Wailua Falls

Wailua Falls is perhaps one of the more scenic waterfalls to be seen on the Hana Highway.

It's a satisfyingly tall (approximately 95ft) roadside waterfall, and we had a fun time taking long exposure photographs with a tripod while draping tropical foliage surrounded it. And apparently we weren't the only ones who thought this way as we witnessed traffic jams here on a couple of our visits here. Indeed, we think this is one of those waterfalls where you're practically guaranteed to stop for it (especially if you haven't seen it before) - even if you've suffered from waterfall fatigue by now.

Like most waterfalls in Hawaii, rain feeds it so its flow is highly dependent on how much time has passed since the last episode of significant rain. I can totally envision this waterfall having disappointingly low flow towards the late summer, and we witnessed how quickly the falls can diminish that time of year just two days after heavy rains had revived it

Though the best view of Wailua Falls is from the nearby bridge by the car park, the short path on the Hana side of the bridge got us closer to the falls. Strangely, given its name, Wailua Falls is on Honolewa Stream rather than the Wailua Stream (one drainage further east). For another waterfall surprise, walk uphill on the ascending road from the car park for 0.2 miles (going away from Hana). Once you're at a high enough vantage point, look back behind you. That waterfall you'll see high up in the gulch above Wailua Falls is Waihiumalu Falls. We didn't have a telephoto lens when we last visited this area, but we certainly wish we had in order to photograph it. Alternatively, this waterfall is fairly easy to spot if you take the Hana Highway (now Hwy 31) back the other way towards Hana after coming back from 'Ohe'o Gulch (a choice that wasn't ours in 2007 when the connecting road to Pi'ilani Highway was closed due to damage from the October 2006 earthquake).

Note that you'll pass by Paihi Falls en route as you descend to the Wailua Stream. We used to be able to photograph it from the road bridge, but a temporary replacement bridge made this difficult following damage from the October 2006 earthquake on the Big Island.

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Paihi Falls when it was in high flow as seen in 2003 (before they had to fix up the bridge fronting it due to the October 2006 earthquake on Big Island)

View of the falls after coming alive in an early September storm

Paihi Falls struggling two days after rain

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TRIP REPORTS

• September 1, 2003
• September 3, 2003
• February 23, 2007

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Waimoku Falls
• Makahiku Falls
• Lower Pools of 'Ohe'o
• Other Hana Highway Waterfalls

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