Must-See Hawaii Big Island Waterfalls

As Hawaii's youngest and largest island, the awesome power of nature is unparalleled and truly awe-inspiring. With geological features such as volcanoes, lush valleys, jet-black beaches, snow-capped mountains, and thundering waterfalls.

A big part of the adventure is exploring the world-class Big Island waterfalls. This guide breaks down the most popular waterfalls that you can get to on your own and also the hidden ones that are on private property or are ones you need a tour or helicopter for.

Best Big Island Waterfalls

Some of the world's finest waterfalls can all be found on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tropical gardens dominate the northeast coasts of Hilo and Hamakua due to the abundance of rainfall they receive.

Before we dive in, it's worth talking about the island's name. Most of us refer to the island as Big Island but its official name is the Island of Hawaii. I know, this is confusing because it has the same name as the state. Sometimes you'll also hear the name Kona (especially for the coffee lovers out there) but this actually refers to a region on the west coast of the island.

Since there are so many Big Island waterfalls, we'll divide it between the ones that you can easily get to and others where you need the help of a local guide, tour, or entry into special garden.

Big Island Waterfalls You Can Visit Yourself

With your car rental, you'll be able to see many of the signature Hawaii Big Island waterfalls. These are cascades you can get to on your own without the need to book a tour or helicopter but there may still be entrance and parking fees.

Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls

The ‘Akaka Falls State Park has two waterfalls, the ‘Akaka Falls and the Kahuna Falls (not to be confused with hakuna matata). The trailhead is by the parking lot which is easy to find. The trail is mostly paved with hand railings and multiple steps. It's a family friendly loop that's 0.4 miles in length, that's approximately a 30-45 minute hike to see both falls.

If you only have time to see one waterfall, the panoramic view of ‘Akaka is the one to visit. ‘Akaka is a free-falling waterfall, it's unique in that the water drops down 442 feet from the cliff's edge to the bottom of the gorge.

Compared to ‘Akaka, Kahuna is a cascading waterfall that falls into various pools of water before its eventual drop to the Kolekole stream.

Read next: The best snorkeling spots on Big Island

Off the main street is the Mana's Aloha Fruit Stand. This is the perfect pre or post-hike pit stop for pineapples and fresh coconuts that you can't miss.

Rainbow Falls

The 80-foot Rainbows Falls is located in the Wailuku River State Park. As the name of this waterfall suggest, it is best known for its rainbow formed from its morning mists.

For those with young children and elderly, the advantage of this waterfall is that you don't have to hike to see it. For a scenic viewpoint, there is a viewing platform with a ramp right off the parking lot.

At the base of the falls is a natural lava cave formed from the splash back of the falls. There are also a set of steep steps next to the falls where you can get a top down angle.

While you’re up there, walk another 100 feet on the trail and you'll find more huge banyan trees. If you can't make it up the steps, there are also a bountiful of banyan trees near the parking lot as well. Look up and you'll see the huge canopies you're under. You need to watch you footing around the banyan trees as there are many roots sticking out from the ground.

Pe'epe'e Falls

Another area of the Wailuku River State Park is the Boiling Pots Section with a view of Pe'epe'e Falls. This is worth a visit as both the Rainbow Falls and Pe'epe'e Falls are close in proximity.

On the same street as Rainbow Falls, a four-minute drive along Waiānuenue Avenue, Boiling Pots area is at the end of Peʻepeʻe Falls Drive. The Boiling Pots is more the highlight in this location as it is within a section of the Wailuku River that has a lot of twist and turns. These pots are caused by storm water rising and filling these holes with pools of water and the turbulent river swirling or “boiling” within these pots.

You'll still be able to get a view of the Pe'epe'e Falls as there's no hiking involved, you'll be able to view both the falls and the Boilings Pots from the lookout point.

WARNING: You may see some swimmers in the area but there are many warning signs along the fence that tell you that entering is not allowed. Not only does it harm the environment but there's a risk of unsuspecting flash flood. Use your own judgement here.

Once you're finished here, another small waterfall you can stop by to see is the Wailuku River Falls. This is a 3-minute drive from Pe'epe'e Falls. From the bridge of Waianuenue Avenue, you can see the pair of waterfalls. Unfortunately, there's no designated parking, so you can either take a peek as you're driving through or park off the street near the bridge and walk over.

Hiilawe Falls

The Waipi'o Valley opens right out into the Pacific Ocean and what leads it off to the left is the Hi'ilawe Falls, where water drops a thundering 1,450 feet, making it the tallest waterfall in the entire state of Hawaii.

Hi'ilawe Falls shares the same cliff wall as Hakalaoa Falls to the left which is often dry.

A heads up that this waterfall isn't always flowing as strongly as you see in the photos. Due to a dam and ditch that redirects water to nearby farms, don't be too disappointed if you find Hi'ilawe to also be dry.

If you're trying to figure out how you can see the waterfall, the short answer is that because of how deep it's set in the valley, the best way to see it is from within the valley or from the air. While you'd think that there's a good view of the falls from the Waipi'o Valley Lookout, you actually can't see it from there as you can only see across the valley.

