Best Waterfall Hikes in Hawaii 2026 — By Island
Hawaii's Waterfalls: Island by Island
Hawaii has more waterfalls per square mile than almost anywhere on earth. The combination of high rainfall, steep volcanic topography, and dense rainforest creates the conditions for hundreds of cascades across the archipelago, from roadside tourist stops to remote backcountry falls that require a full day to reach. Here's how to see the best ones on each island.
Oahu
Manoa Falls is the most accessible waterfall hike on Oahu — a 1.6-mile round-trip trail through bamboo forest and native rainforest to a 150-foot cascade. It's straightforward enough for children but beautiful enough to impress everyone. Trailhead parking is $7; arrive early as the lot fills by 9am. Swimming is not permitted due to leptospirosis risk. Lulumahu Falls is a more adventurous alternative requiring a stream crossing and some scrambling through a bamboo corridor; the payoff is a taller, more dramatic fall in a less-crowded setting. The trailhead requires a short walk through private land — check current access status before going.
Maui
The Road to Hana corridor contains more waterfalls per mile of highway than any road in the country. The most famous are at the 7 Sacred Pools (Ohe'o Gulch) in Haleakala National Park — a series of tiered pools and cascades near the ocean. The Pipiwai Trail from the Ohe'o visitor center leads 4 miles through bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls, a 400-foot plunge waterfall at the trail's end. It's one of the best waterfall hikes in the state. Park entry fee applies (America the Beautiful Pass accepted). Along the Road to Hana highway, Twin Falls at mile marker 2 is an easy 20-minute walk to two accessible falls with swimming pools. Makahiku Falls is a roadside overlook on the Pipiwai Trail approach — wide, powerful, and visible without a long hike.
Kauai
Kauai is the wettest place in the United States and its waterfalls reflect that. Wailua Falls is perhaps the most photographed waterfall in Hawaii — a 173-foot twin-cascade waterfall visible directly from the road end of Route 583 in Lihue. No hike required. The falls appear in the opening of the original Fantasy Island television series. Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls) in the Wailua River Valley requires a flat-water kayak rental up the Wailua River followed by a 2-mile muddy trail hike — the effort filters the crowds and the fall at the end, dropping into a lush pool, is exceptional. Hanakapi'ai Falls on the Na Pali Coast is one of the most dramatic in Hawaii — a 300-foot cascade in a remote valley accessible only by hiking the first 4 miles of the Kalalau Trail and then 2 miles up the valley. A full day commitment, but the valley setting is extraordinary.
Big Island
The Akaka Falls State Park north of Hilo contains two of the most spectacular waterfalls on the Big Island: Kahuna Falls (100 feet) and Akaka Falls (442 feet), the latter being one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls in the state. A paved 0.4-mile loop trail connects both falls through a jungle garden of tropical plants. Park entry is $5/car. Near Hilo, Rainbow Falls is a wide, powerful cascade that earns its name — on sunny mornings a rainbow forms in the mist above the falls. It's a short walk from the parking area in Wailuku River State Park and is best visited before 10am when the light angle is right. The Waipio Valley floor (accessible on foot or by 4WD tour) has a spectacular waterfall visible at the far end of the valley — Hi'ilawe Falls at nearly 1,400 feet is the tallest waterfall in Hawaii, though often reduced to a trickle in dry months.
Practical Tips
- Never swim in freshwater pools below waterfalls without checking leptospirosis risk — the bacteria is widespread in Hawaii's freshwater and enters through cuts or mucous membranes
- Flash flooding is a real and rapid danger in waterfall valleys — if rain is happening upstream (even if it's sunny where you are), leave immediately
- Waterfall flow is highest in winter and spring; some falls become trickles in summer dry spells
- Most roadside waterfall pullouts have limited parking — arriving early avoids roadside parking on blind curves
Oahu — Manoa Falls and Waimea Valley
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