This Day Trip Will Take You To The Best Wine And Waterfalls In Hawaii
There is little better than watching a waterfall cascade into the pool below, and luckily, the Hawaiian Islands are home to an abundance of incredible waterfalls. Among the intense lava landscapes of Hawaii Island, you will find some of the most accessible waterfalls in the state, many of which are easily visited in a single day. And what better way to end a day of chasing waterfalls than with a visit to a one-of-a-kind winery?
Measuring in at just 60 miles and less than two hours of drive time, there’s truly no better day trip than this one that leads you on a magnificent journey to five waterfalls and one winery. Check out the editable Google Map here.
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This multi-tiered waterfall is located on private land owned by the Umauma Experience Company, so you will, unfortunately, be required to either book a ziplining or kayak adventure with the company — or simply pay the $10 admission fee to take a self-guided walk of the gardens.
Next up is one of Hawaii’s prettiest cascades, Akaka Falls.
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. Entry to the state park will cost $5 per car or $1 per pedestrian.
Onto Onomea Falls, a lovely little waterfall in a botanical garden!
This tiered waterfall is a mere 20 to 30 feet in comparison to some of the larger waterfalls, though it is quite breathtaking all the same. The falls are nestled within the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden off the four-mile scenic drive through Onomea Bay.
Rainbow Falls is up next, and it’s as pretty as a postcard.
A short trail from the parking lot offers views from the waterfall’s summit, 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.
Located just one mile past the famous Rainbow Falls on the Wailuku River is an equally gorgeous — but dangerous — natural phenomena; Pe’epe’e Falls feeds a series of several pools known as the boiling pots. Connected by a series of cascading waterfalls along columns that were formed from the slow cooling of basalt lava, these pools appear to be bubbling — almost as if they were boiling.
And finally, we’re headed to the wine portion of our day trip with a visit to Volcano Winery.
Located just five minutes from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and ten minutes from the Kilauea Overlook is a picturesque winery perfect for ending a day of waterfall chasing. The unique Volcano Winery is located at 4,000 feet in elevation on the slopes of an active volcano and nestled between two volcanoes on lava-covered land that allows Symphony Grape Vines to flourish. Founded in 1986, Volcano Winery is the only winery on Hawaii Island and one of only three commercial wineries in Hawaii. It is also the southernmost winery in the United States. Here, tropical fruits — like yellow guava, star fruit or the exotic jaboticaba berry — are blended with traditional wine grapes to create vibrant wines that perfectly capture the Hawaiian spirit.
Have you ever been to any of these phenomenal destinations? If you prefer a day of exercise over wine-drinking, you might be interested in our ultimate waterfall hike bucket list.
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
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