‘Ohe‘o Gulch
‘Ohe‘o Gulch
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
309 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
92
Average
40
Poor
28
Terrible
16
BrianJ
Fallbrook, CA8 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
My wife and I took the reverse road to Hana starting in Kula to get to the location - this rarely traveled road itself was quite an adventure. Some parts were paved, others were not, but the drive itself made it worth it! Hugging cliffs on super narrow roads, spectacular coastline, dodging free range cattle - we rarely saw another car. Real, rural Hawaii! When we got to the trail to go to the pools tho, it was a bit of a let down .. super crowded, muddy, slippery and a gauntlet for my 50 something wife who is not used to hiking. When we got up to the spot where the first falls could be viewed, we turned back. We never saw any pools or even much of the thunderous water you could hear. We had the impression before we went that you could just stroll up to pools where water falls were pouring in, but that was not the case really. The forest was cool tho.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NomNomBruin
Los Angeles12 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
This is in the national park so bring your park pass if you have one. They used to let you access the pools on foot but it looks like that path has permanently been closed and foliage has sprouted so much you can’t even get a great view. I did not read the reviews in advance and was honestly disappointed when we got there. The hike was short, the mosquitoes were abundant, and the view was mediocre for how much we had to drive to get there. I never want to do this again in my life unless they open up access to the pools.
Written June 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily O
6 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Not at all worth the time and stress of the Road to Hana. Maybe, maaaaaaybe, if you stayed the night in Hana, but as it was we had 9 hours in the car, one hour outside the car (hardly glimpsing anything of note). Almost all the interactive experiences are gone or blocked off. My husband had a very memorable trip to Sacred Pools 20 years ago… this time, I would much have preferred a drive somewhere else on Maui with a beach afternoon.
As it was, we didn’t pay to enter the park (thank goodness, because we have the America the Beautiful Pass). I would have been sorely disappointed if we had. You can hardly see the Seven Sacred pools. Maybe you can see two of them. There are mosquitos. It’s difficult to park. It was hot, humid.
Just no! Everything about Road to Hana is overrated.
As it was, we didn’t pay to enter the park (thank goodness, because we have the America the Beautiful Pass). I would have been sorely disappointed if we had. You can hardly see the Seven Sacred pools. Maybe you can see two of them. There are mosquitos. It’s difficult to park. It was hot, humid.
Just no! Everything about Road to Hana is overrated.
Written January 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wayne Knapstad
1 contribution
May 2020
May 1973. Walked solo. Tried to get to the bottom of a horrendous sounding waterfall (Makahiku) Had no idea what it was, but it sounded good. Damn near died. Pulled myself out of a near death experience. Saved myself, should not have survived. Before all this tourist trails and beautiful experience stuff. Stay on the trail.Don't let me scare you off. I'm sure it's safe these days.
Written June 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caribbean S
Richmond, Virginia, USA241 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
There was only about 3 pools. Not much water at all. Very dry. No swimming allowed, only hiking per the ranger at the entrance. Nice views of the ocean. Bring bug spray because the mosquitos will get you. Plenty of parking available.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GrandTour45287589658
1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Family
If I could give no stars I would! Terrible experience! 30 dollars and couldn't even see the pools. Bathrooms disgusting. Couldn't swim in the water. Waterfalls on the way to Hana much much better. Don't go not worth the drive at all. Big rip off!
Written March 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hélène L
Winnipeg, Canada5 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Do not go if you expect to be able to swim in the pools. They are permanently closed. You can do a small loop 1mile to see the lower pool and the ocean and another trail about 2miles to go see the bamboo forest. For $25 parking fee.
Written July 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MikeE1965
El Paso, TX113 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The pools were closed due to high surge and raging river coming off of mountain. The scenery is nice if you’re not driving. There is nothing in Hana that you can’t purchase somewhere else on the island. The drive on this road will be the most nerve racking six hours of your life. Road barely wide enough for two mid size vehicles. Countless one lane bridges. Did I mention the rude tail gaters. Steep mountain on one side and sheer drop off on the other. If you decide to take this road to Hana, be of strong heart and buy the insurance.
Written May 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Edmonton, Canada451 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
Last time we were on Maui, we took tour bus around the road to Hana. My favorite stop on that tour was this site, but we were so rushed we couldn't do the hike. This time, we skipped the tour and drove ourselves straight to the Seven Pools.
