Is the Nāʻiliʻili-haele waterfalls hike open?

No. The site is on private East Maui Irrigation Company land and is officially closed to the public.

Why is Nāʻiliʻili-haele closed?

It's private land, and it's also one of the most dangerous and frequently-rescued spots on the Road to Hāna. Slippery waterfall ledges and trails have caused many serious injuries and several deaths.

Where can I safely swim in waterfalls and a bamboo forest instead?

Twin Falls is the safest location to swim at a waterfall as it's a curated attraction. Keʻanae Arboretum has a flat jungle walk through dense rainforest. The Pīpīwai Trail has an inspiring bamboo forest section about 45 minutes into the hike.

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Nāʻiliʻili-haele Falls

Mile ~6.5

Also referred to as the "Bamboo Forest" or "Commando Trail" hike this area features a sequence of waterfalls along the Nāʻiliʻili-haele stream. It's on private land and officially closed. It's one of the most frequent rescue and injury sites on the Road to Hāna as detailed below, with a history of flash floods, falls, and deaths. This page explains why it should be avoided.

⏱ Skip at stop 🚗 33 min from Pāʻia ✓ Free to access

At a glance

Why not to go: Closed, on private land — The stream, trail, and falls sit entirely on private property owned by the East Maui Irrigation Company. The site is officially closed and entering means trespassing.

Water danger: Flash floods & drownings — This is among the road's top rescue spots. Streams here can rise fast from distant mountain rain, stranding or sweeping away hikers. There have been scores of serious injuries and even deaths.

Trail hazards: Slick rock, ladders, falls — Reaching the upper pools involves slippery and steep terrain, stream rocks, and makeshift ropes and ladders. Many of the injuries here are falls. The terrain is unforgiving when wet, which is most of the time.

Access: No legal access — A fence and sign warn people to keep out, and EMI has even considered hiring security because people ignore the sign.

About Nāʻiliʻili-haele Falls

The waterfalls along Nāʻiliʻili-haele stream were popularized by the Maui Revealed guidebook when it described one of the falls as 'Paradise'. That reputation is the problem: the route draws people onto land where they shouldn't be, into conditions that are far more dangerous than the photos suggest. It's impossible to appreciate the risks from the description in the guidebook.

The entire area is private property held by the East Maui Irrigation Company. Maui Revealed mitigates the private property concern by advising visitors to contact EMI for access permission. But it's officially closed to the public - they will not grant you access even if you're one of the exceptional visitors who actually tries to get permission. So going in requires trespassing and undertaking risks you really didn't sign-up for when you imagined your Maui vacation.

The danger is real and well documented. This is one of the most frequent rescue locations on the Road to Hāna. The streams are fed by rainfall high in the mountains and prone to flash floods - rising suddenly even on a clear day. Add slick stream rock, steep waterfalls that are difficult to navigate, a make-shift ladder and ropes, slippery and steep trails, and the result is a long record of broken bones, serious injuries, and several deaths over the years.

Good to know

Flash floods are driven by rainfall miles away in the mountains and can arrive with little warning. East Maui's vast irrigation network was designed to divert up to 450 million gallons of water daily, which changes the character of streams unpredictably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nāʻiliʻili-haele waterfalls hike open?: No. The site is on private East Maui Irrigation Company land and is officially closed to the public.
Why is Nāʻiliʻili-haele closed?: It's private land, and it's also one of the most dangerous and frequently-rescued spots on the Road to Hāna. Slippery waterfall ledges and trails have caused many serious injuries and several deaths.
Where can I safely swim in waterfalls and a bamboo forest instead?: Twin Falls is the safest location to swim at a waterfall as it's a curated attraction. Keʻanae Arboretum has a flat jungle walk through dense rainforest. The Pīpīwai Trail has an inspiring bamboo forest section about 45 minutes into the hike.