muliwai trail

Hike Name: muliwai trail Location: northeast HI Length: 15 Submitted by: joey raab Date Submitted: 10/5/08 Rating:	more Hawaii trail reviews Hawaii national parks Hawaii state parks
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Description
this hike is pretty phenomenal. i went in april 2008. i had my friend drop me off in waipio valley(he doesn't hike) where i began my hike across the stream and to the far side of the valley where the trail zig-zags up the 1000 ft. valley wall. From there the trail continues through mostly forrested hills and valleys, with the vegetation varying greatly depending on whether you are in one of the tropically vegetated valleys or the densly forrested higher areas, always with the pacific ocean in and out of view on the right. there are approximately 13 gulleys to traverse, some with streams flowing through them, allowing for wonderfully cool places to take a break.(one of them is an absolutely beautiful hanging valley with a small but deep and cool pool below a waterfall, amazing!) finally when you reach waimanu valley, there is a 1000 ft descent(steep and rocky)down to the valley floor. (this is a totally uninhabited valley, its like your stepping into jurrasic park)where you have to cross a stream to get to the campsites, located just behind the rocks near the beach. there are a couple of self composting toilets set up there, and i found a huge bunch of bannannas greeting me at the first camp site! there was only 1 other couple there when i arrived, and 1 other group of 3 that arrived later that day, but they both left the next day, leaving me in the valley alone! Also fishing gear, pots and pans and miscellaneous other equiptment laying around for anyone to use(even a hammock already strung up!) The stream flowing through the valley forms a small pond just behind the first campsite, perfect for rinsing off in after a swim in the ocean(the beach is grey sand, and is perfect for swimming). there is a spring on the far side of the valley providing comparatively clean fresh water. the views into the back of the valley are incredible, with waterfalls cascading down the sides of the valley as far as you can see. on my second day i hiked along a barely visible trail along the far side of the valley towards a huge waterfall, past ancient hawiaan ruins almost completely swallowed by the jungle, until i reached the completely amazing waiilikulii falls, with a HUGE pool at the base, it was one of the most amazing places that i have ever been, and not a soul in sight. INCREDIBLE! after spending a couple of hours in total awe(and a little swimming) i headed back to camp and prepared dinner on my last night out. fire was a little difficult, the area is in a rainforest, but i managed to get it going. the only downside to the entire trip was that the trail is faily steep and exhausting in sections, and there are tourist helecopters that buzz the valley from around 10am until around 6pm, about 1 every hour or so, but it is easy to forget they were ever there when they have gone. the next day i headed back to waipio, where my friend picked me up(much to my dissapointment he did not bring beer!), and we drove pretty much straight to the top of mauna kea(about 14,000ft.!) from sea level, this is a HUGE elevation change, and we did 'nt stop for acclimitization, so we were both altitude sick(i rather enjoyed it), but i didn't let that stop me from making the 15 minute trek to the summit(snow, and the highest point in the entire pacific!)totally amazing journey, highly recommended, especially if you want to get off the beaten track and see some of the "real hawaii"

Directions to Hike
From hilo, drive north along the coast until you reach hanoka'a, which will be your last stop for supplies, then follow 240 to waipio valley, where you will either have to get a shuttle down into the valley(unless you have 4 wheel drive) or hike down, adding a couple of miles to your trek. the trail head is at the far end of the valley. you will have to park at a store that will allow overnight parking, which is not to far from the lookout.(unless you are being dropped off)

Contact Information
permits are required, but free(actually there is no one down there checking so...). contact state of hawaii department of land and natural resources division of forestry and wildlife, p.o. box 4849, hilo, hawaii 96720, phone #(808)974 4221.

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