The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks has completed repair work to the .4-mile loop trail at Akaka Falls State Park. Accidental damage was caused by earlier removal of invasive albizia trees in February 2017.
Site Engineering completed the repairs to the Akaka Falls walkway as of Oct. 30 and Division of State Parks opened the entire trail on Oct. 31.
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Repairs had been expected to take until December, so the park is re-opening earlier than expected.
The work quality appears to be good and the path of the walkway has been adjusted where the stairs are located for improved safety. Project cost is $297,400.
Repairs were completed on the longer trail section that is to the right of the loop trail starting point that was closed after the damage. Workers removed and repaired damaged concrete walkways and steps, and replaced railings
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The entire park was closed from October 16 to 20 for work on the shorter, left side of the trail to the Akaka Falls lookout.
The park offers a pleasant family walk through lush tropical vegetation to scenic vista points overlooking the cascading Kahuna Falls and the free-falling ‘Akaka Falls, which plunges 442 feet into a stream-eroded gorge. It requires some physical exertion and will take about .5 hour for the full loop.
The paved route, which includes multiple steps in places (not wheelchair accessible), makes an easy to follow loop offering stunning viewpoints of the two waterfalls. To view ‘Akaka Falls only, take the path to the left (south) from the first junction. The waterfall view is just a short walk down the path.
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