Yesterday, I went on two gorgeous waterfall hikes that spanned several miles. This is my favorite of the two. Likeke Falls is also known as the “Pali Falls” because it’s a waterfall that can be reached from the Pali Overlook via the Old Pali Road. While the waterfall was beautiful and certainly worth the walk, I thought the main appeal of the trail was mostly the Old Pali Road and the history behind it. Please enjoy my photowalk from the Pali Overlook to Likeke Falls.
The trail starts at the Pali Overlook which is an amazingly popular tourist attraction but also the start to some really nice trails. After paying my $3 dollars for parking, I looked out at the Pali Overlook while watching many Japanese and Korean tourists have a lot of fun.
Although it’s a popular tourist site, I do agree that it’s one of the “must stops” when you visit Oahu. The view at the Pali Overlook is sublime. It really gives you a chance to get a bird’s eye view without taking on a dangerous ridge hike. (:
After taking in the view for a while, I left the tourist attraction and wandered off to the more quiet area where I said hello to a painter. He was painting this view of the overlook and it was coming out pretty good.
The Old Pali Road starts just behind the “road closed” sign. Even though it says it’s closed, I saw at least 50 – 70 people on this trail on a weekday. Everything from joggers, hiking groups, dog walkers, and families enjoying the views.
It’s certainly not off the beaten path. lol ^^;
The Old Pali Road was an attraction in itself. I love exploring abandoned places and this old road gave me a creepy feeling…. As if someone was watching me! lol =p
Along the way, I met a jogger who give me a bit of a history lesson about this area and helped me find the way to the falls.
He told me that the Old Pali Road was really one of the first automobile roads ever made and that it was built on the foundations of an old carriage road from the 1800s. Nowadays, there is a new Pali Highway that takes you from Kaneohe to Honolulu and the older road is now left to hikers.
Along the way, I took in the views which were extraordinary.
Part of the appeal of the Old Pali Road is that it gives you a chance to view the Pali Overlook view from a new angle. I think I might prefer this view. (:
The longer I went down the old road the more overgrown it became. There were times that it felt just like a ordinary trail….
While everything was straight forward, suddenly I came to a junction. The left path went under the current Pali Highway while the straight path went to other trails in the area.
I took the left and quickly went under the current Pali Highway. I wonder if commuters are used to seeing random people going under the freeway when they drive? lol ^^;
From this point on, I started photographing many of my favorite graffiti artworks.
This one looks like a mad scientist….
A clown graffiti artwork.
A scary skull graffiti accompanying the already spooky Old Pali Road. ^^;
The jogger accompanied me all the way to where the Old Pali Road reached a junction.
On the left hand side (at the curve) was a concrete barrier and some steps on the right side where you could hear the sounds of running water. He told me that this was the easiest way to the falls.
From the concrete barrier, the trail went through a couple of switchbacks until it reached a confusing three way junction. The left path goes steeply up to the current Pali Highway. I’m not sure where the right path goes. But, the straight path (with the blue marker) was the way to go.
From the junction, the trail goes for a long while. I was thinking I was almost there because of the running water, but the waterfall is actually on the other side of the ridge (in the opposite valley). Just bare with it and you’ll be there before you know it. (:
Some plant life along the tropical valley. I ran into a lot of these.
Several pink flowers were growing on a few of the mossy rocks.
Suddenly, the trail comes to an old carriage “cobble stone” road. According to the jogger, this road dates from 1845 and was made of old volcanic rocks….
You follow the carriage road while looking to the left…
On the left will be a tree with lots of scratches all over it and an extremely muddy trail. That is the trail to Likeke Falls!
Suddenly, I heard the sound of rushing water and there it was. Likeke Falls was gorgeous even though it was a lot smaller than some of the other falls I have visited.
Behind the waterfall was this gorgeous view.
It managed to take a way my thoughts about how I would have to climb all the way back up to the Pali Overlook in a few minutes. What goes up must come down and vise versa. ^^;
Still, I managed to take a well deserved break.
