Updated July 2026
Kulaniapia Falls
Kulaniapia Falls is a roughly 120-foot plunge on Waiau Stream on the lower slopes of Mauna Kea, about five miles upslope from Hilo. It sits on private land at The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls and is accessible only to lodging guests or day-pass holders, who can swim, kayak, or rappel the drop when conditions allow.
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 Inn at Kulaniapia Falls (private) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kulaniapia Falls drops about 120 feet. That makes it the 166th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 77% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
Access is documented as short hike. No trail distance is on record for Kulaniapia Falls. The nearest town is Hilo. Confirm access and land status with The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls (private) before setting out — some documented falls have no public route at all.
year-round. 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
- Hanakoa Falls
- Hanawi Falls · 200 ft
- Hiʻilawe Falls · 1,450 ft
- Hoʻopiʻi Falls · 20 ft
- Kahiwa Falls · 2,165 ft
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