Hiking the Luakaha Falls Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The Luakaha Falls Trail in Nuʻuanu Valley on Oʻahu is one of the least-visited waterfall hikes on the island due, in large part, to the barriers required to legally access the trail and the risks associated if you choose to hike without a permit.
That said, 100% of the Luakaha Falls Trail is on property that is accessible to the public, so long as you have a valid permit. I say this to emphasize that some local residents in the area would have you believe the trail is off-limits to all, but this is simply not true.
To learn more about this, click here to skip ahead.
Luakaha Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Luakaha Falls Trail is located on the side of Nuʻuanu Pali Drive.
Out of caution, consider the Luakaha Falls Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft. By this, I mean never leave bags or anything valuable in your car.
To add to this warning, never park at this trailhead with expired registration/ safety check. HPD and towing companies target this area for cars that they can legally tow if one of these is expired.
Google Maps Directions: Luakaha 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 Luakaha Falls Trail
As previously mentioned, hiking the Luakaha Falls Trail is accessible by permit only.
This aside, the Luakaha Falls Trail begins just before the first house on the left if you were driving down Nuʻuanu Pali Drive.
This is the first of many warning signs stating that fines may be as high as $10,000 for hiking without a permit or defacing Kaniakapūpū.
Luakaha-Kaniakapūpū Junction
The split to the left leads to the Kaniakapūpū Ruins, located only 0.1 miles (0.2 km) off of the Luakaha Falls Trail.
This is shown in the photos below.
Kaniakapūpū Ruins (King Kamehameha III’s Summer Palace)
You can read and learn about Kaniakapūpū on the posted signs, but, most importantly, please be respectful.
Do not leave the main path, climb on the ruins, or do anything that would be deface or disrespect this beautiful historic site.
Luakaha Falls Trail
Once back on the Luakaha Falls Trail, the split for the trail down to the waterfall is only a short distance ahead.
There are two trails that lead down to Luakaha Falls, but the trail on the right is the safer and easier route of the two.
This is the route that’s shown below, but at the end, I included a few photos of the alternate route to the stream.
Go left to get down the trail to Luakaha Falls.
The path leading down may be more or less challenging than the photos here, as fallen trees and bamboo continually alter the trail.
Luakaha Falls
For such a short trail, Luakaha Falls is one of the least-visited waterfalls on Oʻahu, especially when compared to the neighboring Lulumahu Falls.
Alternative Route
The alternate route involves hiking down to the waterfall on the far side of the Nuʻuanu Stream.
I don’t recommend it because it is unnecessarily more difficult, and in the past, people have lost their lives from a fall over the top of the waterfall.
Luakaha Falls Public Access
In the past, I have been confronted by the person that owns the property adjacent to Luakaha Falls because they were trying to tell me that the waterfall is on their private property.
That is absolutely not true, and people in Hawaiʻi are afforded public access to our natural resources, as per the state constitution.
Then, when I said this, the person tried to tell me that the grass surrounding the waterfall was their private property, which is also not true. That’s why I included the parcel map here to show that a large portion of the grassy area is public land, as the property line between public and private cuts right through.
Overall, the person was grasping at straws to try and get me to leave, but just know that if you have a valid permit, you completely within your rights to visit Luakaha Falls.
All said, the permit system for Luakaha Falls and Kaniakapūpū is very vague, but to the best of my knowledge, hiking is accessible via the same permit as Lulumahu Falls. I say this because they are the same state-owned property, as per the Honolulu parcel map.
Book Here: Luakaha Falls Permit
Native Plants on the Luakaha Falls Trail
Since the Luakaha Falls Trail is such a short low-elevation trail, many of the plants that you will see on the hike are non-native/ invasive species. To further that point, even bamboo is an invasive canoe plant in Hawaiʻi.
However, there are a number of Hau trees, which was the only native plant that I saw on this short trail.
If you would like to know more about Hau and tons of other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked 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
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
Disclosure
This post is not sponsored.
However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
To read the full privacy policy, click here.
About This Blog
Noah Lang Photography, also known as @noahawaii, is 100% reader-supported!
I do not accept guest articles or sponsored content of any kind on my blog, which is why, if you enjoy the outdoor and travel content I create, please consider buying me a coffee!
I appreciate your support, which helps me continue to keep this blog alive!
