Kapena Falls — Attraction in Honolulu

Polluted and surrounded by invasive plants. You folks want something unique while visiting Hawai`i? I've lived here my whole life and so has my family for many generations (part native, we've been here over 1000 yrs if you don't know your anthropology) and I'll tell you that neither me nor any of my living relatives would swim here. If you don't know about Leptospirosis, Shigellosis, Yersiniosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis, and other illnesses then why experience it first hand? Pig/rat/human feces, chemical fertilizers/herbicides/pesticides, and other contaminants abound in the surface water here (look how much is used on all the properties upstream and the pig and rat population that live in the valley). If you want to roll the dice on getting sick on your vacay, go right ahead. If you want to enjoy a better waterfall then go to literally any other one deeper in nearly any valley. Don't say an actual longtime native didn't warn you. I went in the past and will not go back in the water. The only reasons you may think it is clean is because Department of Health rarely, if ever, tests there anymore and most people who get sick don't report or can't trace the pathogen to the...

Great for cliff jumping! It was difficult to find because the directions to the trail head led us to a lookout off the highway (not where the trailhead is located). Instead, you have to drive around and pass thru a church graveyard to find parking and the entrance. The trail is very short, and there is a homeless camp (they did not bother us, but it was littered and not very scenic). The waterfall itself is a little bit gross, but the cliff is great for jumping, at about 40 feet with a flat platform rock to leap from. There is also a much lower jump next to the waterfall. Be sure to check the water for debris or rocks under the surface. Not the best for scenic views, but excellent for amateur...

Easy trip from "downtown" makes this very accessible. Short walk to the waterfall. Very pretty even though not large/long. Worth a trip. Have to navigate tree roots and can be slippery/muddy depending on recent rain so a few may have difficulties if they are not stable on their feet. Minimal incline. Easy walk for the average person to a small waterfall with a pool. We did see people swimming but heard it is NOT recommended due to bacteria-idk. No mosquitoes in Dec but lots of fruit flies due to fallen and rotting fruit. Stop to see the petroglyphs that are protected by a metal grate. Go to other end of cemetery to see the Sanju...