This article sounds straight forward but I was actually pretty lost finding this waterfall. At the time, I thought I was going the wrong way so I back tracked and wondered down hill to find someone who I could ask for directions and ran into some loose dogs. Combined with my earlier waterfall hike, I was covered in mud and exhausted. I need to sit down and to really enjoy Likeke Falls!
After a long break, I began the hike back up to the Pali Overlook. It actually wasn’t that bad but I still got my exercise in for today. ^^;
On the way up, I saw the Pali Notches; the man-made cannon foundations used by ancient Oahu warriors.
I doubt I’ll ever climb up there. I am no ancient Oahu warrior and I’m quite uncomfortable with heights and rock climbing. ^^;
Looking out at China Man’s Hat……my favorite place on Oahu. (;
In closing, the Old Pali Road was a awesome hike and the views were unreal. The spooky atmosphere added to the fun and finding the waterfall was a blast….even if it was a bit exhausting. Likeke Falls are a treasure and certainly worth your time if you’re in the area.
Till next time…
Ah, thanks for posting this! A friend and I went here today but took the wrong path at the three-way junction and never got to see the falls (though we still had fun exploring). Now we know where to go next time!
By the way, when you hit the junction, I don’t know where the left path goes up to but the right path takes you back down to the Old Pali Road where you can either go right or left: Right will take you to the base of the Pali Hwy at Castle Junction, while left will eventually get you to the Wilson Tunnels at the top of the Likelike Highway, with some gorgeous views of the Koolaus above you, and Kaneohe, the H-3 and the golf courses below. (I did that hike several years ago).
-r-
Glad you found my instructions useful. That area is just so confusing. lol ^^;
But, I think with some more exploration it won’t be too bad. Happy adventures! (:
I hike there often, the place has an incredible draw. Not only is it the breathtaking beauty but the duality that exists there. There is a darkness that is palpable, perhaps it is all the stories both actual and imagined that have been associated with the old pali/Morgan’s Corner. Have you heard the legends of Morgan’s corner? For many locals the mere mention of the place gives them chicken skin. If you ask them about it, most will give you a version of the popular “Boyfriend” urban legend. But some real life tragedies have also occurred in and around there. On the windward side of the cliff the road becomes Kionaole Rd. a place so infamous in its day for late night sketchiness that the state closed it for good in the late 70′s. As you saw, today it is a derelict road snaking through the jungle that is slowly taking it back over. Surreil. At night it is completely void of light, so many creepy stories abound. This may be more information than you needed but you did mention getting a creepy feeling and there is certainly something to that. Like you I feel it adds to the appeal, glad you had a good experience that day.
Sounds like a good hike for Halloween! (:
Great pictures & directions! My husband and I did this hike last week. He found directions on another site. I loved it, I was exhausted after but the overgrown roads and paths really made it fun and unique!
Glad you had fun. I like this one too because you get wonderful views yet there’s so little work to get to them. (:
My friends and I did the Pali Puka hike the other week. It looked a lot scarier in those youtube videos. And it was easier than some of your other ridge trails looked like.
There are a few parts with rope/cable and depending on the weather it’s either really gravelly or could be muddy. We got lucky and it was dry.
The view from the puka is even more unbelievable than from the lookout and old road. Good thing is that the trail is really short, except for being strainht up.
Is this accessible for strolles? We have a 6months old girl but we always bring her to hikea like makapuu lighthouse but really getting tired of it so were searching for other hiking place accessible for strollers
You might be able to get away with part of the way down with a stroller but the old road is overgrown with grasses and fallen rocks in places. It might be difficult in some sections. Beyond the ladder, it’s not possible with a stroller.
There is a way to get to the dirt trail head by coming from the golf course below. When we did the hike, we met a few people that went that way. However, to get to the falls, it’s a regular dirt path trail that the trailer won’t be able to maneuver.
If you’re just looking to just do the old Pali road and enjoy the view, you can do it with the stroller and turn around at the ladder part and go back up to the lookout.