Hiking the Likeke Falls Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
The Likeke Falls Trail on the east side of Oʻahu is the best kid-friendly waterfall hike on the island, and I say this for a few reasons.
First, the Likeke Falls Trail is a very short hike at only 0.45 miles (0.7 km) each way. Other easy, comparable waterfall hikes, like Lulumahu and Mānoa Falls, are near double the distance.
The second reason is that Likeke Falls is as good of a guarantee as it gets, meaning the falls will be flowing year-round, as it is spring-fed, not rain-fed.
Finally, Likeke Falls has very minimal elevation to gain, which cannot be said about the much more popular and uphill Mānoa Falls Trail.
Likeke Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Likeke Falls Trail is located either at or near the Koʻolau Golf Club.
On some days, the golf club has signs saying that parking is no longer allowed near the trailhead, and on other days, you can pay to park in the big parking lot next to the trailhead.
I suspect that it has to do with events on the golf course, but in either case, I always park for free on the side of Kīnāʻole Road just before entering the golf course.
That being said, be careful about parking in these spots on the side of the road because it is typically very muddy, and I’ve had to use 4WD to get out when it’s raining.
Google Maps Directions: Koʻolau Golf Club / Kīnāʻole Road
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 Likeke Falls Trail
Before hiking, be aware that whether it has been raining or not, the Likeke Falls Trail can be one of the muddiest hikes on the island!
Additionally, the distance mentioned above is not the distance from wherever you may have parked. It’s only the roundtrip distance from the trailhead to the waterfall.
The Likeke Falls Trail begins up a service road for a water tank located shortly ahead.
When you get to the water tank, turn left on the trail heading uphill.
This section before the next turn can be one of the muddiest stretches on the entire hike.
Likeke Falls-Old Pali Road Junction
At about 0.3 miles (0.5 km), turn right at the split to continue toward Likeke Falls.
The trail going straight is the connection with the Old Pali Highway.
Not long after making the right turn, the sound of the waterfall will start to get louder and louder until you reach the stream just prior to the falls.
Likeke Falls
Although the pool at the base isn’t very deep, Likeke Falls can be a great place to cool off on a hot day.
Furthermore, this photo may not look like much water, but it can look significantly different/ heavier after recent rain.
My Print - Likeke Falls
Native Plants on the Likeke Falls Trail
Likeke Falls is low-elevation trail for Hawaiʻi, meaning that it’s predominantly non-native/ invasive plants along the entire hike.
However, the one native that always does well among other invasive plants is Hau.
If you’re interested in learning more about Hau and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to 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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