Hawaii

Blue Hole Waialeale
Muliwai Trail

Blue Hole Waialeale Canyon (Kauai)

Jurassic park gates in the Waialeale Canyon hike in Hawaii

The trek to the "Blue Hole" is mostly rock hopping up the Wailua River. The river leads to the Weeping Wall, a cascade of waterfalls down the Waialeale Crater. Access to this hike is difficult so you likely will have the canyon to yourself. I parked at the Keahua Arboretum at the end of 580 and walked the extra miles in the morning. There is a good overview map on HawaiiGuide.com with landmarks to help navigate the turns in the access road

Guardian falls on the Wailua River in Kauai

After reaching the end of the road, stay alongside the river until reaching this waterfall known as Guardian Falls. The correct paths should always be within listening distance of the main Wailua. If needed walk in the river itself until a path is spotted and avoid taking one of the hunter trails deeper into the forest. Climb the path on the left side of the picture above and continue along the stream in the center of the frame

Blue hole hike up the river in Waialeale Canyon in Hawaii Maui

Walking up the northern stream to the gate that leads to Blue Hole in Hawaii

The paths are less defined after Guardian Falls, pink flags have been mostly removed as of May 2019

The easiest route is following the main stream in the northern canyon, a waterfall will come into view on the north face of the crater

Gate on the Blue Hole hike in Waialeale canyon Hawaii

The northern stream appears to dead end into a waterfall, but there is an uphill path on the south side of the stream that leads to a gate in the fence. The gate is a good landmark as there is a well defined path for the remainder of the walk.

Location of the gate

First view of the Inner Sanctum

Weeping wall hike to the Blue Hole in Mount Wai'ale'ale in Kauai Hawaii

The sun came out when I reached the weeping wall cascade in the back of the Wai'ale'ale crater

Looking back on the Waialeale hike from the cascade at the Blue Hole in Kauai Hawaii

Both times I have done the hike I waited for a good weather. Flash floods are possible, best to check the summit forecast. The Waialeale summit averages 20-30 inches of rain per month. The coastal town of Wailua only ten miles away averages two inches of rain per month

Muliwai Trail

The Muliwai Trail on the Big Island starts with a walk across Waipio beach and then climbs through the jungle to reach Waimanu Valley (18 miles return)

Waimanu Valley from above on the Muliwai Trail

The final set of switchbacks gives the first view of Wai'ilikahi Falls and the Waimanu Valley

Waimanu valley creek crossing in Hawaii on the Muliwai Trail

Waimanu creek is the final river crossing to reach camp

Waimanu campsite on the Muliwai trail in Hawaii

Campsite #3

Sunrise at the Waimanu valley campground

Sunrise at camp

Waimanu beach

I mostly rested on the day in the valley, taking a short hike to Wai'ilikahi Falls