| Like its Opaeula/Kawaiiki counterpart, this trail accesses various flumes and dams. After an initial climb, descent, traverse through forests of thimbleberry and job's tears, and multiple stream crossings thereafter, a vast pool over 20 feet deep awaits you at the end. |
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Description: Hands down, this is the home of the best swimming hole (and mountain apple grove) on Oahu. It's also a quick, stream-side trail to hike taking about an hour to 90 minutes (one-way) from the trailhead. Ironically, it's also is one of the least popular, least accessible, and most isolated of trails because of its location. Initially completed in 1904, then reworked in 1925, this trail was built to facilitate the construction of the upper portion of Kamananui Ditch. Kamananui Ditch is the northernmost branch of the four-arm irrigation network of the former, once-prosperous Waialua Sugar Company. It, combined with Opaeula, Halemano, and Wahiawa (Lake Wilson) Ditches, transfers northern Koolau stream water throughout plantations in Haleiwa and Waialua at the windward foot of the Waianae Mountains. The trail heads mauka (uphill) along Kawainui Stream and relatively parallel to the ditch (which remains underground and out of sight throughout most of the beginning portion of the trail). Upstream of the trailhead are the ditch's two uppermost intake flumes and stream dams. They form the start of the single underground water tunnel which extends downstream to supply several holding reservoirs above Haleiwa town. What to Expect: This trail is a mixture of graded, semi-contour trail and highly-vegetated, valley-floor/stream-crossing trail. After briefly ascending and descending a well-graded trail along the valley wall, the trail becomes almost totally flat from the first dam onto the terminus. Moving upstream, you need to do a bunch of stream crossings and a rock-hop here and there as the trail meanders left and right into the surrounding forest. The majority of this trail is not as covered in terms of overhead foliage like its "sister" trail at Kawaiiki Stream, but its partially-covered enough so that you're not exposed much to direct sunlight. Trailhead Location: The trailhead is located about a mile from the Palama Uka campsite, as you travel northbound on the Palaa Uka Palama Military Road. That is, after dropping down to the valley floor you pass over two concrete-bridged stream crossings (the first is lower Kawaiiki Stream, the second is lower Kawainui Stream). As the road veers to the left and starts up the northern valley wall, the trailhead will be on the right side in an upstream (and uphill) direction. Note: It is approximately 7 miles on dirt road from the highway to Palama Uka campsite. The trailhead is undeveloped and not officially marked. It was, however, last known to be heavily-ribboned. Accessing the Trail: From a permission standpoint, hiking is nearly prohibited by the landowners. Typically, only highly-insured hiking groups, such as the Sierra Club, are 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, as mentioned above, it is a 7-mile dirt stretch from state highway to Palama Uka campsite. After the Palama Uka campsite, the ruts and grooves in the packed, red dirt road, especially in the higher-angle sections, worsen elevating the need for a 4WD, high-clearance vehicle from "nice-to-have" to "absolutely needed". Occasionally, the access road is regraded, but as the military uses all-terrain humvees through it there's no need for anyone to maintain it very well in the vicinity of the trailhead. The Sierra Club has been allowed to offer this as a scheduled hike to its members as they are bonded and insured over a million dollars. This was required by the landowners. Property/Access: Owner: 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: |
 1st Dam & Flume Entrance (flume is on left side) |
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 Kawainui Stream (Stream Crossing) |
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 Kawainui Stream (Stream Crossing) |
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 Kawainui Pool (Depth: Over 20 feet) |
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 Kawainui Pool Channel (access to upstream) |
| 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/Int |