Peepee Falls (Pe'epe'e Falls) Peepee Falls (or more accurately Pe'epe'e Falls) is a lesser known waterfall about 1.5 miles upstream from the popular Rainbow Falls near downtown Hilo. Although it has been said that Peepee Falls plunges 80-100ft, it certainly didn't look that way. Based on a crude method where I saw people standing behind the falls and stacked them up in a photo (see the Quick Estimation method"), it seemed more like 50 or 60ft tall instead. In any case, the plunge pool is surrounded by lava rocks believed to date back to the eruptions of the Mauna Loa (over 3,000 years ago) and Mauna Kea (about 10,000 years ago) volcanoes.
A primitive scramble path on the right side of the overlook descended to the lava rocks on the banks of the Wailuku River. From there, we were able to continue upstream along the river before we saw where the river crossing was reasonably short but not dangerously fast-moving and deep. For sure, I got wet doing this. Julie didn't join me so she held the keys and wallet (keeping me from drenching them accidentally). I just kept the camera high over my head trying my best to make sure not to fall. Once I got to the other side, I had to scramble a bit more before I finally got to the plunge pool right across from the Peepee Falls. To the left of it, I saw another waterfall that would otherwise be hidden from anyone who didn't make this scramble. [Back to top]  View of the falls under normal conditions The flooded falls during Super Bowl XLII Weekend Boiling Pots were really churning on that day! When the Boiling Pots are calm, you might see people like this couple swimming in it Scrambling to get closer to Peepee Falls View from the "island" in the middle of the river Closer look at the falls[Back to top] Fixated on the falls with the sound of an aircraft overhead
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Garden of Eden
Pe'epe'e Falls, The Big Island, Hawaii
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The view of the falls from the official lookout certainly beckoned us for a closer look since it was about a quarter-mile away. However, we only did so with trepidation as many people have died here before in flash floods or who foolishly tried to cross the stream in high water. Needless to say, this was something we only attempted when Wailuku River was in low flow, and when we saw plenty of other people swim or cross the river (sort of a sign of confidence that lots of other people thought it was relatively safe). 
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