Waimea Canyon Waterfalls

The volcanic island of Kauai with its many mountainous peaks has numerous waterfalls all over the island. You’ll find the most beautiful waterfalls in Waimea Canyon in Kokee State Park, which borders the southern edge of the Na Pali Coast State Park. There are several road views of the canyon, including the Waimea Canyon Lookout. Some Waimea Canyon waterfalls are visible from the road, especially during rainy times. Since this is one of the wettest spots on earth, with an average of 466 inches of rain annually, your chances of seeing cascading falls is very good except during the summer dry season. For the best views, time your drive to arrive at the canyon as early in the day as possible to avoid the clouds and mist that often appear in the afternoon.

The two most spectacular waterfalls in Waimea Canyon are Waipo’o Falls and Wai’alae Falls. Waipo’o Falls on Kokee Stream is the most accessible, reached by hiking on a fairly easy trail for a little more than three miles. En route from the Waimea Canyon Lookout, you are treated to lovely views of upland forest, fern groves, and stands of fragrant ginger. The falls drop 800 feet in two tiers, with swimming pools at the top. Two hiking trails, the Iliau Nature Loop and Kukui Trail, lead to Wai’alae Falls. This is a spectacular example of the Waimea Canyon waterfalls, even viewed from quite far away. It falls about 1,000 feet. Two other waterfalls in Waimea Canyon are Hihiniui and Kahekapoelleele. Both are lovely but can only be viewed from a distance, meaning that really the only time to go see these is during the rainy season.