Updated July 2026
Kahiwa Falls
A six-tiered waterfall dropping about 2,165 feet down the sea cliffs of Molokai's roadless north shore between the Wailau and Papalaua valleys; among the tallest waterfalls in the United States, with no land access.
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 the managing agency for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Kahiwa Falls drops about 2,165 feet. That makes it the 4th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 100% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
Access is documented as backcountry. No trail distance is on record for Kahiwa Falls. The nearest town is Wailau. Confirm access and land status with the managing agency before setting out — some documented falls have no public route at all.
No best-season window is documented for Kahiwa Falls. As a general rule, waterfall flow peaks with spring snowmelt and after sustained rain, and drops sharply in late summer.
More Hawaii waterfalls
- ʻAkaka Falls · 442 ft
- Alelele Falls · 65 ft
- Hanakāpīʻai Falls · 300 ft
- Hanakoa Falls
- Hanawi Falls · 200 ft
- Hiʻilawe Falls · 1,450 ft
- Hoʻopiʻi Falls · 20 ft
- Kahuna Falls · 100 ft
Sources
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