Pipiwai Trail Waimoku Falls
Pipiwai Trail Waimoku Falls
Nearing the end of the Pipiwai Trail, you will walk past tulip trees, brightly colorful when flowering, and fruit trees like apple trees and strawberry-guava trees, often flush with ripe fruit.
As you walk along a series of wooden boardwalks, you’ll first hear the thunderous roar of Waimoku Falls, and then the forest will open up and offer an amazing spectacle of the top half of the 400-foot Waimoku Falls, over the tree tops.
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The views get better as you walk along, and if it has rained heavily recently, the falls will be at their majestic fullest, absolutely awe-inspiring!
You will truly appreciate the Hawaiian meaning of Waimoku, “water that breaks or cuts into two,” because the waterfall will split, especially near the base when flowing full.
Not only that, the entire cliff face becomes your prototypical “weeping wall,” and everywhere you turn, there will be mini-falls!
One time we went, it rained almost continuously throughout the hike, and we actually enjoyed the refreshing rain drops due to the humidity.
But the best part was when we reached, Waimoku Falls: the waterfall was a raging torrent, just incredible!
One sign next to the waterfall had an inscription of a Hawaiian saying, “He wai makamaka ‘ole” which translates to “water that recognizes no friend.“
If you saw Waimoku Falls that day or on a similar day, you would fully appreciate the meaning, and the power of nature to wreak havoc!
Posted signs warn you of the dangers of going further towards the base of the falls, and please heed them. People have been killed or badly injured by falling rocks, often with no warning!
The stream crossing can be dangerous as well, especially after rains, as flash floods are possible, with no warning.
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