The Only Navigable River In Hawaii, Wailua River Is A Thing Of Natural Beauty

The Hawaiian Islands are well-known for their countless pristine beaches, majestic mountains, awe-inspiring jungles, and cascading waterfalls. And though Hawaii may not be recognized for its rivers and lakes, there are some stunning bodies of water throughout the Aloha State just begging to be explored - including Hawaii’s only truly navigable river.

At 20 miles long, the Wailua River is Kauai’s largest and longest river, as well as the third-longest river in Hawaii. It is the only navigable river (by boats larger than kayaks) in the Aloha State, and was once the sacred capital of ancient Kauai and the birthplace of island royalty.

The river flows from the summit of Mount Waialeale, which averages more than 450 inches of rainfall each year and is formed by the confluence of its North and South forks just west of Wailua.

The North Fork begins at Mount Waialeale and flows 12.2 miles east to its junction with the South Fork, which forms at the junction of several streams near Hanamaulu and flows 8.1 miles east, over Wailua Falls, to its junction with the North Fork.

Unlike other rivers found throughout the Hawaiian Islands, the scenic river can be explored not only by kayak, SUP, and outrigger canoe but larger tour boats as well.

In addition to its namesake cascade, Wailua Falls, the Wailua River is home to the stunning, 150-foot Opaeka‘a Falls as well as Uluwehi Falls.

Locals and visitors alike enjoy kayaking and water skiing on the Wailua River, but perhaps most popular are the boat tours to Fern Grotto.

Other points of interest along the Wailua River include Kamokila Hawaiian Village, a bird refuge, and the Wailua Complex of Heiaus. Here, you will discover four ancient heiaus, a bellstone, and ancient petroglyphs that will take you on a journey back in time.

If you've visited the Wailua River before, I'm sure you agree that it's one of Hawaii's best-kept secrets and if you haven't, why don't you add it to your Kauai bucket list?

We didn't go into details about Wailua River's stunning Fern Grotto in this article, but we have written about this one-of-a-kind destination in the past. Have you ever experienced the natural beauty of the Wailua River? Share your favorite way to enjoy the Wailua River in the comments or share your photographs when you join our Hawaii Nature Lovers Facebook group.