Gorgeous views, awesome bamboo corridors to hike through, and the banyan tree was awesome. We loved finishing the hike with a refreshing swim at the 7 sacred pools.
This was one great hike. Too bad that the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was only about 10 inches deep. :( It took us a couple hours to walk it and my fit-bit said that we went over 10000 steps once we got back to our car.
This is my second time doing the road to Hana, as the first time we did not have enough time to do the hike to the falls. Plan a full day to do this, 12 hours or more. Wear comfortable shoes for hiking & bring water and snacks. The drive to Hana will take you approximately 2.5-3.5 hours. It is an absolutely beautiful, breathtaking drive. 10 miles past Hana is Mile Marker 41 (Haleakala National Park @ Kipahulu). We parked in the parking lot ($10.00 fee which is good for up to 3 days). We hiked the Pipiwai Trail which is 3.67km one way and it took us approximately 1.5 hrs to get up to Waimoku Falls. The walk/climb isn't too difficult. Beautiful scenery & the walk through the Bamboo Forest was beautiful. When you are near the falls you have to climb over some large boulder rocks/creek (which can be a little difficult) in order to get a better view of the falls. The waterfall was not gushing with water because of the lack of rainfall, but still very beautiful. The walk back down only took us a little over an hour. When we reached the parking lot we walked towards the visitor centre & there was another trail, the Kuloa Point Trail which takes you to the 7 Sacred Pools, 10-15 minute walk. A couple of the pools had water in them, but the rest were dried up. Overall, it was a beautiful anyhow.
Great hike, even when the waterfalls aren't flowing (as they weren't when we were there). The bamboo forest is mesmerizing, especially in a breeze. It's not as awe-inspiring as a sequoia grove, but it's very unique and visually stunning. The trail itself is walkable in sporty sandals or running shoes. Flips are kinda sketchy in parts. I'm not sure why people are complaining about the long Road to Hana when talking about this trail. We took the southern route around Haleakala and had far less traffic. I would happily go back just to take more photos. Well worth the time and effort.
This was our first stop on the Road to Hana. We decided to drive to the end point and then make our way up, because we wanted to spent as much time as we could here. Give this place a solid 2.5hrs, so you can soak it in. It's a leisure hike. Don't rush it, or you might roll an ankle too.
We did a family hike in February. Other reviews said it is an easy climb but if you are not regularly active, it can be a tough climb (recommend comfortable shoes for older crowd). Our young kids did great but bring water. Bamboo forest is awesome - hearing the bamboo "make music" in the wind was incredible. Worth the hike and the curvy road to Hana to experience it.
Have only done this hike twice, but plan to do it every other time I visit Maui. Every point of this hike is beautiful and there are plenty of photo opportunities. My favorite parts were the banyan tree, bridges, bamboo forest and the massive waterfall.
I hiked to the falls with my husband and we really enjoyed the scenery. I was recovering from a car accident and was fairly tired and sore by the time we were back. Took some of my best photos on this trail. The bamboo forest is erie with the wind blowing the stalks against each other. In some places it's so dense you don't see much sunlight. There are beautiful banyan trees and a huge waterfall at the end. It was disappointing that you can't go up to the falls anymore like you used to. There is a no one beyond this point sign, although some people were ignoring it. We thought this place was amazing, and was one of the highlights of our trip.
I almost have no words!!! But here I go nonetheless. THIS IS A MUST DO FOR ANYONE WHO COMES TO HANA. If you miss this trail, with it's awesome waterfall at the end, it's bamboo forest and its scenic surroundings, you have FAILED in life and you have wasted your trip to Maui. I know I am being a little pushy here, but this is truly the best hikes, if you're gonna do one in Hana. You start at the 7 Sacred Pools (this is actually a misnomer, the Hawaiian name for it is Ohe'o Gulch while the americanized name was made up by some businessman to drive more business to the area - just know that there are not 7 pools and there is nothing sacred about them), a nice attraction if the water levels are high. This year the rainfall was low in the area, so most of the pools were dried up and most of the waterfalls were reduced to a trickle. Nevertheless, if you get lucky, it's a beautiful scene and you'll enjoy being there. The entrance to the park and 7 Sacred Pools, where the trail initiates, is usually $10 ,however if you have been to the Haleakala Crater within 3 days, your ticket will get you in for free. Once you are done with the pools, head up the trail. It is about 4 miles round trip and it's not a hard hike. On my way up, I saw another tourist carrying a 2-month old baby the entire way, so that should tell you that you can definitely do it too! The grade is a bit steeper at the beginning and then mellows out, but again, it's not a tough walk. Along the trail you'll see a few really awesome old banyan trees, flowers everywhere, and everything else that grows in a jungle environment. Half way to the top, you get to the best part of the entire hike, the bamboo forest. It is the coolest thing I've ever seen, a lush green thick forest made just of bamboo! It is so dense that at times the sun can't get through, so you feel like you're walking through a fairy tale. It is also cool because the trail here is protected from the sun, so even if you're hiking in the middle of the day, this will be your saving grace b/c you'll find shade and a cool breeze while you continue on your journey. Then, you cross a stream that can be really weak or really strong depending on the year and the water levels, so be careful crossing it as it can easily flash flood. There is a sign that suggests you go no further, but no one pays attention and blows right past it. Then you're suddenly greeted by a ginormous rock face with a waterfall cascading from the top. An incredible and majestic sight! It looks like the entire cliff is weeping, as water droplets are dripping down the entire wall, with the main waterfall pouring down smack in the middle. The cliff is covered with moss and trees and is absolutely stunning. You can come right up to the rock wall and feel the water - it's cold but refreshing after all that walking. My recommendation is to do the hike as early as possible to avoid traffic. The 7 Sacred Pools are a popular destination and vans of people are shuttled from the other side of the island almost every day. The crowds start getting there around 10am, so if you show up even at 8, you'll have a much better time and possibly even have the pools and the hike all to yourself.
Hiking this trail was one of my "must do" on the list of vacation highlights. The Road to Hana is a one way road of hair pin turns and not that many views of the ocean. Lots of pretty scenery, but nothing that you don't see any where else on the Island. It takes about three hours to reach the destination, and it didn't help that they were doing road work so we sat for 50 minutes while they paved the one lane bridge. We finally found the ranger station, and were told that the waterfalls were dry.....well, the top one had a trickle. The pools and the smaller falls were gone. If you are a serious hiker you will appreciate this hike, but for all the "wanna be hiker" mall walkers, it is tough and not a fun experience. Lots of built in steps that are harder to walk than straight trail, I think. $10 to get into the park.