Na’ili’ili-haele Four Waterfalls

I wasn't thinking about writing a blog post about hikes when this hike started. A few days later, I realized that I had a lot to say about some lovely hikes. This is just the first. I will have more pictures next time 

About 6 ½ miles into the Road to Hana, we came across a bunch of cars on the side of the road. Nothing was marked on our guide, but there must be something there, right?  Like sheep, if everyone else is doing it, we must follow. We asked someone getting out of a car what was there. “Good Waterfall. You don’t want to miss it.” OK, we’re game. We had just left Twin Falls where we had a nice dip in the pool. We climbed over the fence and didn’t know that it was into a restricted area. Apparently, this is private property of East Maui Irrigation. Seems we aren't supposed to be there, but it is not a well-kept secret. We wandered through a bamboo forest and didn’t see many people. There are lots of paths that all seem to lead back to the road. Eventually, the forest opened into a stream with large river rocks, we finally heard voices. Turns out they were some people we chatted with in Twin Falls. So, we asked for directions. Head up the riverbed and you can’t miss it. We were told there were actually four falls, but there was a rope and ladder to get to some of them. Apparently we were fortunate that it was a relatively dry day, but still muddy. Apparently, the area is prone to flash flooding. Almost at the top, we heard about someone needing to be helicopter evacuated out the day before.  

Falls #1: We came across a falls with a bunch of folks swimming in the pool. We had already done a swim, so we crossed to the other side and decided to press on. I thought it was supposed to be easy, but it’s all river rocks, sometimes slippery. Along the river-bed, we came upon the second falls and saw people jumping from tall rocks into the pool. Nope, not me. I don’t know what’s under there. 

Falls #2: Walk over some more big river boulders and another nice fall to view. And folks swimming from one side of the pool to the other and picnicking. Looks like a great place to hang out for the day. I also got a great whiff of some smoked herbs. Keep going. 

About 20 feet up: But, in order to go further, we had to climb a rope and a ladder . . . if you can call it that. The Musician pointed out how we were trusting our limbs and lives to a knotted rope and a few random boards attached to a rock by some random stranger some unknown time. UMMM  . . . too late, we have to get back down eventually.  We had to scale along a rock wall above the pool to the top of the falls. We were in hiking water shoes, and getting a little muddy, it was a bit slippery. I don’t know how the kids (ok twenty-something billy goats in human bodies) were leaping and running along in flip flops. Climbing 20 feet up means you also have to get down on the way back. 

Pool crossing to Falls #3: We came across pool and couldn’t see around the corner. We had to swim to the next falls, so we did. We couldn’t come this far and not make it to the fourth fall. It got deep fast. After about 150 meter swim, we climbed a 20-foot rock face with a small trickle of water, tender footed across more river boulders, and were granted a nice view of 100-foot falls. 

Falls #4: They cascade down rocks, so not a straight fall.  Several people were swimming in the pool, but we had already spent more time on this hike than anticipated and still had miles to go on the Road to Hana. We took a few pictures and turned around. 

Falls #3: Remember that waterfall we had to climb to get this view? Well, not really very safe to climb back down with the water. Too slick and a fall would be a big problem. Only way down was to jump. The Musician went first. No rocks underneath, so no injuries. I paced and wrung my hands and almost cried. You would think there was a murderer on the loose if you had heard the blood curdling scream as I finally took the leap. 

Swim back to the other end and start the trek back. We met a nice family with some college students who were doing a summer internship on the island. They said the hike was easier, and less muddy, the week before.  Yikes, going down the rope and ladder was maybe scarier than climbing up. At least we weren’t the cause for the bottleneck. All in all, it was a 3-hour detour and nice hike. Unfortunately, because we spent so much time here, we didn’t make it to the Seven Sacred Pools and the 400-foot Waimoku Falls before dark. We definitely need a longer stay in Maui.