Kauai Travel Forum

I am thinking about proposing to my girlfriend at the bottom of Wailua Falls. How is the hike down and is this a good idea?

Aloha. Not a good idea unless you are good hikers on a slippery, steep slope. It is about a 1/3 of a mile down and then the hard climb back up. Again, if you are athletic and sure footed, go for it, but do it in the morning when the sun shines on the falls. The better place to me would be the Fern Grotto, and before you groan "too touristy" remember that the tour up the river has music and when you get to the fern grotto, the hawaiian singers break out in the Hawaiian Wedding Song. Maybe a bit 60's, but it worked for me. Married 40 years, and even had a home in Hawaii for a while and must go back, all the time it calls to me. Even one of my daughter's got married in Hawaii. I trust she says yes and that the two of you will be always in Aloha.

I agree with travelgourmet.

If you are both physically fit, I'd go for it. It's a very steep trail down and slippery if it's rained recently. Be careful of the tree roots that form the natural terraces that you will walk upon. Some of them protrude up high enough to cause a stumble, and the fall down could be long and painful.

Remember: This descent is the EASY part.

Once at the river, follow it upstream and do not cross it. You will come to a verticle wall at one point that may make you think you need trek through the water to go around. Look at the protruding rocks and tree roots growing on the wall. You will see how to pass in order to make it around feet-dry.

CAUTION: Check weather forecasts for rain. This river is feed by runoff a couple miles away and if there is a flashflood, you could be trapped and in danger until water recedes. Use caution.

On our trip here in Oct. 2006, I hiked down there under threat of flashflood (that was the local forecast). Although we had many days of rain during the trip, this morning was all blue sky and hot sun! It seemed that the stars aligned just for me!

I have a video on my YouTube page of these falls viewed from the bottom. You can find the link on my main Hawai'i page here on VT. In the video, you can see the debris line from a previous flashflood, which indicates the water rises several feet from normal. Use good judgement if you venture here.

The hike back up is much tougher in the heat of midday or afternoon. But once back at the top, your memories will justify the torture! :)

BTW, my photo here was taken there at the bottom of the falls.

I was just in Kauai with my boyfriend, and if he were to propose, here are a list of places I would have wanted him to do it:

1. Hideaways Beach -- we went there twice and were the only people there both times. My favorite beach in Kauai. Beautiful and tons of sea turtles. We made a picnic, snorkeled with the sea turtles and then watched the sunset. At sunset, its beautiful -- you cant see the sunset head on, but if you look to the north, you can see remnants of the sunset. If that's not a perfect setting for a proposal, I dont know what is! The beach is a bit of a hike down, but most of the secluded beaches there require a little work to get to.

2. Kipu Falls -- the hike is much easier than Wailua Falls (though I didnt do Wailua falls). What would be cool if you walked on top of the rocks with the water rushing through your feet and got down on one knee right in the water there. Then you can jump off the waterfall together (once the ring is on the finger, of course!)

3. Helicopter ride -- You could always try and find someone to write MARRY ME in the sand of a beach while you are on your tour, but that'd be somewhat difficult. But there is one helicopter tour that lands at a waterfall during the tour (not sure which one), and that' be a cool time and place to do it.

4. Boat ride -- i dont recommend this all that much, but someone proposed on our whale watching tour. If he would have waited until sunset, it would have been better. But its an option.

5. Hanakapei Beach -- I didnt actually go here, we couldnt find time to do the hike. But it be a nice way to spend the day -- make lunches and do the 2 mile hike on the Kalalaul trail to Hanakapei Beach, have lunch, propose and then holds hands the whole way back. I heard this beach is one of the best and I wish I could have gone there.

Hope that helps!