For those that are intent to see the waterfall from the valley floor and fit, there is an access road along Waipio Valley Road. This one-way paved road is extremely steep downhill (25% grade and one of the steepest roads in the world) so it is only recommended if you have a 4×4. Depending on the water levels, there are also a few rivers that need to be crossed if you're looking to go all the way to the end of the road. From there, walk into the valley, past the junction, where you then get view of the falls. At this point, you're right in private lands so going any further would mean trespassing.

If you're going to walk it from the Waipi'o Valley Lookout parking lot, expect a 20 minute walk on the way down and about 40 minutes to get back up. You also don't necessarily need to hike all the way as there are many openings in the valley with views of the waterfall (vantage point of the photo above).

TIP: If you're attempting the hike, only do it if you're prepared to make the hike back uphill and make sure to have good hiking shoes or sandals, a few snacks, and plenty of water.

An alternative to walking or driving down is to experience Waipi'o Valley by horseback with a company like Waip'o on Horseback or to book a shuttle with Waipio Valley Shuttle.

LOCAL TIP: The best panoramic view of Hi'ilawe Falls and the Waipi'o Valley is actually on the Muliwai Trail (aka the Z-Trail) which is on the opposite side of the valley. There are incredible views of the valley and the falls about halfway up the switchbacks.

Guided Big Island Waterfalls Tours

Something unique to Big Island waterfalls is that there are a number to cross into private property which means you can't simply walk in yourself.

In addition to these private waterfalls, there are also a number of guided tours that will simply make your life a lot easier, not having to worry about having a 4×4, driving treacherous roads, and being able to see them all in a short span of time.

Something you'll quickly see is that this is Hawaii's zipline island with so many different ones to choose from, each flying through a different private waterfall.

These are the best paid experiences to see waterfalls on Big Island.

The Umauma Experience

For a thrilling day of zip-lining, waterfalls, swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, cliff-jumping, and lunch, this 4-hour experience has it all.

The Umauma Stream is one of the many water ways that flow from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean and perfectly situated are set of cascades called the Umauma Falls.

The best way to experience the entire grounds is with what they call the Zip N Dip but they also have an ATV Tour, horseback riding, and waterfall repel as well.

The not-so-well advertised secret is that if you're not interested in doing their tours, you can see the Umauma Falls and their tropical garden for $12 USD per person. The waterfalls themselves are open to visitors from 8AM to 5PM everyday and can be accessed by paved road.

Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden

This is a high acclaimed garden on Big Island with 1,800 species of tropical plants including orchids and banana groves, and set in a beautiful paradise which also includes two cascades – Onomea Waterfalls and Boulder Creek Falls.

This is a well-curated botanical garden established as a not-for-profit and a legacy of education and experiences with incredible biodiversity of flora you won't find anywhere else on the island.

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All paths are well-paved and marked, winding past  waterfalls, an aviary and circles past views of isolated coves and beach as you make your way down towards the ocean.

Botanical World Adventures

Not to be confused with the botanical garden, the Botanical World Adventures is closer to The Umumu Experience and is actually next door to them. Think of this place as an adventure playground and botanical garden all-in-one.

For the nature lovers, once you enter the grounds, you'll be able to either do your own Kona Segway or Hakalau Segway Malu Pua Tour. These will allow you to take a stroll through the lush rainforest trail, Rainbow Gardens, Arboretum, giant maze, and their two waterfalls. Walking there, or driving up, you'll be able to see Kamae'e Falls and the small tumbles of Hanapueo Falls.

If you're looking for adventure, they have the Zip Isle zipline (6 including dual racing lines), Segway adventures (moderate and advanced), and Jungle Falls bike experiences.

Sufficed to say, even though you might only plan to be here for an hour, you can easily spend a half day here, if not more. You can even stay overnight at their vacation rental.

Kohala Waterfalls Adventure

A well-respected tour operator in Hawaii, Hawaii Forest & Trail has specialized tours on the Big Island that focuses on the hidden waterfalls of Northern Kohala.

The tour is called Kohala Waterfalls Adventure and this is an off-road expedition that takes you to private Kohala waterfalls, scenic coastlines, rugged valleys, and tranquil streams.

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Since I haven't been on this tour and their access is so exclusive, I can't even pinpoint exactly which waterfalls they take you but if you read the reviews, this is easily one of the best day trips you can do if you love the outdoors.

One of the unique aspects of this tour is that it starts in Kona (west side of the island) and offers pickups at Waikoloa resorts so this is perfect for those that are based there during your time on Big Island.

Frequently Asked Questions

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There's something truly magical about the Big Island waterfalls. It's not only the majesty of the type of cascades you can see, the lush and verdant mountains and jungles that surround it, but it's also the height that they drop from as well.

Whether you explore on your own or join one of the epic tours available, you're bound to be impressed.

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Featured image via Flickr by smoovey