Likeke Falls

Likeke Falls (not Likelike Falls as I had previously thought) is a pretty 15ft waterfall that is a well-hidden gem known mostly to locals as far as I was concerned.

But it was well worth the effort to get to this waterfall and the locals seemed to agree given the handful of them (and even tourists) we saw doing this hike. This was surprising since there were no signs indicating the presence of this waterfall. In fact, I thought we were fortunate to have a local who happened to be hiking this trail show us the route as we had plenty of head-scratching moments on our own.

During my research, I learned that the Likeke Trail was created in the 1960s by the late Richard H. Davis. Even the Hawaiian word "Likeke" meant Richard. He was a longtime O'ahu hiker and member of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, and he scouted numerous other trails on this island. But maintaining this particular trail was his personal project until his final years.

The nearly 3.5-mile roundtrip hike to Likeke Falls was one of the more unusual hikes that we've done. From the Pali Lookout car park, we walked towards Pali Lookout. Then, we followed the paved road (Old Pali Road) downhill to the right past the gate for about 3/4-mile. That was when dense vegetative overgrowth covered most of the road.

From this point, we left the road and started to follow an apparent fork alongside the noisy and "new" Pali Highway (Hwy 61). The trail then disappeared beneath the graffiti-laden concrete walls of Hwy 61, requiring a descent on a set of rickety wooden steps. After descending the wooden steps, we then had to squeeze between the concrete walls supporting the Kailua-bound lanes of Hwy 61.

Once we emerged from the highway’s structural underbelly, the weedy trail widened as it went underneath the Honolulu-bound lanes of Hwy 61. Eventually, we regained the normal hiking trail on the other side of the freeway and started to walk beneath the tall columns supporting the highway. Eventually, the trail veered away from the noisy highway, and rejoined the weedy pavement of Old Pali Road.

The trail continued downhill on Old Pali Road to the junction with A'uloa Road, which was closed to vehicular traffic in this area. That was when we saw a trail leaving the pavement at a hairpin turn between the end of a concrete railing and a power pole. I believe this was supposed to be the official start of the Likeke Trail.

At first the trail ascended several switchbacks before undulating through a humid, jungle-like canopy. We went straight at a four-way intersection and then the trail entered into a stone road with grass growing between them. Here, we took a left turn to leave this road and eventually (probably about 10 minutes) cross right in front of Likeke Falls. This was the turnaround point for us.

Note that if you're real observant, you might be able to spot the Upside Down Falls along this stretch of the Pali Highway if the trades are blowing and this waterfall's flowing (which it wasn't for all the times we've been to O'ahu).

[Back to top]

Pali Lookout

Descending the Old Pali Highway

Following some folks who knew the way as they walked besides the New Pali Highway

The rickety steps going underneath the highway

Squeezing through some support columns to get to the other side

Julie leaving the Auloa Road to get onto the trail at the hairpin turn

Leaving the stone road to get onto the last bit of trail to the Likeke Falls

Walking the Old Pali Highway

On the return hike, it's easy to miss this fork

Hot and tiring uphill hike on the way back to the Pali Lookout

[Back to top]

View Larger Map

TRIP REPORTS

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Maunawili Falls
• Jackass Ginger Pool

Have You Been To This Waterfall?

Share your experience!

Click here to see visitor comments for this waterfall

Click here to see visitor comments for other waterfalls that we've visited in this region

Click here to go to the Comments Main Page

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...