Heleleikeoha Falls

Hana Highway, Hawaii, USA

About Heleleikeoha Falls


Hiking Distance: 1/2 mile round trip
Suggested Time: 30-60 minutes

Date first visited: 2003-09-03
Date last visited: 2007-02-24

Waterfall Latitude: 20.80775
Waterfall Longitude: -156.05761

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Blue Pool (also known by its Hawaiian name as Heleleikeoha Falls or Helele’ike’oha Falls as well as Blue Angel Falls) could very well be one of the more scenically located swimming hole waterfalls that we’ve seen.

It faces the ocean as it’s sheltered from the crashing waves by rocks protecting its picturesque plunge pool.

Road_to_Hana_119_09032003 - Helele'ike'oha Falls
Helele’ike’oha Falls

When we first visited it back in 2003, it definitely left an impression on us as it was the first time we had encountered a waterfall like this where scenery, swimming, and serenity were all mixed together in this most sacred of spots.

If there was ever a place you could take a dip and contemplate the beauty of where you’re at, we thought this was it!

Past Experience and Access

During that first visit, we observed the falls in a light-flowing state, which I’d imagine would be the its typically condition.

That said, we happened to see the falls just two days after a rain storm from the remnants of a hurricane. So I’d imagine any higher flow than this would probably render it in a more flooded state (and thus be unsafe for swimming).

We were able to walk to the falls after parking in someone’s yard who had converted it into a car park for a nominal fee.

From there, we walked to the end of the road, then along the rocks on the stream banks of an inlet before crossing over the stream where more whiter rocks were separating the inlet from the crashing waves.

If the stream were to be swollen or if the waves were really raging, I would consider this part of the scramble dangerous.

The scramble then persisted along the loose white rocks or boulders for another few minutes before we were right in front of the falls and the pool.

Road_to_Hana_134_09032003 - The bouldery shores near the Blue Pool
The bouldery shores near the Blue Pool

Look to the left and there was the nice swimming hole with 100ft (maybe) waterfall. Look to the right and there was the crashing surf.

Every once in a while a rogue wave might get us wet even though we were as far away from the surf as we could be.

However, I can envision larger rogue waves possibly plucking us back into the tiger shark-infested waters so there’s definitely some element of risk to lingering here.

Controversy

Now in recent memory (seemed like since 2007), the Blue Pool had become a very controversial place. Basically, there were locals who were unhappy with the amount of visitation (including the accompanying litter, pollution, noise, traffic, etc.) and became vigilant about preventing new visitors from coming in.

This is where things get dicey (both legally and from a safety standpoint).

Apparently, the falls is on public land because by Hawaiian law (PASH or Public Access Shoreline Hawaii), no one can own the beaches and shores nor prevent access to them.

The intent of the law was to prevent a resort from taking a chunk of shoreline (like a beach) hostage and making it exclusive.

Blue_Pool_001_jx_02232007 - Visitors not welcome
Visitors not welcome

Thankfully, this law has prevented some beaches from being lost to the public, whereas you might see the opposite result in other countries where the resorts were allowed to own the beaches and call the shots.

Unfortunately in the case of the Blue Pool, access to the shoreline requires getting through driveways that are privately owned. These residences were not equipped to handle a major tourist attraction (though some of them were offering their front yards as car parks for a fee).

So given the current contentious state of affairs, this place is now in a situation where only a privileged few can visit the waterfall (violating PASH), and you can pretty much consider this attraction kapu (forbidden) and expect resistance if you get there.

A Possible Solution?

While I can sympathize with the locals unhappy with the popularity of the falls, I personally think they should either run a paying tour or hire staff to run one.

Then, the proceeds would go towards the workers as well as the residents for their trouble (assuming the laws and/or economics aren’t so twisted so as to make even this option unpalatable).

I could even see a tie-in with the Kahanu Garden (roughly half-way between Hana Hwy and the end of the ‘Ula’ino Rd; possibly an opportunity to teach visitors about the area) where maybe parking could be there while only staff can shuttle visitors to and from the Blue Pool.

There has been precedence with other Hawaiian waterfalls requiring paid tours. So why not this one?

Perhaps that would then return this part of East Maui into a more welcoming place instead of something that’s quite the opposite. And do this while still addressing the issues that concern both locals and tourists (as well as law enforcement and government) alike.

Of course, this is just a suggestion, and it’s up to the residents there and the local government to decide how they want to deal with it.

To read more about recent experiences by disappointed visitors who felt strongly enough to write about it, I’ve provided a link to the Trip Advisor page of this waterfall.

Authorities

To my knowledge, access to Helele’ike’oha Falls involves crossing through private property. In addition to the links provided already, you may seek out more information or make inquiries about the general area as well as current conditions with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). I’ve provided a link to their website Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) here.

Blue_Pool_003_jx_02242007 - Some residents used their yards as car parks
Road_to_Hana_142_09032003 - Reflections in the inlet near the Blue Pool
Road_to_Hana_122_09032003 - Julie admiring the scene back in 2003
Road_to_Hana_130_09032003 - The full view of Heleleikeoha Falls
Road_to_Hana_139_09032003 - Looking back at that inlet from the other side
Blue_Pool_004_jx_02242007 - A surprise waterfall seen on the way to the Blue Pool


This waterfall is at the end of the ‘Ula’ino Rd off the Hana Hwy near milepost 31. You’ll be greeted with lots of signs discouraging you to continue. There are also two concrete fords to cross, which may be impassable if the streams are swollen from heavy rains or flash floods.

To give you some context, we generally stay on the west side of Maui in either Lahaina or Ka’anapali. The drive from say Lahaina would require us to take Route 30 to Route 380 (taking roughly an hour without traffic). Once we’re near the town of Pa’ia, we’d then be on Hwy 36 (becoming the Road to Hana or Hwy 360). Getting to Hana would take at least 2 hours drive (45 miles) east of Pa’ia.

Find A Place To Stay

This was what the waterfall was like back when we were able to do it (before it became controversial)


Old movie panning 360 degrees from the Blue Pool showing the falls then the ocean then the falls again.

Tagged with: blue pool, heleleikeoha, kapu, forbidden, trespassing, hana, east maui, maui, hawaii, waterfall, lahaina, kahului, paia, kaanapali, ulaino



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

PASH July 24, 2013 4:09 am by _Anonymous159 - I always thought PASH didn't apply to everyone (including Hawaii residents) but only to native Hawaiians. PASH is meant to give native Hawaiians access to land for traditional practices - gathering of materials/plants/animals, and religious purposes. PASH doesn't apply to you (unless you are a native Hawaiian) and doesn't give you the "right" to access… ...Read More
Blue Pool September 7, 2011 10:16 pm by Ulaino Road Resident - Aloha, I live on Ulaino Rd. not far from the falls. I have been turning people around from visiting the falls and helping the landowner (whose land you must cross to get there) for a year now. There are many reasons we want visitors to stay away and most people on the road are in… ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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