Hiking the Lulumahu Falls Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
The Lulumahu Falls Trail in Nuʻuanu Valley on Oʻahu is, without a doubt, the best year-round waterfall hike on the island!
By this, I mean that, unlike other waterfalls on Oʻahu—such as the much more popular Mānoa Falls—Lulumahu Falls is not dependent on rainfall, as most others are. This is especially important to mention for those planning to hike during the summer months when Hawaiʻi receives less rainfall compared to the winter. However, Lulumahu Falls will always be flowing throughout the year, regardless of how wet or dry the weather has been!
On a different note, I also want to highlight Likeke Falls, located on the other side of the Pali Highway, just down the road. This is because I see Likeke Falls as the best short, kid-friendly waterfall hike on Oʻahu—instead of Lulumahu—making it another great waterfall hike to consider, as it is also not dependent on rainfall.
Read My Separate Post: Likeke Falls Trail
Lulumahu Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for Lulumahu Falls Trail is located directly off of the Pali Highway shortly before the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout in a dirt parking lot near the intersection of Nuʻuanu Pali Drive and the Pali Highway.
That being said, consider the Lulumahu Falls Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Lulumahu 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 Lulumahu Falls Trail
For the most part, the Lulumahu Falls Trail is a fairly straightforward hike, with the exception of one crucial split in the trail; if you go the wrong way, you will end up on a completely different, and much more involved, adventure.
That being said, the Lulumahu Falls Trail begins at either one of two entrances.
If you start at the entrance with the hunters log, you will begin in the bamboo forest before ending up on the gravel road. Alternatively, if you start at the entrance with the gate, you will begin on the gravel road and avoid the bamboo forest altogether.
For obvious reasons, I recommend the gate.
When the Lulumahu Falls Trail reaches this opening, go straight.
Then, when the trail reaches the dam, you can either cross the stream and then cross again shortly after, or simply follow the stream up a short distance to the trail that’s located on the left-hand side.
Lulumahu Ridge-Lulumahu Falls Junction
This is the important split in the trail, where many hikers end up getting lost.
That being said, go right when you reach the Lulumahu Ridge junction shown in the photo below, as the trail to the left is the start of the much longer, all-day hike to the highest point in the Koʻolau Mountain Range.
With that in mind, if you were only planning to hike as far as Lulumahu Falls, then you are not prepared for the much longer and more difficult Lulumahu Ridge Trail, as it is not comparable to other nearby ridge trails, like Waʻahila or Mauʻuame Ridge.
Read My Separate Post: Lulumahu Ridge Trail
At this point, the Lulumahu Falls Trail crosses over the stream, which can be a bit of a bottleneck with other hikers during peak times of the day.
Lulumahu Falls
After 0.9 miles (1.4 km), the trail ends at the 50-ft. (15 m) Lulumahu Falls, which is only the lower of the two drops that you can see from the bottom!
That being said, this photo was taken during the early morning hours of the day, which is when I highly recommend hiking to Lulumahu Falls, as opposed to midday when the trail gets more busy.
Native Plants on the Lulumahu Falls Trail
The Lulumahu Falls Trail is a very low-elevation trail, meaning the hike is dominated by many non-native/ invasive species.
Therefore, there are generally few native plants that you can find, with the exception of Hau and Māmaki.
If you are curious about trying the native Hawaiian Māmaki tea, I kindly ask that you don’t harvest Māmaki from our native forests but, instead, buy from one of the local reputable vendors, such as those listed below.
If you would like to learn more about these and many 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
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