Posted in Hawaii
April 14, 2020
These 11 Hawaiian Waterfalls Will Have You Daydreaming About Your Next Adventure
From towering cascades you can only witness via helicopter tour to short waterfalls that cascade into small pools you can swim in, the waterfalls you’ll find across the Hawaiian Islands are truly remarkable. And whether you’re enjoying an intense, eight-mile day hike or pulling into a parking lot on the side of the highway, these 11 gorgeous Hawaiian waterfalls are sure to have you fantasizing about your next adventure. Let’s dive in, shall we?
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Nestled into the Ko’olau Mountain Range on the island of Oahu is the trail to Maunawili Falls, a stunning 3-mile trek that climbs more than 1,200 feet above sea level, and rewards hikers with a picturesque spring-fed pool at the end of a strenuous trail through the mountains. While the waterfall is short — measuring in at only 25 feet — crystalline waters and lush foliage invite you to take it easy at this off the beaten path swimming hole.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
As you are driving along Maui’s Hana Highway from the north, the first notable attraction you will discover is this picturesque string of waterfalls, also known as Hololawa Falls. A short 15 to 30-minute walk along a dirt path will lead you through a lush forest — full of magnificent foliage. Reminiscent of a fantasy world, this gorgeous spot features two absolutely dreamy waterfalls and a pool below.
Check out this waterfall here.
Check out this waterfall here.
Located just north of Wailua Falls, Opaekaa is another Kauai waterfall that you can simply drive to. The falls are modest in height, but after periods of heavy rain, the flow is simply remarkable. Opaekaa translates to “rolling shrimp” in Hawaiian, supposedly named because the stream was full of shrimp at one point.
Click here to discover more about this easily accessible cascade.
Click here to discover more about this easily accessible cascade.
A short trail from the parking lot offers impressive views of this Hilo cascade, and if you visit on a sunny morning, you might experience how the falls got its name — waianuenue means rainbow in Hawaiian. The waterfall is 80 feet tall, and nearly 100 feet in diameter — impressive, considering that many of Hawaii’s greatest waterfalls are mere trickles in comparison.
Click here to discover more about this easily accessible cascade.
Click here to discover more about this easily accessible cascade.
An area of historic cultural significance, the Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden is home to 35 distinct plant collections, but the crowned jewel of this secluded valley is the stunning Waimea Falls. Visitors will have to pay an entrance fee for the botanical garden, but once inside, the stroll to the waterfall is quick and features a changing room, life jackets available for free use, and lifeguards on duty.
Check out this waterfall here.
Check out this waterfall here.
Located within Haleakala National Park near the Pipiwai Trailhead, these beautiful stream-fed pools are also known as the seven sacred pools. There are more than seven pools, and they aren’t sacred – rumor has it that a local hotel owner coined the name in order to attract more visitors to his establishment.
Click here to discover more about this easily accessible cascade.
Click here to discover more about this easily accessible cascade.
Nestled along the Kapa’a Stream, Hoopii Falls might look familiar to dedicated Jurassic Park fans as the site of the Mano de Dios Amber Mine where a lawyer decides that a respected paleontologist is needed for the project — supposedly set in the Dominican Republic. Despite its film prestige, the hike to this series of waterfalls is relatively unknown.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
Cascading 442 feet into a lush, tropical jungle is perhaps Hawaii’s greatest waterfall. Located on the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast is Akaka Falls, a place of pure paradise flowing from the Kolekole Stream. To view the falls, visitors take a short stroll leading through a jungle of banana plants, towering bamboo groves, and lush orchids.
Check out this waterfall here.
Check out this waterfall here.
Just miles from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu is the lush Manoa Valley, and this beautiful 2-mile round trip hike through bamboo and banyan trees leads to a picturesque 150-foot waterfall — and in only 30-45 minutes one way. Unfortunately, a massive landslide in 2002 forced the state to rope off the actual pool, but the views alone are well worth the trip.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
This short and sweet trail within the Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside will reward adventurous tourists and locals with a relatively secluded and picture-perfect waterfall cascading into a crystalline turquoise pool and trickling waterfall that is, unfortunately, dependent on rainfall. For less than half a mile of easy hiking, the destination surely is worth the effort it takes to get there.
Check out this waterfall here.
Check out this waterfall here.
Situated along Kauai’s fabled Na Pali Coast is Hanakapi’ai Beach and Falls, accessible only via a strenuous, eight-mile round trip day hike. The journey to reach this unspoiled Hawaiian paradise will surely take all day, but is well worth the effort and makes for an epic day trip. This magnificent waterfall is something out of your wildest dreams — or maybe even Jurassic Park. The flowing water cascades nearly 300-feet down a fern-covered rock wall into a shimmering pool of water.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
Learn all about this waterfall hike in our previous article.
How many of these stunning waterfalls have you experienced in person before? Did you find any cascades to add to your outdoor bucket list? Sound off in the comments below!
Address: Hawaii, USA
