The One Hikeable Lake In Hawaii That's Simply Breathtaking
By Megan Shute|Published October 26, 2017
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Let’s just get one thing out in the open here: there are very few lakes in Hawaii. It’s obvious, isn’t it? After all, the state is an archipelago of small islands, and while we do have some of the best beaches in the entire world, we lack many freshwater bodies of water. There is, however, one hikeable lake on the island of Oahu sure to take your breath away.
Correction, there is one small reservoir on the island of Oahu you can hike to.
Tucked away off of Oahu’s Pali Highway in the lush Nu’uanu Valley, approximately a mile from the famous Nuuanu Pali State Wayside (where you’ll find breathtaking views of Windward Oahu), is a magnificent natural oasis that will certainly offer a welcome respite from the stresses of daily life.
Surrounded by the majestic Ko’olau Mountains, the reservoir is found smack dab in the middle of a gorgeous field: standing in front of the reservoir, you will find the Pali Highway to the left, a dense jungle to your right, and a bamboo forest behind you.
(This photo was taken from further down the path towards the jungle, and gives you an excellent vantage point of the reservoir, field, and mountains.)
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Your hike will begin in a parking lot off the side of the Pali Highway. You will hike through old hunting grounds and a picturesque bamboo forest before emerging and being confronted with a small hill.
The reservoir was built in the late-1800s or early-1900s and was once a popular spot to go fishing.
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
Today, the reservoir is gated off and access is restricted. NEVER attempt to access the reservoir’s water tower. It is not only off-limits but can be dangerous. When you type "Nu’uanu Reservoir" into Google, the first search result is the story of a man who died after jumping 50 feet into the reservoir.
You can, however, walk around the base of the reservoir and pretend it’s a real lake. The way the clouds roll over the mountains certainly makes for a dreamy photograph, doesn’t it?
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
Rumor has it that the reservoir will undergo construction and eventually be opened for fishing again, though we can’t be sure when, or if, that will happen.
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
If you follow the dirt path to the right into the jungle, you will ultimately find the stunning Lulumahu Falls, a 50-foot waterfall cascading down a greenery-covered rock face into a shallow pool below.
The trail is in a restricted watershed area, and hikers need to apply for a permit in order to make the trek legally, but trust us, it’s totally worth the hassle to grab a permit in person at 2135 Makiki Heights Drive, or the $2.50 processing fee it costs to secure a permit online. Learn more about the stunning Lulumahu Falls here.
Important Note: I’ve read that visiting the reservoir is strictly off-limits, however, the hike that leads there can be done legally with a permit. I, myself, have walked along the banks of this reservoir many times while hiking to Lulumahu Falls, and have never seen anyone get in trouble, though I don’t doubt that it happens. Please keep this in mind if you plan on visiting either the reservoir or the waterfall — and never hike without a permit!
For information about another hikeable lake in Hawaii, click here.
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