Hamama Falls is one of the lesser known waterfalls on O'ahu. In the back of Waihe’e Valley, this 4 mile round trip trail takes you past a swimming hole before reaching the magnificent, 40 foot waterfall. Spring fed from the Ko'olau Mountains, this waterfall is always flowing. The hike is more of a nature walk than anything, as you just follow a gravel path to the base of the falls; kids and dogs can do this one.

Beginning

Swimming Hole

Trail

The Falls

Crouching Lion gets its name from the shape of a lion that the rocks form at the top. It is actually part of a larger hiking trail, that loops around the Pu’u Manamana mountain ridge. This hike takes roughly 30 minutes to reach the peak so it’s pretty quick.

Legend of Kauahi

It is always fun to learn a little something about the hikes I do. I usually find out some interesting stories wile researching for a planned hike and like others I have done, the Crouching Lion Hike has a legend behind it.

The story goes that the demigod, Kauahi, was sent from Tahiti to watch over Kahana Bay. Ancient Hawaiians had never seen a lion and actually thought he was a dog. Even though Kauahi wished to explore O’ahu, he never left his spot and eventually, he began to turn to stone. One day, Pele’s sister, Hiiaka sang to Kauahi. Her voice was so sweet that he tried to stand, breaking the strong roots that bound him. Unfortunately, he could go no further than a crouch before he was stuck, forever guarding the valley and bay.

Finding the Trail Head

Finding the entrance to the trail is easier than it seems. If you walk along the mountainside of the road, Trout Farm Road to your back, you will see the trail beginning just after the “Do Not Pass” sign. There are no trail markers but you can easily see where the footpath is.

Note: Do not park on Trout Farm Road, they will have you towed.

Short Trail

Since the trail is not clearly marked with ribbon or anything, the idea is to keep going up. You’ll see remnants of the trail and parts where it has worn away, but do not worry, it is pretty easy to navigate. You will walk through thick brush under the tree canopy for a ways, until you are out in the open. Strangely, the path becomes more defined the higher you get, once you’re out in the open, it is unmistakable. You will be increasing elevation rather quickly as you ascend.
Once you are free from the forest, you follow the dirt path under a cliff of sharp lava rocks, you might have to crouch as you pass this part. After this point, you can see the “crouching lion” (I did not get a good photo of it). If you choose to continue, this part is more tricky and dangerous. The loose rocks and dirt do not make for good footholds.

Spectacular View

From the peak, you can see the various blue shades of Kahana Bay and the small city of Ka’a’awa below. The greenery on the mountains is amazing, as usual, and from the height you can really take in all the scenery of the Windward side.

Please be safe and remember to pick up your trash so other can enjoy the beauty.

Besides your typical luaus and incredible beaches, O'ahu has so much more to offer. These are some ways to enjoy the island, just like the locals do. 

1. Meet a Sea Turtle 

As a Honu Guardian with the Malama Na Honu organization based out of the North Shore, and as an avid snorkeler, I know how awesome our Green Sea Turtles are. The best spot to get a glimpse of these precious creatures is on North Shore's Laniakea Beach. There, the honus (sea turtles) come up to rest on the sand and are protected by the Honu Guardians who are there to answer any question you have and are happy to snap a photo of you with the sea turtles. Of course, you may get lucky and see a turtle while swimming, but you have a great chance of spotting one on this beach.

2. Go Hiking

There are so many wonderful hikes on this island, it would be hard to choose a single one that is a "must do". Asking around and researching online will give you a good idea of what kind of hike you may want to try. The flora on O'ahu is eye-catching and the numerous trails can take you anywhere, from the top of a mountain ridge ,through a bamboo forest, or to a waterfall. We have hikes for all skill levels and I have posted about several of them here on my blog.

3. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset

Watching the sunrise or sunset from the beach is one of my favorite things to do. The colors are just unreal and it is a great way to end or start a day at the beach. The best sunrises can be caught anywhere on the East side, especially at Makapu'u Lookout or at Lanikai Beach. The sunset is spectacular on the West side, my favorite spot on the whole island is at Yokohama Beach with the gorgeous mountains as a backdrop.

4. Visit the Pear Harbor Memorial Sites

The World War II Valor in the Pacific national monument is a part of our great system of national parks. Visiting the USS Arizona memorial and walking through the small museum brings you back in time to that solemn day. The opportunity to pay your respects and keep the memory alive cannot be passed up. You will find yourself surrounded by people from all over the world who are just as eager to learn about the event, and if you're lucky, there may just be a survivor speaking that day.

5. Stroll Through Historic Hale'iwa

North Shore is considered the surf capitol of the world and while those legendary waves have brought many visitors, Hale'iwa Town seems to retain its picturesque standards of a typical surf town. The many shops and delicious food trucks make for a great place to stop on your way to and from North Shore. The acai bowls and shave ice that Hawai'i is famous for can be found here, among the surf shops and friendly locals.

