Best waterfalls on the Big Island

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Categorized as Big Island Vacation Information

Exploring waterfalls on Big Island will delight you as you seek them amidst tropical rainforests, state parks and gardens. The best ones share the qualities of being incredible sights and an experience in the journey to get to them.

Planning a trip to the Big Island? Check out our Kona vacation rentals.

Akaka Falls State Park
Akaka Falls, the namesake waterfall of Akaka Falls State Park, part of the Hamakua Heritage Corridor, is considered Big Island’s best waterfall. Embraced by verdant native vegetation, it drops 442 feet into a large stone that sits in the pool at the bottom. The story behind the falls is that Hawaiian god, Akaka, fought with his cousin, and the outcome required Akaka to jump over the falls. Akaka had two wives and before he leaped, by chance, he slipped and one wife followed him. Their bodies transformed into the pohaku, the rust-colored stone in the pool. The wife left behind cried greatly, hence the waterfall you enjoy today. Once at the park, you should see the 100-foot Kahuna Falls.

Stay nearby Akaka Falls State Park in one of our Hilo vacation rentals.

Hiilawe Falls

Waipio Valley Lookout, where King Kamehameha grew up, is another masterpiece of natural landscape and the Hiilawe Falls lie in this valley that is one mile wide and five miles deep with cliffs reaching heights of 2000 feet. Anything with such staggering beauty as these falls is not easily accessible. You’ll need a 4WD or you can hike to Hiilawe Falls; either way, keep safety in mind when visiting Big Island’s tallest waterfalls (1,300 feet). These falls are in a location that share the cliff wall with Hakaloa Falls, now dry.

Stay just down the road from the Waipio Valley in one of our Waikoloa vacation rentals.

Rainbow Falls and PeePee Falls
The Boiling Pots are the bubbling pools that bring together 80-foot Rainbow Falls and PeePee Falls. While there, you should find time to see both, where lava rocks from Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are now the foundation of the foot of the falls. The waterfalls are located near downtown Hilo at Wailuku State Park. The fortunate traveler will actually see a rainbow alongside Rainbow Falls, but it is still another set of waterfalls deserving a spot on the best list, flowing on Hawaii’s longest river, Wailuku River. For safety, swimming is prohibited. The story of the cave below the falls is that it was the home of Hina, mother of demigod Maui.

Please consider our Kapoho vacation rentals located to the south of Hilo.

Umauma Falls and Onomea Falls
Waterfalls in general are stunning and enjoyable as a backdrop for photographs, swimming in the pools at the bottom and for the native foliage and sounds of rushing waters. Umauma Falls are in terrific location, the World Botanical Gardens, so a visit here will allow for scenic walks of exotic plants of the world, plus an astounding view of the multi-tiered waterfalls. Onomea Falls is another set of cascading tiers also located in a garden setting, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, which is part of Hamakua Coast’s four-mile Scenic Drive.