Likeke Falls Hike | A Short and Sweet Family Adventure

An Easy Waterfall Hike for the Family

Likeke Falls stands out as the epitome of family-friendly hikes. Covering a mere 0.8 miles round trip, with a modest elevation gain of just over 200 feet, it easily claims the title of the shortest and easiest waterfall trek on the island. However, this hike lives up to expectations. The rainforest trail leads you through a small portion of the historic Pali road, meandering past vibrant tropical ginger and heliconia flowers. It also guides you through a captivating tree tunnel and across a gentle stream, all before unveiling the magnificent Likeke Falls in close proximity.

The falls themselves are a lovely two-tiered spectacle with shallow pools beneath to splash in. Although they stand at a modest height of approximately 20 feet, don’t let their size deceive you; they are perfect for splashing around or simply a background for a picnic lunch. Keep in mind that, during the dry summer months, the flow may reduce to a gentle trickle. Nevertheless, these falls are spring-fed, ensuring they never completely vanish, guaranteeing year-round charm.

A Tale of Nature Tour Guide

Once upon a time, in the midst of my grad school days, well before the responsibilities of parenthood, I found myself in a rather unexpected role – that of a tour guide. The entirety of tour guide training consisted of shadowing another guide once on each of the 7 tours. After this brief apprenticeship, I was deemed competent, and it was time for me to lead a group on my own. The “Rain forest Hike” aka the Likeke Falls hike was our most popular Oahu adventure and my first tour.

It had been 2 weeks since I shadowed the other guide and heavy rains had transformed the trail into an unrecognizable muddy mess. At some point I turned onto a trail that wasn’t actually a trail. I slogged up the mountainside through ankle-deep mud as the group of 12 dutifully followed behind. Eventually, I found myself at a perplexing crossroads; the trail I had been following seemed to vanish into the muck. “A mudslide,” I announced with a touch of solemnity, realizing we had no choice but to turn back. Surprisingly, the group seemed to relish the unexpected challenge, finding joy in the slippery muck underfoot.

Fortunately, they were having a grand time slopping through the mud. I showed them traditional Hawaiian plants and we sampled starfruit and mountain apple while White-rumped shamas escorted us back to our van.In the end, not a single person in the group even mentioned the missing waterfall, for they were brimming with excitement from their unique, tropical adventure. To my surprise, they generously tipped me for the unforgettable experience. I got lucky.

Preparing for a Hike to Likeke Falls and the Old Pali Road

Getting to Likeke Falls

The easiest access to the Likeke Falls hike is in the parking lot for the Koolau Ballrooms. Sadly, the days of open gates and free parking ended during the pandemic. As of 2024, First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu has limit access and started charging to park. They open their gates from 8am – 4pm and charge $10 to park. Note they are often closed on Sundays for church parking and sometimes for no reason. You can park along the road outside the gates, however, you may get towed if any part of your car is on the road and it’s a high break-n area. We left our car open and someone still smashed our windows and stole my … mileage log. It made taxes annoying that year.

On the Trail

The hike to the falls takes 15-20 minutes from the trailhead at the southwest corner of the parking lot (when you drive through the gates, the ballrooms will be on your right and the trailhead will be on the left in the very back corner of the lot). A chained off service road will lead you to a water tank. The trail continues to the left of the tank and here you will find the steepest, muddiest section. Enjoy a glimpse of the pali lookout above, pass through a tangle of hau trees and find yourself on cobblestone from the historic pali road. Here you’re close to the turnoff for the falls. Look for a spur trail to the right marked with an arrow carved into large tree.

There are different hikes in the area and you can connect and explore different paths. One of my favorite routes is a loop that starts at the bottom of the old Pali road, makes a detour to the waterfall, and finishes back at the parking lot. It’s short, scenic, and fun, but potentially confusing. Send me an email and I’ll take you some time. Another favorite is walking up the Old Pali Road to the lookout and taking the much longer path to Maunawili Trail.

You can also choose to continue your hike beyond the falls on Likeke Trail, hike up the old Pali road to the lookout (currently closed due to rock fall) or connect with the Maunawili trail and even take that over to Maunawili falls. There are many options, but with the exception of the old Pali, road, none are well marked and its possible to get lost.

Essential Packing List

Although Likeke Falls is a short trail, it’s helpful to be prepared. Expect mud, exposed roots, slippery rocks and wet feet.

• Shoes. Light hiking shoes or trail running shoes with big lugs are good for most Hawaii hikes.
• Sunscreen. Most of this hike is under tree cover but if you extend your hike to the old Pali road, it will be exposed and sunscreen will be helpful.
• Water + Snacks. Always bring more water than you think you will need and snacks, well, they make hiking more fun.
• Alltrails.com. An excellent hiking resource with great trail descriptions. A good tool to make sure you’re on the correct path.
• Geochaching. This worldwide scavenger hunt. Keep them moving with some geocaching fun.

Can you swim in Hawaii’s freshwater pools?

If you stumble along a fresh water pool, waterfall, or stream in Hawaii, you will usually find a group of kids or adults playing in the cool water. However, it’s not without risk. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease present in freshwater puddles, ponds and streams. It’s passed through open cuts or through soft tissues (nose, eyes, mouth). Decide where your comfort levels is, but don’t go in if you have open cuts, avoid putting your head under water and definitely don’t drink the water.

Post-hike fun – What to do after a visit to Likeke Falls Trail?

Eateries

Tasty eats await you in nearby Kaneohe town –

• Haleiwa Joe’s. Featuring fresh catches, locally grown produce, and quality steaks all with stunning mountain views.
• Fresh Catch. Take out poke and plate lunches.
• Adela’s Country Eatery. A variety of favorite local dishes using homemade Hawaiian noodles and locally grown produce.

Beaches

Jump in the ocean for a refreshing dip after your muddy hike to Likeke Falls! These lovely options are all nearby.

• Kualoa Regional Park. A lovely park with calm water, mountain and bay views.
• Kaneohe Sandbar. Not so easy to get to, but I had to recommend it as it’s one of my favorite spots on the island!
• Kailua Beach Park. A long stretch of family-friendly, white sand beach with amenities at Kalama Beach Park and Kailua Beach Park.

Even More Fun for Families in Oahu

Looking for even more ideas for family fun on Oahu? Head off-the-beaten-path with one of these options –

• Macadamia Nut Farm. A beautiful stop under towering monkeypod trees with local goods, lots of samples and the option to crack your own macadamia nuts.
• Bydo-In Temple. A peaceful spot nestled at the foot of the Koolau mountains.
• Family photos! Let me plan a fun morning for your family so you can have a great time and take home beautiful memories. You can see examples of photo sessions in Kaneohe here, here, and here.

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