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Waterfalls in Hawaii

117 waterfalls in Hawaii with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Hawaii County has the most (38). The darkest skies are at Hikiau Falls (Bortle 2).

Top waterfalls

Oloʻupena FallsWaterfall
Oloʻupena FallsMaui County · 393 m
Wailua FallsWaterfall
Wailua FallsKauai County · 56 m
Makahiku FallsWaterfall
Makahiku FallsMaui County · 66 m
Manoa FallsWaterfall
Manoa FallsHonolulu County · 365 m
Hiʻilawe FallsWaterfall
Hiʻilawe FallsHawaii County · 414 m
Rainbow FallsWaterfall
Rainbow FallsHawaii County · 113 m
Manawaiopuna FallsWaterfall
Manawaiopuna FallsKauai County · 276 m
Hanakapiai FallsWaterfall
Hanakapiai FallsKauai County · 365 m
'Opaeka'a FallsWaterfall
'Opaeka'a FallsKauai County
Kipu FallsWaterfall
Kipu FallsKauai County
Umauma FallsWaterfall
Umauma FallsHawaii County
Waterfall
Papalaua FallsMaui County · 617 m

Waterfalls by county

All waterfalls (117)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Oloʻupena FallsMaui County393 mWaialua3
Wailua FallsKauai County56 mWailua Homesteads5
Makahiku FallsHaleakalāMaui County66 mHana2
Manoa FallsHonolulu County365 mUpper Manoa8
Hiʻilawe FallsHawaii County414 mWaimea2
Rainbow FallsHawaii County113 mHilo7
Manawaiopuna FallsKauai County276 mKalāheo4
Hanakapiai FallsKauai County365 mPrinceville2
'Opaeka'a FallsKauai County—Wailua Homesteads5
Kipu FallsKauai County—Puhi5
Umauma FallsHawaii County—Pepeekeo3
Papalaua FallsMaui County617 mWaialua3
Pu'uka'oku FallsMaui County—Waialua3
Waihilau FallsHawaii County—Waimea3
Kahiwa FallsMaui County673 mWaialua3
Akaka FallsHawaii County371 mPepeekeo3
Waimoku FallsHaleakalāMaui County329 mHana2
Puohokamoa FallsHaleakalāMaui County174 mWailua3
Ho'opi'i FallsKauai County—Kapa‘a5
Upper Waikani FallsHaleakalāMaui County—Wailua3
Poakana FallsHawaii County622 mHilo4
Lower Waikani FallsHaleakalāMaui County92 mWailua3
Hīpuapua FallsMaui County227 mWaialua3
Mōhihi FallsKauai County716 mKekaha-Waimea2
Waiahuakua Falls, Hoolea Falls, and the Na Pali Coast WaterfallsKauai County—Princeville2
Honokohau FallsMaui County—Wailuku4
Other Molokai WaterfallsMaui County—Waialua3
Heleleikeoha FallsHaleakalāMaui County—Hana2
Alelele FallsHaleakalāMaui County—Hana2
Lower Makamakaole FallsMaui County—Waihee-Waiehu5
Aliele FallsMaui County—Waihee-Waiehu5
Mana-nole FallsMaui County—Waihee-Waiehu5
Other Hana Highway WaterfallsHaleakalāMaui County—Wailua3
Other Oheo Gulch WaterfallsHaleakalāMaui County—Hana2
Kāhili FallsKauai County456 mKalāheo4
KaholaleleKauai County79 mWailua Homesteads5
Kahūnā FallsHawaii County313 mPepeekeo3
Kaimukanaka FallsHawaii County165 mHilo7
Kakeha FallsHawaii County524 mWaimea3
Kaluahine FallsHawaii County204 mHonoka‘a2
Kanahuali‘i FallsHaleakalāMaui County178 mHana2
Kapaka Nui FallsKauai County394 mWailua Homesteads3
Kapakaiki FallsKauai County347 mWailua Homesteads4
Kaukiuki FallsKauai County375 mKalāheo5
Kauwehu FallsHawaii County379 mHilo5
Ke‘ākū FallsHaleakalāMaui County119 mWailua3
Keanapakulua FallsHawaii County275 mKapaau2
Kekuapo‘owai FallsHaleakalāMaui County539 mHana2
Kemole FallsHawaii County303 mWaikoloa3
Kīlauea FallsKauai County31 mKīlauea4
Koakanini FallsHawaii County443 mHilo4
