Tubing Kaukonahua (North fork), Wahiawa

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THE INFO AT THE END OF THIS WRITE UP BEFORE ATTEMPTING
I have noticed people trashing this trail (pack out what you pack in) in an in attempt to ruin this adventure for others, so I will not be giving any further info than what is described in this write-up.

One of the best adventures I’ve done on Oahu, tubing the “north fork” of Kaukonahua Stream in Wahiawa was a great way to spend a day outdoors… since all we basically had to do was stay afloat. Easier said than done???

Receiving an invite from Chenay (808 Goonies) and Pete, we (Nate, Elisa, August, Dave, Jenelyn and I) started our amphibious adventure above one of the residential areas in Wahiawa.

Within minutes from the trailhead, we were descending down a steep muddy hill into the valley, through a forest of giant Paper Bark trees…

Near the valley floor, we crossed a small tributary of Kaukonahua Stream, of which had several fallen trees connecting the channel banks.

After a short uphill trek, we came to a bifurcation that could take us either down to the main stream channel (left turn) or continue on the ridgeline (right turn), mauka. We followed Pete down to the stream, where he set up what looked like the the colorful flagged transect lines we use for stream survey work… little did I know at the time, this was our finish line. lol.

Hiking back up to the bifurcation, we continued up on the ridgeline for about an < hour or so until we came to a steep trail which lead us back down into the valley (which is where the loop trail heads back downstream). Pete points out where we'd likely be starting point, near some riffles and exposed boulders.
Once at the bottom of the trail and crossing the stream, we inflated our inflatables… Note Dave’s sick lounge chair w/ cup holder included.

I don’t think I’ve ever blown up an inner tube before, but damn… it takes a really long time. Water-wings… not so much.

It may have been just me, but I haven’t been excited to do anything this great in a long time. lol. It was like Christmas morning for a 5 year old Cory. 🙂

Looking as if the stream was going to be a bit rough, I quickly tanked my Boddingtons for some liquid courage. haha.

…and it’s good thing too, cause I’m pretty sure I would have spilled it.

However, not all of the ride was rapid-like in nature. Much of the journey was quite leisurely and only required minor steering/ruddering with our hands.

On some of the more shallow, problematic areas, we had to rock hop downstream… so glad we brought our felt-bottomed tabis!!!

Further downstream, there was a cobble beach which makes a nice place to stop and have lunch… but since it was on a sharp bend, I could assume it may not be there if a large flood would easily move the sand off the stream bank.

I have to admit, I was pretty jealous of Dave. His lounge chair allowed him to go through almost all of the rough areas since he was much more elevated out of the water. Going through some of these parts on an innertube resulted in bruised tailbones and flipped tubes… Trust me, I know first hand. haha. Learning the hard way, we found that erecting our bodies, parallel to the stream bottom was best when going over shallow rocks.

After what was probably ~3.5 hours of floating downstream, we approached the finish line!

Which was welcomed, as most of us were pretty cold by this point… note everyone throwing on their jackets and dry clothes, hehe.

…and off to climb the “hill of tears” through the paperbark tree grove. Cardiac hill got nothing on this!!!

Next stop Maui Mikes!

Mahalo nui loa for the invite and hosting such a great adventure. Good times with a fun crew! 😉

GoPro video of our adventure downstream from Jenelyn Castillo. 😉

Although the above documentation was not intended as a guide, I can only assume people will try to come here as “unprepared” as possible. For our adventure, we were prepared with one or two back-up tubes (or patch kit), and a good thing too, since several members of our group popped theirs on submerged branches and logs along the stream. Neoprene vests or wetsuit tops helped us endure partly submerging in the cold stream water over several hours of tubing… particularly since the weather up here is usually overcast / shaded from the riparian cover. It is critical to map out exit routes prior to floating downstream, as it is not unreasonable to tube into the upper reaches of Lake Wilson… which is probably not where most people want to be. DO NOT go tubing during heavy rains unless you have a helmet and gills, as a flash flood will likely result in drowning… and again in Lake Wilson. On the other hand, dryer summer months may leave the stream too dry for tubing.

I typically check the USGS current streamflow conditions for Hawaii (i.e. for the Northfork of Kaukonahua Stream) and the National Weather Service forecast conditions for the upper reaches of Wahiawa, before planning any type of adventure. I’d typically shoot for stable heights near 2.5 ft, however Hawaii’s stream conditions are often flashy. The gauge base height is probably near 1.5 feet, and in my opinion, levels < 2.0 ft are probably too shallow for "fun" and will likely produce more rock-hopping, rather than floating. I do not like tubing on anything > 3 ft, since the water is moving exponentially faster… so much so that most people can not even walk across the stream without being swept away. Please be responsible and not endanger others by exceeding your comfort zone. Plan accordingly and keep the safety aspect a priority over having “fun.”

Keep in mind that leptospirosis is present in virtually all Hawaiian Streams, and swimming or other water activites in them will put you at risk of contracting the bacterial disease. If exhibiting any of the flu-like symptoms after the activity, seek medical attention immediately. MOST IMPORTANTLY, keep track of your crew and stay together. As it is easy to get separated, I highly recommend the ‘buddy system…’ Thus, if anyone falls behind make sure to wait for them!!!

Also EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, please respect the residential community in this area. This is their neighborhood, and most people who do this activity park in front of their homes. Do not leave mud or litter in their driveways or on curbs, nor attempt to use their water hoses to wash off. Also if hiking in early in the morning, I’m sure they would appreciate it if you keep the noise to a minimum. There is also a bus route that passes through this area, so please be mindful when the streets are narrow or when considering parking near turns (I hear there will be a series of “parking signs” being erected in the near future). One of the reasons why the Haiku Stairs (aka Stairway to Heaven) was shut down was because of the upset residents in that area, who were tired of dealing with disrespectful hikers who were exhibiting similar behavior to the above described.

Aloha and mahalo nui for visiting the site … come back again soon!

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