Kauai Waterfalls: Which You Can See Right Now (and Which Are Closed)
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On a rainy Kauai morning, it seems like every cliff has a waterfall. Here are the famous ones, sorted by how you can see them right now (Oct 14, 2026).
Insider tip from Guy: Wailua Falls is the closest big waterfall to Lihue Airport, about 15-20 minutes up Maalo Road from Kapaia. If you have a free afternoon before a red-eye, it’s a great last stop: see the falls from the lookout, stretch your legs at Lydgate Beach Park down by the Wailua River, grab dinner in Lihue or Kapaa, then drop the car and head to the airport.
Easy Roadside Waterfalls
- Wailua Falls (East Side, 15-20 min from Lihue Airport): an 80-foot double cascade, viewed from the parking lot at the end of Maalo Road. Mornings bring rainbows. Don’t take the unofficial trail down; it’s steep and has been deadly. The lookout is open.
- Opaekaa Falls (East Side, Wailua): a wide falls seen from a short walk, across from a view of the Wailua River. Wailua River State Park has restrictions right now, so check the DLNR notices page before you go.
- Hanalei Valley waterfalls (North Shore): after rain, dozens of ribbons appear on Namolokama Mountain behind Hanalei. Stop at the Hanalei Valley Lookout.
Hiking Waterfalls
- Hanakapiai Falls (North Shore, end of the road): OPEN for day hikes from Oct. 15 via Haena State Park (reservation required). It’s an 8-mile round trip with several stream crossings and real mud. Allow 6-8 hours. If the stream is high, turn back.
- Uluwehi (Secret) Falls (East Side, Wailua River): CLOSED. Hiking past the Wailua River trailhead is prohibited.
- Waipoo Falls (West Side, Waimea Canyon): CLOSED. Waimea Canyon State Park is closed until further notice.
Waterfalls You Can Only See by Air
- Manawaiopuna Falls (“Jurassic Falls”) (interior, by air from Lihue): the 400-foot falls from the opening of Jurassic Park, on private land. Island Helicopters has offered a landing; ask when you book whether it’s running.
- Mt. Waialeale’s “Weeping Wall”: dozens of falls in a crater, visible only by helicopter on a clear day.
Waterfall by Boat
- Fern Grotto (East Side) on the Wailua River isn’t really a waterfall, but it’s a lush cave. Smith’s riverboat tour can still land there.
Swimming Under Waterfalls
It’s tempting, but think twice: rocks fall, flash floods hit without warning, and leptospirosis lives in fresh water. Never jump without checking the depth, and never go in with open cuts.
Hiking Safety
- Never cross a rising or muddy stream. Flash floods on Kauai come from rain you can’t see, high in the mountains. If the water is rising, brown or loud, wait or turn around. Hanakapiai Stream has taken lives.
- Mud is the hazard. Wear shoes with real tread. Red dirt trails get slick fast, and drop-offs are often hidden by plants.
- Stay out of fresh water if you have cuts. Leptospirosis is present in Kauai’s streams and ponds.
- Start early and carry more water than you think, plus a headlamp. It gets dark quickly after sunset.
- Respect closures. Many state trails are closed after Hurricane Lowell. A closed trail can mean washed-out sections or unstable slopes, and it can mean fines.
