Half Way To Waimoku Falls

The hike to Waimoku Falls at Kipahulu in Haleakala National Park is an easy four mile round trip I have done numerous times. In order to get to Kahanu Garden whose hours are only 10 to 2, the hike to the falls had to be shortened.



Waimoku is the four hundred foot fall at the end of a trail that takes you right to the base of the fall, but there are plenty of other falls along the route. Half a hike along the stream through the tropical rain forest is better than no hike at all.



When the water is not running high and if you listen carefully for a thunderous rush headed towards you, you can actually swim, splash is more like it, in some of the pools in the stream. Keep in mind there are feral pigs, goats and probably deer by now in the watershed above you.



They have trees in the forest.



And Bird's Nest Ferns in the trees.



And beautiful falls I had never seen before because the trail had been rerouted. At first I was upset that the trail seemed to be going around the bamboo forest instead of through it. The new route, new bridges and new scenery were well chosen and I got over my disappointment quickly.



Because we did get to go through the bamboo forest after all.



At least we could have. We turned back around at the one mile marker and the beginning of the bamboo forest.



Coffee grows wild in the forest understory. I think shade grown coffee is the new PC environmental way to grow the stuff. It is not however in any way a native plant to the Hawaiian islands. That being the case I wonder if you would get busted for harvesting the beans when they are in season because this non-native invasive plant is in a national park?

Coffee is actually a beautiful shrub and the flowers are incredibly fragrant.



Baby Lauhala, Pandanus or Screwpine have wandered further into the forest from the shoreline.



It wasn't the big falls, but it will certainly do for a mini hike.



There is one, maybe two more Maui posts to come. The rains have returned and there is of course a warning for snow above 3500 feet. That would include me. Maybe those posts will come sooner than later.

I decided my next cabin project will be cleaning, sanding and staining all the interior wood elements before I do the tile floor. That way I only need to cover the new drywall when the staining starts and the whole interior can get a good cleaning before the tile floor goes in. I have all the supplies. I just needed to do some gardening first. Spring like weather has also caused the clients to start calling.

Perhaps rain and snow will convince me to start sanding wood.