Hiking the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 5.6 miles / 9.1 km
The Kalauao Falls Trail, also called the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail because of the loop that can be created, is a little-known Oʻahu secret off the popular ʻAiea Loop Trail.
That said, Kalauao Falls can most similarly be compared to the Waimano Pools off the Mānana Ridge Trail, as the two waterfall trails are not maintained by the state, which upkeeps the trails that lead to both.
However, the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail is more difficult than both Waimano Falls and the ʻAiea Loop Trail because of the steep trails, both in and out of the Kalauao Stream, to get to the secret swimming hole!
This is all to say that only those who are up for the long, steep, and remote adventure should attempt to hike to Kalauao Falls, as it is certainly not comparable to most other waterfall adventures on the island, like the Lulumahu Falls Trail.
Kalauao Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Kalauao Falls Loop is located in the same parking lot for the upper half of the ʻAiea Loop Trail in the Keaīwa State Recreation Area.
Google Maps Directions: Kalauao Falls Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail
The Kalauao Falls Trail starts off on the upper ʻAiea Loop Trail for the first 0.4 miles (0.6 km).
ʻAiea Loop-Kalauao Falls Junction
After 0.4 miles (0.6 km), there will be an unmarked trail on the left that is the start of the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail.
Read My Separate Post: ʻAiea Loop Trail
The hike down starts off very gradually until the loop makes the turn for the Kalauao Stream, 0.6 miles (1.0 km) from the junction above.
Kalauao Falls Junction
After 0.6 miles (1.0 km), turn right on the split for the Kalauao Stream.
The trail heading straight from this junction simply leads out to a private neighborhood that has a number of "No Parking/ Tow Away" signs, so that hikers don't start there.
The trail down to the Kalauao Stream is very steep for nearly the entire descent.
Kalauao Stream
Once down at the stream, turn right for Kalauao Falls.
There will be a number of stream crossings that will go on for a little more than 1.0 miles (1.6 km) before reaching Kalauao Falls.
Kalauao Falls
The Kalauao Stream is rain-fed, meaning that it isn’t flowing like it is in these photos at all times of the year.
Warning
Even though it’s best to hike Kalauao Falls after recent rain across central Oʻahu, too much rain can make the many stream crossings dangerous/ impassable.
Additionally, if it’s raining heavily while you’re down in the gulch, the Kalauao Stream can be a high flash flood risk. Since the upper and lower trails are more than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) apart, it could be very easy to get stuck somewhere in between if the stream were to swell.
The trail continues around Kalauao Falls on the left side.
If you are considering jumping from the side of the falls, always check the pool for rocks and branches. Kalauao Falls is not as trafficked as other waterfalls, like the Waimano Pools, meaning that conditions can change without warning during periods of wet weather.
Past Kalauao Falls, there are a handful more stream crossings before the loop begins to climb back out of the stream to the ʻAiea Loop Trail.
ʻUaʻu Ridge
Eventually, the Kalauao Loop begins climbing ʻUaʻu Ridge, and the summit is the point where the Kalauao Falls Loop meets back up with the ʻAiea Loop.
Shortly after leaving the stream, look for this hard right turn to continue up the ridge.
At this split in the photos below, make the hard left turn up the ridge.
At the top of ʻUaʻu Ridge, turn left for the easiest path back to the ʻAiea Loop Trail.
ʻAiea Loop Trail
Once back on the ʻAiea Loop, you can either choose to go left for the longer half of ʻAiea Loop or right for the shorter half back to the upper trailhead where the hike began.
I typically choose the upper half for obvious reasons.
Read My Separate Post: ʻAiea Loop Trail
Native Plants on the Kalauao Falls Trail
There are a variety of native plants look out for on the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail, such as ʻŌhiʻa, Koa, ʻIliahi, Moa, and ʻAhakea to name a few.
If you would like to learn more about these and other native plants from across the islands, check out my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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