We got up bright and early, and drove around the back way (not going through Hana) to beat the crowds here. Be advised that the road contains about a 7 mile stretch that is not paved, quite steep and quite narrow. The drive isn't for the faint of heart. Also, the rental car companies would prefer you not drive this stretch. If you rented a convertible, put the top up. My wife HATED this drive. Looking back, it wasn't so bad, but Murphy's law dictates that every time you meet an oncoming car, it's on a blind corner.
It's important to note that if there is a risk of flooding, they close this hike, so before you brave 2 hours on the scary roads, you should check that it's open on the day you want to go.
Once there, you pay $25 to enter the park. This pass is good for two days, so you could drive to the summit of the volcano on this same pass. Arriving early means there is tons of parking available. The hike to the top is lovely, going past a giant Banyan tree and through a bamboo forest. At the top, there are new signs since we were last here forbidding you from going to the very end. I went anyhow and it is beautiful there. Many people were swimming and sitting on rocks at the end of the hike. My daughter refused to go past the sign. Note that the hike is of moderate difficulty. If you have mobility issues or are quite out of shape, this hike will be difficult for you. It's mostly uphill, and there are many rocks and roots making the ground uneven.
Once we came back down, we visited the bottom pools, where you are allowed to swim. We were disappointed to find the water a murky brown colour. It wasn't like that last time we were here.
We got up bright and early, and drove around the back way (not going through Hana) to beat the crowds here. Be advised that the road contains about a 7 mile stretch that is not paved, quite steep and quite narrow. The drive isn't for the faint of heart. Also, the rental car companies would prefer you not drive this stretch. If you rented a convertible, put the top up. My wife HATED this drive. Looking back, it wasn't so bad, but Murphy's law dictates that every time you meet an oncoming car, it's on a blind corner.
It's important to note that if there is a risk of flooding, they close this hike, so before you brave 2 hours on the scary roads, you should check that it's open on the day you want to go.
Once there, you pay $25 to enter the park. This pass is good for two days, so you could drive to the summit of the volcano on this same pass. Arriving early means there is tons of parking available. The hike to the top is lovely, going past a giant Banyan tree and through a bamboo forest. At the top, there are new signs since we were last here forbidding you from going to the very end. I went anyhow and it is beautiful there. Many people were swimming and sitting on rocks at the end of the hike. My daughter refused to go past the sign. Note that the hike is of moderate difficulty. If you have mobility issues or are quite out of shape, this hike will be difficult for you. It's mostly uphill, and there are many rocks and roots making the ground uneven.
Once we came back down, we visited the bottom pools, where you are allowed to swim. We were disappointed to find the water a murky brown colour. It wasn't like that last time we were here.
Written April 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manzanitabay
Bainbridge Island, WA175 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
We came during the federal government shut down, so no guard, ranger staff nor $25 parking fee. The 2 mile upland hike to a waterfall was muddy and nice. Not sure it was worth it. The lower two hikes to the pools and coastline were excellent. These hikes are easier and more scenic. Enjoyed swimming in a couple of the pools. As always, just use your common sense.
Written December 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a question on the seven sacred pools. We took the road to Hana and swam in the pools which were lovely. When I got back a friend informed me that the seven sacred pools were never sacred in Hawaiian culture but this was an advertising campaign to get people to spend tons of money on tours, rental cars, helicopter flights, etc. I searched around online and found that this title "Seven Sacred Pools" dates back to the 1940's when promoters saw the tourism potential. I guess I'd like to have a native Hawaiian tell me the straight story on if I saw something sacred or was I a victim of this long running scam.
Written April 19, 2021
I don't think the road from between Seven Sacred Pools and Hana is paved. How did you get to Seven Sacred Pools?
Written March 6, 2019
Yes it is paved. However unlike the 'road to Hana' which is paved and is in very good shape, the road beyond Hana has more broken down pavement and pot holes.
As far as being windy and narrow, it's about the same as the 'road to Hana'. The only difference is you have to watch more for those potential potholes. I did not find it to be a real problem. Also it's not that far from Hana.
Written March 6, 2019
Planning a road to Hana day for upcoming trip, leaving between 7-8am. Does it make sense to bypass all the stops along the way, go to Hana area spots first, then catch the others on the drive back? That way, I'll be going "against traffic" for all the people who stop along the way.
Written September 12, 2018
Wished we had done that. Totally packed by the time we got to red sand beach with nowhere to park we ended up skipping it.
Written January 12, 2019
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