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Pools at Waiakeakua
Posted: December 29, 2009
We explored Waiakeakua Stream to see the pools and waterfalls tucked against the Koolau Mountains behind Puu Pia, the prominent cinder cone on the east-side of Manoa Valley.
Justin Ohara and I started our adventure on the Na Ala Hele Trail to Puu Pia in Manoa Valley where cattle had deforested much of the native vegetation and the land was replanted with albizia, eucalyptus, and rosey apple trees to reestablish the watershed.
Not long after starting our hike, we met three pig hunters who said they caught a good sized pig on this trail last week and were hunting for more today. Two of their dogs followed Justin for a bit before being called back by their master.
Just before reaching the top of the cinder cone, we dropped down the side of a ridge covered with invasive clidemia, rosey apple, and strawberry guava.
Since Waikeakua Stream is fed by ground water, it has water even in the driest summer months. Rain and fog drip over the mountains behind Manoa is soaked up and released slowly in the form of ground water into Waiakeakua Stream.
The water is incredibly clear and descends through a series of pools as it makes its way downstream. In ancient times, the pools at Waiakeakua were reserved for bathing by alii (chiefs). The ahupuaa of Manoa included Waikiki — which is where the ruling chiefs of Oahu lived. During the hottest months of summer, alii would spend time in these streams to escape the heat.
Charming waterfalls — no more than 12 feet high — cascade down rock faces into a series of pools in Waiakeakua Stream.
Gargantuan mules foot ferns (Angiopteris evecta), a highly invasive species in the rainforest, thrive alongisde the stream.
Justin climbs over gigantic boulders as we make our way up the stream dominated by mules foot ferns.
Justin makes his way over large moss covered boulders to invasive ginger (Hedychium flavescens) at the waterfalls and pools.
The 12 foot diameter pools are no deeper than 3 feet and are just enough to immerse in and bathe.
The upper of the two pools is little larger and deeper. After splashing around in the clear cool water for a bit we saw a rope that allowed us to climb above the waterfall.
Justin scales a 20 foot rope to continue our explorations above the waterfall.
The ravine was full of an invasive plant — Oxyspora paniculata — with veined foliage and attractive pink flowers. Its distinctive leaf vein pattern gave it away as a melastome — the same family as clidemia, miconia, tibouchina, and other highly invasive plants.
Justin climbs a 40 foot rope to reach the top of the waterfall while I look for and find a more gradual route that bypasses the rope.
Mosses, ferns, and grasses thrive at the very top of the small 40 foot waterfall that plunges into a small pool at the base.
The water in the stream diminished the further up we climbed and the stream flow slowed to a trickle.
The Mules foot ferns and pink melastomes became so thick that they clogged the streambed and made the going difficult. So we decided to turn around and return the way we had come. On our way back we splashed in the mountain pools and enjoyed the refreshing waters of Waiakeakua. What a cool place to visit!
Aloha and thank you for this wonderful photo-journey. We are beginning a study of Lana`i’s water resource with a group of our middle school students in a program sponsored by the Pacific American Foundation. We too have a place called “Waiakekakua” on Lana`i. May I use your photo-journey as a resource for our students? Unlike Waiakeakua, Manoa, our Waiakeakua no longer has water flowing. We have no surface water resources on Lana`i in modern times. Our ground water is tapped at the source and pumped for domestic and commercial use. Would you consider communicating with us should our students have questions?
Mahalo nui,
M. Evans