| Built over a century ago to irrigate sugar cane fields of Waialua Sugar Company, this graded trail accesses the water system used to divert the flow of Kawaiiki Stream to the island's Waialua plantations. It is a trip through thick forest and yesteryear. |
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Description: This graded, semi-contour trail was built to facilitate the construction of ditches, dams, water tunnels and aqueducts of the Kawaiiki Ditch between 1900 and 1906. The ditch system still flows quite actively today despite the downfall of the sugar cane company which used this water for nearly a century. Kawaiiki Ditch is actually an extension of Opaeula Ditch which collects and transfers water from Kawaiiki and Opaeula Streams above Haleiwa into the irrigation network of the former, once-prosperous Waialua Sugar Company at the windward foot of the Waianae Mountains. Kawaiiki Ditch extends from Opaeula Gulch into neighboring Kawaiiki Gulch to the north. Kawaiiiki Ditch Trail is the sister trail to Opaeula Ditch Trail. What to Expect: Isolation! Due to the distance from town, the trailhead's distance from a regularly-paved road, and the difficulty in obtaining permission to proceed past several gates, you'll most likely not find travelers out on this trail. Unfortunately, this trail currently receives little attention due to its isolated location. Therefore, vegetation and feral pigs have free reign in this territory causing the trail to be quite overgrown. For the most part, it remains is navigable. A pair of really nice swim holes is your goal with this hike. The majority of this trail is covered in terms of overhead foliage. You'll be surrounded by lots of vegetation, especially as you descend toward the stream. Opaeula and Kawaiiki Ditch Trails are the same for the initial 0.5-mile or so. At a fork, the Opaeula Trail veers off the ridge to the right while the Kawaiiki Stream Trail continues straight. Trailhead Location: The trailhead is located about half-mile "before" the Palama Uka campsite as you travel northbound on the Palaa Uka Palama Military Access Road. The dirt road runs generally in a north-south direction. The trailhead is unmarked (save a ribbon or few) and is hidden in a "cove" of a streamlet's stagnant wash that is piled high with unremarkable overgrowth. The Opaeula Ditch Trail shares this trailhead. Accessing the Trail: There are generally two problems keeping you from accessing this trail: obtaining permission and physical accessibility to the trailhead. From a permission standpoint, hiking is nearly prohibited by the landowners. Typically, only highly-insured hiking groups, such as the Sierra Club, would be granted access to the trail itself. Second, the only physical access is through multiple locked vehicular gates blocking the access road to the Palama Uka campsite. In addition to the agricultural businesses in the area, Palama Settlement (based in Kalihi/Liliha, Honolulu) holds the keys as they run the Palama Uka campsite. They grant usage of the keys only to stay at the campsite and not to wander off and go hiking. This is because the trails are in areas not controlled by Palama Settlement. Finally, it's over a 6-mile dirt stretch from state highway to trailhead. Property/Access: Privately Owned, Restricted Access Landowner: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate Trustees Leasee: Waialua Sugar Co, Inc. Verified with City & County of Honolulu public records June 25, 2002. For detailed "property/access" info, click More Info. Dangers/Other Considerations: |
 Trail (Typical) |
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 Kawaiiki Ditch (Aqueduct) |
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 Kawaiiki Stream (1st Swimming Pool) |
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 Trail (Onward to 2nd Swimming Pool) |
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 Kawaiiki Stream (2nd Swimming Pool) |
| What the books say... | |
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| Hawaiian Hiking Trails Craig Chisholm |
Not listed |
| Hawaii's Best Hiking Trails Robert Smith | Not listed |
| The Hikers Guide to O'ahu Stuart Ball |
Danger: Low Skill: Novice |