By the time we got to the Kipahulu Visitor Center- we were a little pooped. But in our research before coming we had made plans to do:
1) Trailhead
2) Makahiku Falls
3) Bridges & Banyan Trees
4) Bamboo Forest
5) Waimoku Falls
6) Oheo Pools {Back by Visitor Center}
So we were determined to make all that happen! We decided to first head up the 2 mile trail (one way and reaches an elevation of 650 feet) to check out all the cool things that the Pipiwai Trail has to offer. {Someone wrote about it here} We told the kids we'd go swimming in the Seven Sacred Pools (Oheo Pools) to cool off before we headed home.
We checked out the Trailhead sign and then we were off!
It was a very long hike or we are super slow hikers!!! As soon as we headed up the 1)Trailhead- it started to rain. And it rained and rained and rained the whole way. The trail was almost like one big puddle. We were soaked to the bone. We hiked through a literal rain forest past the 2) 200 ft Makahiku Falls.
3) There was this super cool Banyan tree we checked out!
4) We got to travel through a seriously tall Bamboo Forest. It was amazing!!
5) After what seemed like FOREVER- we made it to the 400 foot Waimoku Falls! It was pretty impressive! By then my kids (well-all of us!) were wet & tired so I think their exact quote was "That's it?" Obviously this amazing work of art from God was not worth their "2 mile hike" tired legs and wet skins. LOL Brett took the 3 younger kids past the caution sign and up a little closer. You can see them hiking back where I put the arrow. Brett & I thought it was super neat and glad we made the trek. Then we headed back down!
This is taken through my soaked poncho but we literally felt like this.
We made it back down as the Visitor Center was closing. That means we took a really, really long time to do the hike. ;) We dragged our tired kids down the short hike to the Oheo Pools (aka Seven Sacred Pools).
Unfortunately, because it was late and it had rained the whole afternoon- they had closed the Pools. WHAT??? Are you kidding me? My kids were super disappointed! And then to top it off- they had no where to wash off the mud and grime from our hike. Our legs were splattered with mud! Grrr! I took a few pictures of the Oheo Gulch that was clearly overflowing from the extra rain but was super gorgeous!
And I walked out on the Kuloa Point before heading back to the car. The waves were coming in really strong. It's amazing to witness the majesty of the ocean.
Here's what the pools look like on a calm day! Would have been fun for sure!
What a scenic day! We saw so many things but it was long! Thanks to Brett for being willing to drive us all the way back mostly in the dark. It was a rough trip back but we made it!!! Hallelujah!
Kipahulu Visitor Center (808)248-7375
Mile Marker #42
9am to 4:30PM
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