6 km), which will abruptly come to an end when the road reaches the Pacific Palisades Reservoir, often referred to as the 'water tank.'
This first set of power lines is not the beginning of ʻIliahi Ridge, but there are beautiful views just up the hill off the trail!
Lower ʻIliahi Ridge-Mānana Ridge Junction
After about 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the Mānana Ridge Trail splits with the ʻIliahi Ridge Trail, the loop located on the ridge to the north.
Once here, go straight to stay on the Mānana Ridge Trail toward Waimano Falls, but if you are interested in learning more about this completely separate day hike off Mānana Ridge, I encourage you to check out my separate article for the trail linked below.
Read My Separate Post: ʻIliahi Ridge Trail
This is the Pacific Palisades Reservoir, and it’s where the paved service road comes to an end.
This is the last power line on Mānana Ridge before the Waimano Falls junction up ahead.
Within the final 0.3 miles (0.5 km) of the Waimano Falls junction, native plants on Mānana Ridge start to become more frequent, like this ʻĀkia among many others.
At this and the following split, it doesn’t matter which direction you decide to go, as both sides meet again shortly ahead.
Just before the junction for Waimano Falls, the Mānana Ridge Trail comes to this split, where it is possible to go either way to continue up Mānana Ridge.
However, to continue on the Waimano Falls Trail, go right to follow the much easier path alongside the hill, as indicated by the arrow.
Waimano Falls-Mānana Ridge Junction
After roughly 0.9 miles (1.4 km), the Mānana Ridge Trail finally reaches the split for the true Waimano Falls Trail.
Once here, go right to leave the top of Mānana Ridge to begin the steep descent toward the Waimano Stream below.
Read My Separate Post: Mānana Ridge Trail
Immediately after leaving Mānana Ridge, the Waimano Falls Trail begins a roughly 550-ft. (168 m) descent to the waterfall.
That said, the descent starts off gradual, but this quickly changes after the first 0.1 miles (0.2 km).
This is where the Waimano Falls Trail abruptly begins the steep, near-constant descent to Waimano Falls below.
These steep sections between Mānana Ridge and Waimano Falls are challenging both because of the descent and climb back out are so rapid, and the trail is typically very muddy and slippery after it has recently rained.
This is why some hikers may want to bring trekking poles—especially during the wetter winter months!
This hard left turn is a nice sign that the first steep section is over, but there are many more to come before Waimano Falls.
At this split, hikers have the option to either go straight down the steeper, more direct path or right down a set of switchbacks to reach the same point.
I chose to go straight on the more direct path.
This is where both paths come back to together at the bottom of the hill.
This small stream crossing is dry more often than not, and it’s the only one before the Waimano Falls Trail reaches the waterfall.
These sections through the dense Strawberry Guava forest are often very wet and muddy.
I mention this because a beautiful, sunny day like this is just as common as an overcast, rainy day. This is why I like to say, prepare for the worst and hope for the best!
This broad-leafed plant in the photo below is called Ti, or Kī, and it’s one of many Hawaiian canoe plants found along the Waimano Falls Trail.
To add a little more context, canoe plants in Hawaiʻi are species that were brought by the original Polynesians when the islands were first discovered, allowing those that arrived first an easier way to establish reliable food sources and grow materials, as well as obtain other essentials for daily life and cultural practice.
The view at this steep drop is looking up Waimano Stream toward the Waimano Ridge Trail, where the ridge trail crosses the stream and begins ascending the switchbacks on the ridge immediately thereafter.
After the view, the Waimano Falls Trail continues its rapid descent and re-enters the Strawberry Guava forest, which it will only emerge from one more time before reaching the Waimano Pools at the end.
This drop is one of the steepest and more exposed down-climbs on the entire Waimano Falls Trail, as the most direct route leads directly over an exposed rocky ledge.
That said, it can be easier to stay far to the right or left in order to have something to grab onto.
This is ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi, or Mountain Apple, and it’s another canoe plant, just like Kī.
However, ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi can actually be eaten when the fruits are ripe, typically in late summer and into the fall.
Waimano Falls-Waimano Ridge Junction
With just under 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to go, the Waimano Falls Trail splits with a connector that leads over to the Waimano Ridge Trail.
That said, this is not a route I recommend following because it’s very easy to get turned around on the largely untrafficked section between the Waimano Falls Trail and the state-managed Waimano Ridge Trail on the other side of the gulch.
All that to say, go left to stay on the much more popular Waimano Falls Trail to continue hiking to the pools.
Read My Separate Post: Waimano Ridge Trail
After the split for Waimano Ridge, there are no more junctions before Waimano Falls.
The trail simply continues down to the stream, which should start to become louder and louder from this point on!
This is the view looking toward the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork of the Waimano Stream, with the Waimano Ridge Trail beyond.
Once the Waimano Falls Trail re-enters the Strawberry Guava forest, it will stay beneath the forest canopy for the rest of the hike to the Waimano Pools.
This is the beginning of the final steep descent to Waimano Falls, just down the hill!
At the bottom of the hill, there’s either the option to go right to hike down to Lower Waimano Falls or left to reach the taller Upper Waimano Falls.
This is the final drop to Lower Waimano Falls, which is very steep and often very slippery!
Lower Waimano Falls
After roughly 1.4 miles (2.3 km), the trail reaches the North Fork of the Waimano Stream, where Waimano Falls is located.
That said, Waimano Falls is a rain-fed waterfall, meaning that the falls may be anything from stagnant pools to beautiful waterfalls, depending on the weather.
From the Lower Falls to Upper Waimano Falls, there’s a short, somewhat exposed path between the two.
The final descent to Upper Waimano Falls is also very steep, even steeper than the drop shown above to get to Lower Waimano Falls!
This is why it may or may not be easier to simply walk up the stream from the top of the Lower Falls, but this is certainly subjective based on ability.
Upper Waimano Falls
Upper Waimano Falls is a roughly 35-ft. (11 m) waterfall and marks the end of the Waimano Falls Trail.
That said, Upper Waimano Falls is significantly more shallow than the deep pool at the base of the Lower Falls—which is to say, don’t jump!
Upper Waimano Falls is better enjoyed simply by sitting around in the shallow pool and enjoying the sun, but not jumping.
Native Plants on the Waimano Falls Trail
The Waimano Falls Trail is a fairly low-elevation trail by Hawaiʻi standards, which translates to the vast majority of plants being non-native, invasive species. This is even more true as the trail descends into the gulch off Mānana Ridge.
However, there are a few native plants that can be seen along the hike, notably along the ridge and on the descent before the Strawberry Guava. These include ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Koa, Uluhe, ʻIliahi, Palaʻā, ʻĀkia, and Uki, as well as Hau and Māmaki once the Waimano Falls Trail reaches the lower, wetter parts of the gulch.
That said, if you are curious about trying the native Hawaiian Māmaki tea, I kindly ask that you don’t harvest Māmaki from our native forests but, instead, buy from one of the local reputable vendors, such as those listed below.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
