This hike has been on my Hawaii bucket list for a long time. I was finally able to do it last week! It is located quite close to Honolulu so if you have a rental car while there, it is only a short drive to the parking lot. Several things to note–in the winter months (November – March) the trail is likely to be quite muddy. There are high pressure hoses and a scrub brush at the trailhead and you will need them when coming out. The trail ascends about 400 feet, some of that due to climbing high steps and over rocks, boulders and tree roots.
There is an “outhouse” at the trailhead, but after stepping inside I would rather have used the bushes. There is no fee as the trail and falls are on public land. However, there is a $5 fee to park at the trailhead.
The hike may take about an hour each way (1.6 miles roundtrip) so plan on doing it well before dark, considering you are walking through forest that will have the natural light of the sky obscured.
Having said all that, the landscape was incredible! I would do it again but not unless I had “trained” by doing squats for some time before going! I had trouble walking for several days after completing the walk. It’s all those high steps. Perhaps I just need to get more exercise on a regular basis!
