-
corym576
Listen to the rest of the reviewers. This is a tough hike, but you will be rewarded with spectacular views if you decide to go. Make sure to wear hiking boots, or shoes that you don't care about that have good grip. The trail was very muddy (think walking on peanut butter) with numerous rocks and exposed roots. Getting to the half-way point (beach) requires that you cross a river which is about 3-4 feet deep. Getting to the waterfall will require 4 more river crossings just like it. The last 1/2 mile of the hike gets more difficult--but is totally worth it.Recommend that you bring 2-3 bottles of water for each person in your group, snacks, and that you wear old shoes with good grip. Start early, get to the parking lot before 9am otherwise the parking lot fills up and so that you can get back before dark. You don't want to be on this trail at night. I can't imaging trying to navigate it in the dark. This is not a hike for young children.
-
523MichelleB
Hanakapai'ai Falls is the culmination of a hike that begins at the Kolalau Trailhead at Ke'e Beach. It's an awesome sight, and you can swim in a waterfall. (Go under the falls and there is a ledge behind that you can stand on.) That said, it's not an easy hike. And it is a hike, NOT a walk. I back up all the reviews that mention footgear (no flops or cute sandals), water (not a little bottle, at least a couple of liters per person depending on the season), and food (it's an all day hike and you'll need the energy for the return trip). It may seem like 8 miles (2 to the beach at Hanakapai'ai then 2 into the valley to the falls, then the reverse to return) isn't that long, but the rock scrambling, slippery footing, and stream crossings will slow your pace considerably. And once you get to the falls, you will want to spend some time there!
-
181AmandaT
It is 4 miles in, but don't let that short distance fool you. The first two miles of the hike which lead you to Hanakapia'ia beach are a great warm up for what comes next. Lots of crossing rivers by rock hopping, plenty of climbing up rocks and mud. It was amazing, so much fun and the falls are beautiful and worth the effort. Bring lots of water and snacks, plan to spend some time resting at the falls and taking in the beauty. It took us 4 hours from start to finish with a 30 min break at the falls, but we were moving at a fast pace. Wear hiking shoes and a bathing suit to swim in the falls.
-
435judithw
Just be sure, as others have said, to go in prepared with adequet fluids and food as well as swim wear, as when you reach the falls, you will most likely want to jump in! I was happy I also had a towel in my backpack for after the swim. I want to do this hike again. Very, very beautiful, a good workout and we saw whales on our way out! (We hiked this in Jan, right smack in the middle of whale season.)
-
oneluv281
We were not expecting this hike to be as hard as it was. We took no food or water- very bad planning. Not for the weak. Lots of uphill, downhill, there are crazy amount of ants at one point, that get all over your feet so you must move fast. I creep out at tons of ants. Narrow, high areas. Slippery and muddy. Some slippery rocks in the stream that you must cross. Sometimes this stream is too dangerous to cross. I slipped on thevrocks and hurt my ankle & butt really bad & had a very hard time heading back down. Ke'e beach is to die for... The hanakapia waterfall is absolutely breathtaking, but the water is iCe cold. Some people were still swimming in it though. As much as I wanted to, it was just to damn freezing. Take lots of water & food, good hiking shoes, maybe a towel, as this took us 6 hrs total. 3 hrs getting to the just the waterfall, & 3 hrs coming back the same way we came. Verizon & AT&T had no cellphone service. Needless to say, I am so glad I did it. The views are spectacular, just wished we were more prepared.
