Updated July 2026
Hanakoa Falls
Hanakoa Falls is a tall, multi-tiered waterfall set back in Hanakoa Valley along the Nā Pali Coast of Kauaʻi. Reaching it requires roughly a 14-mile round-trip trek on the strenuous Kalalau Trail (plus a short spur), typically done with an overnight permit at the Hanakoa or Kalalau campsites.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks (Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
No measured height is on record for Hanakoa Falls in the land-manager and survey sources this inventory draws on. We list it without a height rather than estimating one.
The Kalalau Trail (Hanakoa Falls spur) reaches it about 14 miles (out-and-back), rated strenuous. The nearest town is Hāʻena. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks (Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park) for closures and current conditions.
summer. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Hawaii waterfalls
- ʻAkaka Falls · 442 ft
- Alelele Falls · 65 ft
- Hanakāpīʻai Falls · 300 ft
- Hanawi Falls · 200 ft
- Hiʻilawe Falls · 1,450 ft
- Hoʻopiʻi Falls · 20 ft
- Kahiwa Falls · 2,165 ft
- Kahuna Falls · 100 ft
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