Kopiliula FallsHaleakalāMaui County415 mWailua3
Kulaniapia FallsHawaii County265 mHilo5
Lahomene FallsHawaii County552 mWaimea3
Lauiole FallsHawaii County404 mHilo5
Lelekaae FallsHawaii County339 mWainaku5
Limahuli FallsKauai County476 mPrinceville2
Moa‘ula FallsMaui County211 mWaialua3
Moeloa FallsKauai County742 mKekaha-Waimea2
Mo‘oloa FallsMaui County981 mWaialua3
Naalapa FallsHawaii County327 mWaimea2
Nanaue FallsHawaii County385 mWaimea3
Ooiki FallsKauai County186 mKaumakani-Hanapepe5
‘O‘opulele FallsKauai County561 mWaimea3
ʻŌpaekaʻa FallsKauai County29 mWailua5
Opae Kalaole FallsKauai County195 mWailua Homesteads4
Paaiki FallsKauai County368 mKekaha-Waimea2
Papala FallsHawaii County543 mWaimea3
Peepee FallsHawaii County251 mHilo5
Pukamaui FallsHawaii County401 mHilo5
Pu‘uka‘ōkū FallsMaui County444 mWaialua3
Pūwainui FallsKauai County300 mPrinceville2
Sacred FallsHonolulu County119 mHauʻula-Punaluʻu6
Uhau‘iole FallsKauai County251 mWailua Homesteads4
Wahiloa FallsHawaii County712 mWainaku4
Waialae FallsHawaii County146 mWainaku5
Wai‘alae FallsKauai County867 mKekaha-Waimea3
Waiale FallsHawaii County291 mHilo5
Waiamoa FallsHawaii County231 mWaimea2
Waiānuenue FallsKauai County556 mKaumakani-Hanapepe3
Waiemi FallsHawaii County613 mPepeekeo4
Waihi‘umalu FallsHaleakalāMaui County501 mHana2
Waiholoa FallsHawaii County689 mWaimea3
Waihunehune FallsKauai County461 mKīlauea3
Wai‘ilikahi FallsHawaii County90 mWaimea2
Waikaka FallsKauai County741 mKaumakani-Hanapepe3
Wailele FallsMaui County321 mWaialua3
Wailoa FallsHawaii County459 mHilo4
Wailua FallsHaleakalāMaui County87 mHana2
Waimanu FallsMaui County866 mKualapu‘u3
Waimea FallsHonolulu County51 mPupukea6
Waiohiwi FallsHaleakalāMaui County605 mOlinda, CDP5
Waiokanalopaka FallsHawaii County120 mWaikoloa2
Waiokuna FallsHaleakalāMaui County79 mWailua3
Waiokilo FallsHaleakalāMaui County15 mWailua3
Waiolue FallsKauai County335 mKaumakani-Hanapepe5
Waipo‘o FallsKauai County840 mKekaha-Waimea2
Waipuhia FallsHonolulu County450 mKalihi Valley8
Haha FallsMaui County786 mWaialua3
Ha‘ipua‘ena FallsHaleakalāMaui County156 mWailua3
Hakalaoa FallsHawaii County490 mWaimea2
Hāli‘i FallsKauai County210 mPuhi4
Hāloku FallsMaui County420 mWaialua3
Halulu FallsKauai County295 mKalāheo3
Hanakoa FallsKauai County303 mPrinceville2
Hinalele FallsKauai County738 mWailua Homesteads3
Hawaii FallsHawaii County541 mHilo4
Hikiau FallsHawaii County64 mLaupāhoehoe2
Hina FallsMaui County1,040 mWaialua3
Ho‘ole‘a FallsKauai County61 mPrinceville2
Hoʻopōuli FallsKauai County187 mKīlauea3
Hoʻopiʻi FallsKauai County23 mKapa‘a5
Ipuu FallsHawaii County457 mWaimea2
Aa FallsHawaii County667 mWaimea3
Aimoo FallsHawaii County597 mWaimea3
‘Āwini FallsKauai County693 mKekaha-Waimea3
Likeke FallsHonolulu County203 mMaunawili8

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph waterfalls

Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.

  • Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
  • A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
  • Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
  • Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
  • Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.

Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.