Hiking the Waipuhia Falls Trail (Upside-Down Waterfall) on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.75 miles / 1.2 km
The Waipuhia Falls Trail on Oʻahu is a remote, little-known adventure at the top of Nuʻuanu Valley, off the Pali Lookout.
That said, the Waipuhia Falls Trail should be attempted by experienced Oʻahu hikers only, as the short roundtrip distance is a bad indicator of the trail’s overall difficulty.
This is because there is hardly a 'trail' to follow—and I say this knowing that I did a good job at showing the trail when there was one.
All this to say, even with my directions, the majority of the Waipuhia Falls Trail takes some good route-finding, because it doesn’t follow a stream or gulch of any kind—meaning it’s very easy to get turned around and lost in the dense forest.
Waipuhia Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Waipuhia Falls Trailhead is located on the side of Nuʻuanu Pali Drive, just off the Pali Lookout.
Out of caution, consider the Waipuhia Falls Trailhead and any trailhead off the Pali Lookout to be a high-crime area for petty theft. Never leave bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Waipuhia 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 Waipuhia Falls Trail
The Waipuhia Falls Trail starts off at an unmarked trailhead on the side of Nuʻuanu Pali Dr.
There may be more than one path that leads into the forest, but the best route is closest to the guardrail.
The best way to hike the Waipuhia Falls Trail is to follow the GPX map on AllTrails for the entire hike.
If you’re ever off track, navigate back to the route because, while it may not look like it, there is a main path to follow that I believe becomes more clear as you hike out.
Shortly after the trailhead, the route follows a long straight stretch through the Cinnamon trees that looks a lot like the photo below.
This is the long straight part on the AllTrails map.
Like I said previously, these are really the best areas on the Waipuhia Falls Trail that look like a trail.
Expect the route to look a lot more confusing than the photos in this post.
Waipuhia Stream
Eventually, the trail will cross over the Waipuhia Stream, which is a great place to see how much the waterfalls will be flowing.
Waipuhia Falls is rain-fed, meaning that it’s only flowing just after or during heavy rain.
This should also serve as a warning because more than likely you will be hiking during the rain, and the final stretch of the trail poses a flash flood risk after the stream split.
On the far side of the stream, the Waipuhia Falls Trail becomes a bit more defined because at this point, there is really only one way to hike up to the falls.
At the confluence for the Waipuhia Stream, cross the stream one more time to reach the split for both forks.
Waipuhia Stream Split
The photo below is the split for both forks of the Waipuhia Stream, but the left fork is by far easier and more popular.
Left Fork
To hike either fork up to the falls, follow the stream, which should be flowing heavily at this point.
This last stretch of the trail is why there is a flash flood risk associated with Waipuhia Falls because hikers could potentially get trapped during the heaviest of rain if it were to pick up significantly.
Waipuhia Falls
This is the Left Fork of Waipuhia Falls, and it’s the more popular of the two waterfalls.
It was not flowing when I took the photos for this post because I hiked it just for the sake of getting outside.
This was taken when I hiked Waipuhia during an average steady rain, but nothing heavy.
Right Fork
The right fork of the Waipuhia Stream is harder than the left and requires more scrambling to reach the falls.
Please use your best judgment because exiting the right fork in case of an emergency would be much more complicated than the left fork due to the length and all the debris from previous rainstorms.
Native Plants on the Waipuhia Falls Trail
The Waipuhia Falls Trail is predominately non-native/ invasive plants for the entire hike, which is why I was surpised when I came across a few natives, like this Māmaki and a few Pāpala Kēpau trees toward the falls.
That being said, 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 know more about these and other native plants around Hawaiʻi, check out my separate post. There are far better trails to see and learn about them than Waipuhia Falls.
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.
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