Maunawili Falls

Pali Lookout, Hawaii, USA

About Maunawili Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Maunawili Falls is a small but picturesque and popular 15-30ft.

We figure it’s popular because it’s publicly accessible and because it has a nice swimming hole that’s deep enough even for some daredevils to do a dangerous cliff dive into the pool.

Maunawili_Falls_018_01182007 - Maunawili Falls
Maunawili Falls

But its popularity belies the fact that we did have to do a bit of a hike involving several stream crossings and one head-scratching moment at the last stream crossing.

And fortunately for us, there were enough people on the trail that we were able to get around some of the confusing parts just by following some locals who knew where they were going.

Hiking to Maunawili Falls

The hike started in a residential area in the town of Maunawili.

From there, we hiked about two miles to the falls crossing over four streams en route.

We were wearing Keens so the stream crossings weren’t really a problem.

Maunawili_Falls_035_01182007 - One of the stream crossings on the Maunawili Falls hike
One of the stream crossings on the Maunawili Falls hike

However, we were mindful that open cuts and wounds did have the potential for introducing the leptospirosis bacteria (good thing we didn’t have any such wounds on this excursion).

We want to point out a couple of key points in the otherwise straightforward hike.

At about a half-mile beyond the third stream crossing, the trail climbed up some steps eventually reaching a bench at an unsigned fork in the trail.

We had to turn left at this fork to descend the short (maybe about 100ft) steep series of steps back down to the Maunawili Stream.

There was actually another unnamed stream joining the main stream, and it was here that we had to make the fourth and longest stream crossing.

Maunawili_Falls_008_01182007 - The context of the plunge pool before Maunawili Falls
The context of the plunge pool before Maunawili Falls

Here, we made the mistake of taking the faint trail on the right and eventually ended up in a muddy bog.

When we figured out that we should’ve crossed the stream and head towards the right bank (left fork), that was when we started to pick up the last 0.1-mile of the trail to its end at the Maunawili Falls.

All told, it took us about an hour of hiking in each direction.

Twisted Mountain

Upon doing some post-trip reading, I learned that “Maunawili” means “twisted mountain.”

I’m only speculating here, but perhaps it’s because the falls was mostly hidden as it twisted and tumbled its way down a rocky slope before making its final drop.

That final drop was the lone visible drop from what we could tell.

Maunawili_Falls_031_01182007 - The trail to Maunawili Falls revealing mountains with fluted pali in the distance
The trail to Maunawili Falls revealing mountains with fluted pali in the distance

There were also scenic fluted cliffs (part of the Ko’olau Range) providing a good scenic backdrop for photographs when we reached the apex of the hike.

However, I’m not sure if the twisted mountain had anything to do with these pali (cliffs).

Authorities

Maunawili Falls resides on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. As far as I know, it is not administered by any official authority. For information or inquiries about the general area as well as current conditions, you may want to try visiting the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual members. See Membership Options.
Content is for members. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: koolau, pali, nuuanu, maunawili, oahu, hawaii, waterfall, honolulu, waikiki, lepto, leptospirosis



Visitor Comments:

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Beware Leptospirosis (Maunawili Falls) May 14, 2015 4:52 pm by Patrick - Leptospirosis has been found in these waters. Educate yourself before swimming there. ...Read More

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A very long walk from the main highway. (Maunawili Falls) October 22, 2012 2:52 am by Rick - I constantly see people hiking/walking into Maunawili from the main highway(Pali Highway). This is a really long walk before you even get close to the beginning of the trail. You should really Google map this before starting your adventure. There is a city bus that will get you most of the way in but it… ...Read More
Very fun hike and a great swimming hole to cliff jump into! June 26, 2009 8:49 pm by Tiffani - Very easy and enjoyable hike to and from the waterfall at the end. Be advised it is extremely dangerous hike if it has rained the same day. I've been a few times and the last time it took us two hours in the dark, led by cell phone light, slippery mud going downhill, with no… ...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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