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Umauma Falls

The multi-tiered Umauma Falls


Umauma Falls is a stunningly attractive multi-tiered waterfall tumbling over a cumulative height reported to be 300ft (though I swear it looked nowhere near that tall).

We definitely noticed that this waterfall has frequented post cards as well as calendars. Visiting the falls was essentially a breeze (physically speaking) because it's right off the road. The catch, however, is that the road is private. As of our last visit here in 2007, the waterfall resided in the World Botanical Garden (so there's an admission price per person to tour the garden).

From researching this falls for the defunct Hawaii Waterfalls book project, I learned that this botanical garden started with grand plans to convert former sugarcane farmland into a sanctuary for rare and endangered flora. Eventually, the Gardens opened to the public in July 1995 and apparently they continue to expand their worldwide flora collection. In addition to the falls, there was also a Rain Forest walk with 100 Bromeliad species, a children’s maze, an arboretum, and picnic areas. Though admittedly, we pretty much only did the waterfall and didn't do anything else here (so we didn't really make our admission price worth our while).

Update 11/25/2011: We were recently informed that this waterfall is now under the ownership of the Umauma Experience. They wanted us to relay the message that they now offer ziplining, a tropical garden, a palm alley walk, restrooms, a vistor center, and a snack shack. One of these days, we'll have to check it out to see how it differs from our first experience here.

Directions: From Hilo, take Hwy 19 north. At the 16-mile post, turn left (west) at the signed turnoff (Leopolino) for the World Botanical Gardens and Umauma Falls. Then turn right (north) at the first T-intersection. Drive the short distance to the World Botanical Gardens registration center car park, from where you can access trailheads or continue the garden tour in your vehicle.

From the registration center car park, the clockwise driving loop begins on the narrow road behind you. At the 0.6-mile signpost, turn right (west) onto an unpaved road providing sweeping ocean views and passing signposted flora collections en route to the small car park near Umauma Falls Lookout.

The unpaved road continues past the falls lookout and rejoins the paved road at a T-intersection north of the Rain Forest Walk. Turning right, you complete a 2-mile loop and return to the registration center.

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Colorful plants around the fallsColorful plants around the falls

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