Pools of Oheo
Everyone has a different image of paradise in their head. For most the picture includes miles of soft sand beaches, swaying palms, and a frosty libation of some sort. But for others, the image is more exotic. A scene set in a dense rainforest, where rare birds call out from tree tops and gorgeous waterfalls flow down the slope of an ancient volcano, cascading in and out of fern-rimmed pools.
For those seeking such a vision on Maui, the Pools of Oheo (also known as “The Seven Pools”), is a veritable garden of Eden on the rugged Northeast coastline just past the tiny town of Hana.
The dozens of pools (not just seven) are fed by fresh water streams from Maui’s famed Haleakala volcano, creating a dramatic playground of time-worn lava rock basins and terraced waterfalls. It is truly a magical place to spend an afternoon diving and swimming in pristine natural surroundings.
For the more adventurous, a series of hiking trails lead into the wilderness above the gulch. The arduous but truly spectacular main trail ends at the lovely Waimoku Falls, which plunges 400 feet from a lava rock wall.
The broadest and most popular pools are those right along the shoreline, just beyond the Park Ranger house.
Tip: The Pools of Oheo is one of Maui’s best-known attractions, and the parking lot does often fill up on weekends. If you are traveling from south Maui, be sure to leave very early in the day. The trip to Hana takes a minimum of three hours one way, and you’ll want to have at least a couple of hours to enjoy Oheo before making the trek back.
