Mo'ole Stream Tunnel Traditional Cache

While coming down the Lanihuli Trail, I accidentally took a Wrong Turn and began a steep and rapid descent… only to find out that my hiking friend was waiting for me up on the trail way above me. Oops. My bad. I tend to wander and get lost a bit. Made my way back to the trail to meet up with my friend who decided we should place some caches to commemorate what could have been a more disastrous accident. So we did.

But I was curious… That Wrong Turn trail that I was heading down. It must go somewhere? I did some research, talked to other experienced hikers and geo-peeps, and sure enough. It was a trail well known for having as many as 7-8 flowing waterfalls. The Mo’ole Stream Trail.

Now I was REALLY curious. I wanted to go down that trail and see all the falls. So, I rounded up some willing geo-friends (and muggle) and we made our way up to the Lanihuli Summit, and came down, down, down Wrong Turn. Talk about steep and slippery! But the views of the falls were gorgeous! After the last waterfall, we came to a curious spot on the trail with an irrigation tunnel and beautiful tree. I decided this would be the perfect place to drop a cache; and yes, you know I climbed that tree!

Upon further research, it turns out that you can walk straight through the tunnel, about 140 feet long. Headlamps and flashlights should be used. And if you are bigger than a Cat, then you will probably have to bend or squat your way through the tunnel as it can get to a pretty cramped 4’ low ceiling. Now, I didn’t personally go through the tunnel, so I can’t tell you exactly where the other entrance/exit is… But if you can find it and choose to crawl through, then you’ll pop right out under my cache!

There are a couple of ways to get to this cache, and I wasn’t sure how to rate the terrain since it will depend on the route that you choose.

Option 1: Use the parking and trailhead waypoints posted on this cache. You will be parking on the Pali Highway close to the hunter check-in station. The most difficult part will be crossing the Pali Highway and dodging traffic. PLEASE be careful! Once on the other side of the Pali, there will be a fence. The second waypoint will take you to a gate in the fence near an archery sign. The gate should be open and you can walk right in and the trail begins here. The trail is basically flat, although it will switchback and contour around the ridge, so don’t try to follow your GPSr straight line to the cache. If you happen to see the end of the irrigation tunnel, you are welcome to crawl right through it (about 140 feet, about 4-5’ ceiling) as this will pop you out right under my cache. If not, continue around the trail as it contours around the ridge until you get to GZ. Can’t miss it. Tunnel. Big tree. This is maybe a 2-3 terrain depending if you go through the tunnel and make it across the Pali in one piece. I encourage you to continue on up the trail just a little bit further past GZ to see one of the waterfalls if the water is flowing; this is marked as the third waypoint on the cache page.

Option 2: Head up the Lanihuli trail. It begins at Na Pueo Park on Alewa Drive. Keep going up and up and up and up and up. And then go up and up and up some more until you get to Wrong Turn. Grab that cache and keep heading down and down and down. If you choose this option, consider this closer to a 4-5 terrain! You will be hiking down along side some gorgeous waterfalls. It is STEEP and SLIPPERY. There are lots of ropes to aide you. Use them. You will cross the stream numerous times. There are colored trail ribbons tied to trees marking the trail. Follow them. After passing the last waterfall (there are about 7-8 falls on this trail, depending if the water is flowing) you will soon come to a tunnel with a big tree. This is GZ. From here, you have a leisurely 30 minute walk to the end of the trail, and you will end up at the Pali Highway, across the street from the hunter check in station. Don’t forget to arrange transportation back to your car.