"Hanapueo Falls" and "Lower Umauma Falls"

About “Hanapueo Falls” and “Lower Umauma Falls”

Rating: 2

Difficulty: 1

Hiking Distance: roadside

Suggested Time:

Date first visited: 2007-03-10

Date last visited: 2008-02-23

Waterfall Latitude: 19.90645

Waterfall Longitude: -155.13628

Directions: Get to the waterfall

Vicinity: Find nearby waterfalls

Jump to: Photos, Videos, Other Info

Jump to: Comments and Reviews

Both the “Hanapueo Falls” and the “Lower Umauma Falls” (informal names I’m giving them after their respective stream names according to our Topo map) are visible from a bridge along Highway 19.

These falls basically got our attention as we were zooming along the highway and rubbernecked towards the gulch as we crossed over the road bridge crossing high above the gorge.

Hwy_19_024_03092007 - Hanapueo Falls and Lower Umauma Falls seen together from Hwy 19 — Hanapueo Falls and Lower Umauma Falls seen together from Hwy 19

I can only imagine how many more motorists miss these falls just zooming along unaware of the scene here.

To further add spice to the scene here, we were even able to see Mauna Kea behind these falls on a clear day!

As for trying to get a closer look, we looked around from the large pullout on the south side of the bridge.

However, we weren’t successful finding a way to get closer to either of the falls.

That doesn’t mean such paths don’t exist.

Umauma_Stream_012_02232008 - Looking above the Lower Umauma Falls towards the summit of Mauna Kea — Looking above the Lower Umauma Falls towards the summit of Mauna Kea

It’s just that we couldn’t figure them out (assuming they exist).

Authorities

As far as I know, the Hanapueo Falls and “Lower Umauma Falls” are not administered by any official authority. For information or inquiries about the general area as well as current conditions, you may want to try visiting the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) website.

Route to this Waterfall

To see the pair of waterfalls from the Hwy 19 bridge over Umauma Stream (while appear to lie outside the garden boundaries), look for the first Hwy 19 bridge north of the 16-mile post. This bridge is over 15 miles (under 30 minutes drive) north of the Hilo Airport in Hilo.

As you’re heading north, use the pullout on the left (mauka) side of Hwy 19 just before the bridge. Once you leave the car, you’ll have to walk along the bridge (fortunately the walkway is wide enough that you don’t have to worry too much about becoming roadkill) until you’re satisfied with the view.

To give you some geographical context, Hilo was 79 miles (under 2 hours drive) east of Kailua-Kona via the Saddle Road. Otherwise, taking the more conventional route along Hwy 19 through Waikoloa, Waikoloa Village, and Waimea, this drive would be 96 miles long taking over 2 hours.

Find A Place To Stay

Booking.com

Related Top 10 Lists

No Posts Found

Featured Images and Nearby Attractions

Waipio_003_jx_02232008 - Further north along the Hamakua Coast, the road would eventually fork and the right branch would lead to Waipi'o Valley, which the mouth of the valley is shown here — **Further north along the Hamakua Coast, the road would eventually fork and the right branch would lead to Waipi’o Valley, which the mouth of the valley is shown here**

Hawaii_Volcanos_NP_023_02242008 - Further to the south along the southeastern shores of Big Island is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which features not only flowing lava and craters, but also the Holei Sea Arch — **Further to the south along the southeastern shores of Big Island is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which features not only flowing lava and craters, but also the Holei Sea Arch**

Tagged with: hanapueo, umauma, hamakua, hilo, big island, hawaii, waterfall

Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

No users have replied to the content on this page

Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

Lower Umauma Falls February 25, 2013 6:50 pm by Jose Luis Sanchez Esteban - The best close-up of these Falls I could get. ...Read More

Lower Hanapueo Falls should be your title October 10, 2011 4:33 pm by Mark Robinson - Your site references Hanapueo Falls, although there is one falls that is only seen from the World Botanical Gardens in a serene river trail that leads to this private and intimate smaller falls that is upper Hanapueo Falls. The falls shown on your site presently is lower Hanapueo Falls which is only viewable from the… ...Read More

Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

About “Hanapueo Falls” and “Lower Umauma Falls”