Canyon Adventures on Maui

Canyoneering along the Road to Hana

Jan 11, 2009 David Black

The highway between Kahului and Hana crosses dozens of canyons. It's the trailhead for Maui's best canyoneering.

This is the second in a series of articles about canyoneering in Hawaii. Readers should refer to Adventures on Maui for information on logistics and safety.

Puohokamoa

Puo is longer and more technical (4C III) than Makamaka'ole and is the second most popular canyoneering destination on Maui. Its Class 4 rating is only due to the length of the first rappel, which, at 210 feet, is longer than the standard canyoneering ropelength. Canyoneers usually park at the Garden of Eden preserve or at a pullout next to the bridge near mile marker (MM) 11. Access is easy below the bridge. A 15-minute hike downstream leads to the first drop.

There are 5 major drops:

210' rappel (bolts)
20' rappel, or traverse canyon right
40' two-tiered rappel (bolts)
100' rappel (bolts)
15' jump or rappel

All the drops end in deep pools. Most canyoneers will prefer to rappel the final drop rather than jump. Conditions can change and unseen boulders may lurk just below the surface.

There's one emergency exit located on canyon left just a hundred feet or so below the pool of the first rappel. Watch for a steep eroded trail and old fixed ropes.

From the last drop it's another 15 minute hike to the ocean. The beach in Puo is clean, remote, and scenic.

Exiting Puo can be problematic. Steep gulleys on both canyon left and right are difficult to negotiate, and on canyon left lead to fiercely protected private property. Probably the best exit is canyon right at some big boulders about 300 feet downstream from the 5th drop. Once the canyon rim is reached, pig and grower trails can be followed through the forest to the highway.

Waikani Falls at Wailuanui Stream

Waikani is a very short but intense canyoning adventure, rated 4C II. There are always significant flow and hydraulics in Wailuanui. Brief rains and water releases from upstream can rapidly make conditions life-threatening.

Access is from the tourist pullout at the bridge. A 10-minute hike leads to the two drops:

220' rappel (natural anchors), followed immediately by....
220' rappel (natural anchors)

Both drops end in deep pools. There is no emergency exit between the two drops.

There are two exit options from the bottom of Waikani. The first is up the very steep, exposed jungle wall a few hundred feet west (canyon left) of the last pool. That ascent requires strong jungle wall-climbing skills. The other option is to continue into the village of Wailua, where some local residents can be extremely unfriendly and threatening. If the Wailua option is taken, canyoneers should walk straight out of town on the Wailua Road without stopping for any reason.

East of Waikani Falls along the Hana highway are Maui's most beautiful canyons. Many have yet to see full descents, and there are opportunities to explore huge areas of pristine, undocumented wilderness.

The copyright of the article Canyon Adventures on Maui in Rock Climbing is owned by David Black. Permission to republish Canyon Adventures on Maui in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Canyoneer Chris Hahn Explores a Canyon Exit	View from the 4th Drop in Puohokamoa	The Beach at Puohokamoa
Big Hydraulics in Waikane Falls	Welcome Sign in Wailua