Hiking the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail on Oʻahu

Distance: 5.6 miles / 9.1 km

While just off the popular ʻAiea Loop, the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail is a lesser-known Oʻahu waterfall compared to other similar hikes, like the Waimano Pools.

That said, the Kalauao Falls Loop Trail is a bit more difficult than ʻAiea Loop because of the steep trails in and out of the Kalauao Stream.

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

ʻAiea Loop/ Kalauao Falls Trailhead Parking

ʻAiea Loop/ Kalauao Falls Trailhead Parking

 

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).

Upper ʻAiea Loop Trailhead

ʻAiea Loop Trail

ʻAiea Loop Trail

ʻAiea Loop Trail

ʻAiea Loop Trail

ʻAiea Loop Trail

ʻAiea Loop Trail

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

Kalauao Loop Junction - Turn Left

Kalauao Falls 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 Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

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.

Kalauao Falls Junction - Turn Right

Kalauao Falls Junction - Turn Right

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

The trail down to the Kalauao Stream is very steep for nearly the entire descent.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

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 a mile before reaching Kalauao Falls.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

The First of Many Stream Crossings

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

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 a mile and a half apart, it could be very easy to get stuck somewhere in between if the stream were to swell.

Kalauao Falls

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.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

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.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls 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.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Shortly after leaving the stream, look for this hard right turn to continue up the ridge.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

At this split in the photos below, make the hard left turn up the ridge.

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

At the top of ʻUaʻu Ridge, turn left for the easiest path back to the ʻAiea Loop Trail.

Puʻu ʻUaʻu - Turn Left

Kalauao Falls Loop Trail

ʻAiea Ridge/ Loop Trail Junction

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

(Left) - Lower ʻAiea Loop Trail

(Right) - Upper ʻAiea Loop Trail

Upper ʻAiea Loop Trail

Upper ʻAiea Loop Trailhead

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

ʻŌhiʻa lehua - (Metrosideros polymorpha)

Moa / Upright Whisk-fern - (Psilotum nudum)

@noahawaii

Hi,

Iʻm a self-taught adventure photographer living on the island of Oʻahu.

@noahawaii

https://noahlangphotography.com/
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Hiking the Mauna Loa Trail to Red Hill Cabin (Puʻu ʻUlaʻula) in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park