Aloha Friday, beautiful souls in the virtual realm!

In my attempt to weave all the facets that spark my flutter, I am writing this post on the first day of the Taurus season. Taurus is an earthly sensual sign that is ruled by the planet Venus. Taurus finds solace immersed in nature and is often associated with the land, resources, and material wealth. This Taurus season I also want to bring attention to exploitation of Indigenous land and resources, such is the case of the Kanaka Ma’oli, the native Hawai’ian peoples. Too many cultures and sacred lands have been on the verge of erasure due to greed for material wealth from our Mother Earth. We have been witnessing this happen to Palestine, Congo, and Sudan (sadly, to name a few). When visiting Hawai’i please remember to be a humble visitor of their lands. As always, when visiting anywhere but especially nature sites… leave it better than you found it.

As promised, it’s time to get back to Likeke Falls Trail in Oahu, Hawai’i –a short, kid-friendly hike through lush rainforest. Explore 0.8 miles of adventure, culminating in a beautiful waterfall. Perfect for little explorers🌿🏞️! If you happen to make your way to this hidden little gem, I hope you, too, are able to embody the Taurus energy of nature’s abundance and bliss.

About two months ago, my magical new friend invited me to a hike with our littles during spring break. Each of us has two kids, ranging from eight years old and four. I was initially hesitant because I was doing this hike without dad. He usually turns into a human chariot around the halfway point of any hike we have done with the kids. However, she assured me that it was kid-friendly, so I excitedly packed my hiking backpack full of snacks, sunscreen, a pair of clothes for each little, a first aid kit, and water bottles. Once we arrived, I realized I had forgotten the most essential thing—bug spray. 

Likeke Falls is nestled below the Pali Lookout off the scenic Pali Highway (Route 66), which cuts through the lush forested mountains. It connects downtown Honolulu to the windward side of Oahu, where Kailua and Kaneohe are. 

The Pali Highway has stunning views and various lookout points from which to stop. The history is just as unique as the views. Before the highway was built, there were three options for getting to the windward side of Oahu. The first was to take a canoe around the island, trek through the back of Kalihi Valley, or hike over the Pali cliffs. 

The Pali Cliffs trail was the most direct and dangerous route, and in the 1800s, it was the primary way farmers in the Kailua area brought their produce to sell in the city and transported goods back to the windward side. It wasn’t until 1845 that the trail was paved with large stones to allow an easier passage for horses and carriages. 

Okay, back to the Likeke Falls Trail 🙂. The moral of the story… bring bug spray. My magical mamma friend had some, but we still got chewed on a bit, even with it on. 

There are two ways to get to the trail. The first is through the Old Pali Highway Descent that starts at the Nu’uanu Pali lookout. This option usually takes 1.5 hours to get to the waterfall (not kid-friendly). 

The second option is much shorter and very kid-friendly; reaching the waterfall takes about 15 minutes if your littles don’t stop to climb on the various jungle gyms along the trail. The overall hike can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes—Park at The First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu (Ko‘olau Golf Club). You will follow the road up to the entrance, where someone in a golf cart will greet you and take your $10 to park. You will be directed to park in the 3rd or 4th row towards the back of the parking lot and go through the orange cones to get to the trail.

 

The next part is tricky, so you should read this a few times. Follow the path, and a beautifully decorated water tank will greet you. The trail to the waterfall is hidden, located on the left if you are facing the water tank. It is narrow, but I promise it will be the only trail. Please don’t go around the water tank like we did, or there’s a good possibility you may get slightly disoriented. 

 

You will trek through the jungle terrain, which will be muddy. Although you can enjoy this hike year-round, it is best to go during the dry season from April to September. We went towards the end of February and were lucky it wasn’t raining that day. The second time we tried to go and take Dad, it was raining so much that there was flooding. We weren’t able to make it to the waterfall. It’s advised to check the weather forecast for that area before going if you are visiting during the rainy season. 

Back to the trail… A very astute eye is needed to spot an arrow carved in a tree at a T-intersection that guides hikers on the trail. You will see a creek before the waterfall; keep going a little further, and the striking cascading water will greet you.

It is a two-tier waterfall, and you can climb both easily. We let our eight-year-old girls climb the second tier. Both tiers do not get more profound than ankle length for adults and shins for children, so it is very safe for littles to splash around in. But I wouldn’t let them sit in the water for an extended time. Wildlife, like boars, utilize that water source and are advised against drinking or swimming. Non-slip water shoes or hiking sandals are highly recommended for this hike, especially when climbing the second tier of the waterfall. 

The water runs into two small creeks where our littles played for a while, making mud pies and attempting to start a fire with rocks and damp twigs. There is a stunning view of the Koolau Mountains right across the waterfall. We even found a little fairy garden or altar left by other visitors for the Menehune, a mischievous, mysterious dwarf race from Hawai’ian folklore. Many sites in the Hawaiian islands are believed to be attributed to the Menehune. Most of these sites involve stonework, including walls, heiau, and fishponds. It is also thought that the Menehune inhabit Likeke Falls.

 

 If you feel inclined, leave a little offering to the Menehune who care for these lands. You wouldn’t want them to trip you on your way back 😉.

Happy Hiking!