Updated July 2026
Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls)
Uluwehi Falls, popularly called Secret Falls, is a roughly 100-120 foot cascade in the Wailua River valley on Kauaʻi. It is reached by paddling up the Wailua River, Hawaiʻi's only navigable river, then hiking about a mile each way through often-muddy rainforest.
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 for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls) drops about 120 feet. That makes it the 165th-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.
The Uluwehi Secret Falls Trail (via Wailua River paddle) reaches it about 2 miles (out-and-back), rated moderate. The nearest town is Wailua. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks for closures and current conditions.
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
Sources
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