Kalihiwai Falls

Princeville, Hawaii, USA

About Kalihiwai Falls

For Subscribers Only. See Membership Options.

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Kalihiwai Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall on a tributary that feeds the Kalihiwai River.

Since the best view of the falls sits on private land and I wasn’t able to book the private excursion to get closer to this falls, I had to settle for the rather subpar view.

Kalihiwai_Falls_014_12262006 - Distant view of part of Kalihiwai Falls
Distant view of part of Kalihiwai Falls

This is shown in the picture above.

As you can see, a telephoto lens (which I didn’t have at the time) would’ve helped with the photography immensely.

Yet I’m pretty sure it would’ve still been unsatisfying nonetheless.

How I earned the free view of Kalihiwai Falls

So in order to get that view at the top of this page, I had to park the car in a suitable spot (see directions below).

Then, I had to walk down the busy Hwy 56 towards the Kalihiwai River Bridge.

During this walk, I had to breathe in exhaust fumes from passing motorists while also staying as far as I could from the road so I wouldn’t become roadkill.

Given the narrowness of the “walkway” (especially on the bridge), trying not to be potential roadkill was harder than you think.

Needless to say the 50mph speed limit was clearly not adhered to, and I even caught strange looks from passing motorists.

If I feel up for it, next time I’ll try to book the private excursion…

I understand that this used to be a waterfall that people got to visit without paying anything (like at Kipu Falls).

However in matters such as this where it’s really up to the landowners what they want to do (e.g. make at least some money off the attraction or close it off altogether), I guess it was only a matter of time before this one became restricted.

Authorities

To my knowledge, access to Kalihiwai Falls involves crossing through private property. Since I generally don’t keep up with ownership situations, you may have to either go there and read the signs or contact someone beforehand. 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.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: princeville, hanalei, kalihiwai, kauai, hawaii, waterfall, private, hanalei, kilauea



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...

No users have submitted a write-up/review of this waterfall


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

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls

The Waterfaller Newsletter

The Waterfaller Newsletter is where we curate the wealth of information on the World of Waterfalls website and deliver it to you in bite-sized chunks in your email inbox. You'll also get exclusive content like...

  • Waterfall Wednesdays
  • Insider Tips
  • User-submitted Waterfall Write-up of the Month
  • and the latest news and updates both within the website as well as around the wonderful world of waterfalls


How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.