This Day Trip Will Take You To The Best Wine And Waterfalls In Hawaii
By Megan Shute|Updated on April 25, 2023(Originally published April 20, 2023)
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Megan Shute
Author
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.
How do you make a visit to one of the only wineries in Hawaii even better? Add waterfalls. 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. If you’re searching for “waterfalls near me on Hawaii,” then look no further than this list! And what better way to end a day of chasing waterfalls than with a visit to a one-of-a-kind winery? Join us for one of the most unique road trips in Hawaii that you can do.
Coming 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.
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.
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It’s a fine trade off, as the sights are absolutely worth the entrance fee.
The Umauma Falls Experience, 31-313 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Hakalau, HI 96710, USA
It’s easily found on the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast, 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. There is an entrance fee for Akaka Falls State Park.
Onto Onomea Falls, a lovely little waterfall in a botanical garden!
Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, 27-717 Mamalahoa Hwy, Papaikou, HI 96781, USA
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. We love Onomea Falls in Hawaii; it’s the perfect little hike for the whole family.
Rainbow Falls is up next, and it’s as pretty as a postcard.
This easy, kid-friendly hike in Hawaii is the perfect place to go on a hot day. The beautiful hike has plenty to offer, including a more challenging trail to the top of the falls.
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A short trail from the parking lot offers views from the waterfall’s summit, and if you visit early on a sunny morning, you might experience how the falls got its name: waianuenue means rainbow in Hawaiian.
Rainbow Falls is 80-feet tall, and nearly 100-feet wide, which is impressive, considering that many of Hawaii’s greatest waterfalls are mere trickles in comparison. This is a stunning waterfall hike in Hawaii that you must put on your bucket list!
Located just one mile past the more famous Rainbow Falls on the Wailuku River is an equally gorgeous - but dangerous - natural phenomenon: Pe’epe’e Falls feeds a series of several pools known as the boiling pots.
Connected by a series of cascading waterfalls along with columns that were formed from the slow cooling of basalt lava, these pools appear to be bubbling, almost as if they were boiling.
This is an accessible waterfall that’s good for a quick visit and tends to be less crowded than some of the more popular waterfalls in the area. Pe’epe’e Falls in Hawaii is a lovely addition to our list.
And finally, we’re headed to the wine portion of our day trip with a visit to Volcano Winery.
Volcano Winery, 35 Piimauna Dr, Volcano, HI 96785, USA
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.
Volcano Winery, 35 Piimauna Dr, Volcano, HI 96785, USA
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, and the exotic jaboticaba berry, are blended with traditional wine grapes to create vibrant wines that perfectly capture the Hawaiian spirit. Visiting this winery in Hawaii is the perfect way to end your day of waterfall sightseeing!
Have you ever been to any of these phenomenal destinations on one of your Hawaii road trips? When you’re on the Big Island, add these waterfalls and Volcano Winery – one of the only wineries in Hawaii – to your must-visit list!
If you prefer a day of exercise over wine drinking, you might be interested in our ultimate waterfall hike bucket list. This is a great way to enjoy the sights without having to trek around everywhere!
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Waterfalls Near Me On Hawaii
Megan McDonald|April 08, 2022
How many wineries are in Hawaii?
There are three vineyards in the Hawaiian Islands. You will find these vineyards on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Wine is not traditionally associated with Hawaii, so these vineyards offer a tasty option for wine lovers in the area. Another option is a visit to a wine bar, where not all the wines may be from Hawaii, but wine lovers will find what they're looking for!
What’s the most famous Hawaiian wine?
The best tasting and most famous wine on the Hawaiian Islands is the intriguing pineapple wine. This wine is unique to Hawaii and well worth the try!
