Waterfalls in Hawaii

Where the waterfalls are in Hawaii

Hawaii's waterfalls pour off volcanic cliffs on the rainy windward sides of the islands, where trade winds drop enormous amounts of rain. The island of Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, Kauai and Oahu all have famous falls, and the sea cliffs of Molokai have some of the tallest in the country, visible only from the air or sea.

Many falls are on private land or in restricted watershed areas. Stick to falls with public trails, and respect closures.

Well-known waterfalls in Hawaii

'Akaka Falls

A 442-foot fall in 'Akaka Falls State Park north of Hilo, seen from a short paved loop through rainforest. Falls near 'Akaka Falls.

Waimoku Falls

A fall of about 400 feet at the end of the Pipiwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, Maui. Falls near Waimoku Falls.

Rainbow Falls

Waiānuenue, an 80-foot fall in Hilo, named for the rainbows in its mist on sunny mornings. Falls near Rainbow Falls.

Wailua Falls

A double fall on Kauai visible from a roadside viewpoint. Falls near Wailua Falls.

Manoa Falls

A tall, thin fall at the end of a muddy rainforest trail a few miles from Waikiki on Oahu. Falls near Manoa Falls.

When to go

The winter wet season, roughly October to April, brings the strongest flow on the windward sides, but rain falls year round and many falls run in every month. See the best time to see waterfalls for how flow changes by region.

Hawaii by the numbers

The map shows 129 named falls in Hawaii. 99 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 30 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 11 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. HawaiiCounty has the most, with 36.

Tallest recorded waterfalls in Hawaii

Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.

Counties with the most waterfalls

From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.

Every named waterfall in Hawaii

Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.

Hawaii County (36)

Aa Falls, Aimoo Falls, Hakalaoa Falls, Hawaii Falls, Hiʻilawe Falls (2,051 ft), Hikiau Falls, ʻAkaka Falls (443 ft), Ipuu Falls, Kahūnā Falls, Kaimukanaka Falls, Kakeha Falls, Kaluahine Falls, Kauwehu Falls, Keanapakulua Falls, Kemole Falls, Koakanini Falls, Kulaniapia Falls, Lahomene Falls, Lauiole Falls, Lelekaae Falls, Naalapa Falls, Nanaue Falls, Papala Falls, Peepee Falls, Poakana Falls, Pukamaui Falls, Rainbow Falls (79 ft), Wahiloa Falls, Waialae Falls, Waiale Falls, Waiamoa Falls, Waiemi Falls, Waiholoa Falls, Waiʻilikahi Falls, Wailoa Falls, Waiokanalopaka Falls

Honolulu County (4)

Mānoa Falls, Sacred Falls, Waimea Falls, Waipuhia Falls

Kauai County (33)

Hāliʻi Falls, Halulu Falls, Hanakāpīʻai Falls (299 ft), Hanakoa Falls, Hinalele Falls, Hoʻoleʻa Falls, Hoʻopiʻi Falls, Hoʻopōuli Falls, ʻĀwini Falls, ʻOʻopulele Falls, ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls (151 ft), Kāhili Falls, Kapaka Nui Falls, Kapakaiki Falls, Kaukiuki Falls, Kīlauea Falls, Koholālele Falls, Limahuli Falls, Manawaiopuna Falls, Moeloa Falls, Mōhihi Falls, Ooiki Falls, Opae Kalaole Falls, Paaiki Falls, Pūwainui Falls, Uhauʻiole Falls, Waiānuenue Falls, Waihunehune Falls, Waiʻalae Falls, Waikaka Falls, Wailua Falls (82 ft), Waiolue Falls, Waipoʻo Falls

Maui County (26)

Haha Falls, Haʻipuaʻena Falls, Hāloku Falls, Hina Falls, Hīpuapua Falls, ʻOloʻupena Falls, Kahiwa Falls, Kanahualiʻi Falls, Keʻākū Falls, Kekuapoʻowai Falls, Kopiliula Falls, Makahiku Falls (180 ft), Moaʻula, Moʻoloa Falls, Pāpalaua Falls, Puʻukaʻōkū Falls, Puohokamoa Falls, Waihiʻumalu Falls, Waikani Falls, Wailele Falls, Wailua Falls (82 ft), Waimanu Falls, Waimoku Falls (184 ft), Waiohiwi Falls, Waiokilo Falls, Waiokuna Falls

County not recorded (30)

Aihualama Falls, Blue Hole Falls, Hakalau Stream, Hanawi Falls, Hilalawe Falls, Hoolea Falls, Kapena Falls, Kawainui Falls, Keaku Falls, Kipu Falls (20 ft), Kukui'ula Falls, Likeke Falls, Lower Waiʻale Falls, Lulumahu Falls, Maunawili Falls (15 ft), Nanaue Falls (End of King's Trail), Onomea Waterfall, Peʻepeʻe Falls, Pua'a Ka'a Falls, Puehuehu, Punalau Falls, Quarter-Mile Falls, Twin Falls, Uluwehi Falls, Upper Waikani Falls, Wai‘alae Falls, Waiʻale Falls, Waikaekua waterfall, Waikahalulu Falls, Weeping Wall

Before you go

The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.

Waterfalls near cities in Hawaii

Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Honolulu, waterfalls near Hilo.

Waterfalls in nearby states: California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington. Or see waterfalls in every state.