6. Snorkel/Dive

You can snorkel pretty much anywhere here, it's an island! Our reefs and colorful fish need to be seen in the wild to be truly enjoyed, so forget the aquarium. Hanauma Bay is one of my favorites because it is a protected marine environment  by the state parks service. While it costs to get in, the money goes to conservation of the reef and you have plenty of educational opportunities at your finger tips here. Another favorite is Shark's Cove in North Shore because the cove is protected by rocks and reef and is shallow enough for new swimmers to enjoy.

7. See a Volcano

While O'ahu has no active volcanoes, the ones we do have are beautiful. Diamond Head, our most famous one, provides the perfect background from the beaches of Waikiki and the top gives you a good spot to view the city and surrounding areas. Koko Head requires quite a hike to get to the top, but the views are spectacular, check out my blog post on it to learn more about that hike.

8. Swim in a Waterfall

Nothing beats a hike out to a cool waterfall, especially after it has been raining. There are several, easy, waterfall hikes that the whole family can enjoy, like Manoa Falls, Waimea Falls, and Maunawili Falls. You really cannot go wrong with whichever waterfall you choose to visit. Always remember, Leptospirosis is something to be careful of when playing in Hawaii's fresh water.

9. Watch Fireworks in Waikiki

Every Friday night, the Hilton puts on an awesome fireworks display in Waikiki. Watching the fireworks from the beach is the best way to kick off the weekend or finish a day of shopping and eating downtown.

10.  Drive around the Island

The island is not very big, but just big enough to spend a day driving around viewing the scenery. I have found some of the best food and coolest, little, shops by simply driving and stopping when I feel like it. Some places are off the beaten path and require you to do a little discovery of your own. Pause at all the scenic lookouts labeled on the side of the road to get a true glimpse of the different parts of the island.

11. Visit the Valley of the Temples

The Byodo-In Temple requires a small admission fee, which is why I did not include it in the list of 10. The Buddhist temple is home to wild peacocks and it's lush gardens hide several koi ponds. The temple and cemetery are so peaceful, I cannot help but just walk around or sit on a bench to take it all in.

Mahalos,
Alecia <3

We are fortunate to have so many beautiful waterfalls on Oahu and while most are open to the public, some of the better ones are illegal to hike to. Here some of the best, legal, ones you can access. Pro tip: waterfalls are best AFTER the rain, just be careful for flash floods.

BEWARE: Whenever swimming in Oahu’s waterfalls/freshwater, be aware of Leptospirosis and do not expose open cuts to the water.

Maunawili Falls
This is easily the most popular waterfall hike on the island and can easily be done by children. This muddy, 3.3 mile hike leads you to some awesome falls pouring into a swimming hole. If you are feeling brave go ahead and take a leap off the rocks, it is exhilarating. I recommend climbing up the 1st waterfall to get a look at the waterfall just behind it.










Lulumahu Falls
A dense bamboo forest will take you to an impressively tall waterfall. After walking through the forest you will come to a reservoir that is the perfect spot for a photo op. From there, you just follow the water. While this waterfall does not have pools to swim in, the 50+ foot falls will take your breath away.
Laie Falls

Hawaii Reserves Inc. requires you to get a permit to hike this one, luckily it is a free permit that you can pick up just down the street from the  trail head. This 7 mile hike is definitely a workout but the view was worth it. The trail takes you through a motocross track in the mountains with some spectacular scenery. The waterfall has a gorgeous, emerald pool beneath it with a rope on the side so you can climb up for a better view. If you do not want to use the rope, the other side of the falls has a tiny trail up to the top. I do not believe you can jump off this waterfall, but that definitely did not take away from how astounding the falls and following mini-waterfalls are.


Waimano Falls
This 3 mile trail takes you to a waterfall pouring into 2 separate pools. The trail starts at the top of a ridge and goes down into the valley, so save your energy for the hike back out. The rope swing over the 1st pool is an added bonus and tons of fun. This is also a popular area for hunting so keep an eye for dogs and if you get turned around, the hunters are usually very helpful in giving you directions and pointers.
Jackass Ginger Pool

This is the shortest waterfall hike I have done, only about a 1/2 mile to the falls via the Judd Trail. The rope swing was no longer up last time I went, but you can still jump off the 10 foot falls into the water. The stream it feeds into has a nice grassy area on the side of it which is a good spot to soak up some sun and eat a snack. 
Manoa Falls
This mile long hike is probably the most “touristy” waterfall hikes here because of its ease and proximity to town. It is nestled in the-always-green Manoa, right by the gorgeous Lyon Arboretum—you definitely want to stop here with your camera. This short trail takes you through a bamboo forest and around some boulders before reaching the 150 foot falls. The pool is shallow in most areas so the whole family can have a little swim before heading back out.

Please be safe and remember to pick up your trash so other can enjoy the beauty.