Hoping for Waterfalls at Waialae Nui Gulch

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Waialae Nui Gulch - May 25, 2016

I knew this hike existed. Erik has been here, but not to the waterfall. It was gonna happen sooner or later...it happened today.

I took a personal day from work and set up this hike with Erik. We were hoping for rain and rain was in the forecast. Meet up was at the Kahala Mall parking lot near Ross at 9:15am. Erik met me at my house and he drove us to Aprille's house to pick her up. We got to the Kahala Mall parking lot before 9:00am. David was waiting. We were supposed to wait for David's friend Mark, but he did another hike. From Kahala Mall, we drove onto Kilauea Ave to the end of the road. The neighborhood appeared rich. One house had an outdoor lanai with a ceiling fan. 

trailhead, cali grass cut down

Erik mentioned that someone cut the cali grass which consumed the trailhead. It was wide open and we could see where the entrance was. I was tired because I woke up at 2am and stayed up since. The trail paralleled the stream and went through all these coffee trees, a lot of coffee trees. We crossed the stream a handful of times, losing the trail from time to time. But Erik knew where he was going. We also saw the junctions for the spur ridges that led up to Lanipo and Waialae Nui Ridge, a hike I did a few years back. The stream was nonexistent, but some stagnant pools appeared sporadically. 

coffee

stagnant pools

It took us about an hour to get to this awesome area, an area where it looked like a movie. Although dry, the rocks and wilderness of the area made things movie like. We followed the stream encountering more 'movie like' areas. There was water, but it wasn't running. 

movie like area

movie like area

After about 1 1/2 hours we got to the first waterfall. It wasn't happening, a small trickle. Since it wasn't too wet, I decided to make the climb up the side of the waterfall chute via some solids holds to the second waterfall. This one had a bigger pool but again, a trickle. I climbed up to the third one. This one was very scenic because it was at a angle. If it had a strong flow, it would look pretty awesome. I progressed further, but didn't see anything nice. Erik went up farther than me and mentioned that he saw some nice things up there. 

upper falls

David got his tripod ready and snapped a group photo. I love when David takes photos of the group. One day I'll print it all out. After eating some snacks, we went back. Going back seemed very fast, about 1 hour or so. It rained on the way back, but I had a change of clothes in the car. 

group photo by David

PHM was at Whole Foods in Kahala Mall. I had two pizza - spinach and garlic and meat lovers. As always Whole Foods was busy so was the eating area outside. Erik, David, & I went inside the mall to find a table. Aprille was finishing up her order, but probably misheard where the eating place was. She eventually found her way inside the mall. I ate those two huge slices so fast and I was still hungry. We ended up at the candy store and Erik bought us popcorn. That filled me up. 

one day will make it when it flows

This hike would be awesome if there was flow. One day we are going to experience a great flow. Can't wait. 

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