Updated July 2026
Waipoʻo Falls
Waipoʻo Falls is a tiered waterfall (commonly cited around 800 ft total over two main drops) cascading into Waimea Canyon, the 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific,' on Kauai. The Canyon Trail (about 3.2 mi round trip) descends from a trailhead off Halemanu Road near the Puʻu Hinahina lookout on Kokeʻe Road (Hwy 550).
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 Division of State Parks - Waimea Canyon State Park for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Waipoʻo Falls drops about 800 feet. That makes it the 11th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 99% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Canyon Trail to Waipoʻo Falls (via Halemanu Road / Puʻu Hinahina) reaches it about 3.2 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 1,092 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Waimea. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Hawaii Division of State Parks - Waimea Canyon State Park for closures and current conditions.
Drier months for footing; flow strongest after rain. 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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