Pu’u Kamapua’a

Overview

The Pu’u Kamapua’a Trail penetrates deep into the Sacred Falls wilderness area. Nice views of the Laie coast and down into Ma’akua Gulch are available while hiking the main ridge. It is the only viable way to reach the Castle Trail from the windward coast. A graded contour footpath built in 1934 and once considered the finest hike on the island, the Castle Trail is now closed to the public and badly overgrown with uluhe and clidemia. Furthermore, landslides have damaged or wiped out many of the spectacular switchbacks along the steep west wall of Punalu’u Valley and the road to the trailhead is patrolled. According to legend, Kamapua’a was the pig god who fashioned the waterfall chute near Kaliuwa’a (Sacred Falls). “He leaned against the cliff there so relatives could climb up his body and escape their enemies.”*

Directions

Continue on foot crossing the field in back of the parking lot. Walk through an open gate and head mauka (toward the mountain) along a dirt road unless flash flood warning signs are posted. If they are then terminate the hike immediately and return to your vehicle. The road forks. Keep right (the left fork leads to Sacred Falls), step over a chain and tramp along a paved road. At the end of the road (now dirt) look for a trail and, upon finding it, enter a canopy of trees. The trail eventually curves right and up a ridge. Follow it and ascend steeply to nipple shaped Pu’u Waiahilahila (elev. 1,264 ft) identified by a benchmark. Continue in the mauka direction on the crest of the main ridge for several miles. At a saddle reach a junction with the Castle Trail. Turn left and descend along Castle to upper Kaluanui Stream. Cross the stream, pass a small campsite on the right and, further ahead, arrive at a magnificent overlook of Punalu’u Valley (do not descend into the valley, however, because it is forbidden by Bishop Estate). Otherwise, bear right at the saddle onto upper Castle Trail and take it all the way to the top of the Ko’olau Range and the junction with the Ko’olau Summit Trail marked by a rusty metal stake.