Kauaʻi is the wettest and least populated of the four main Hawaiian islands, and all that rain comes back down as waterfalls across the island.
Our guide details some of the most famous and easily reachable waterfalls on Kauaʻi that you can visit on your trip.
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Kauaʻi Waterfall Map
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Best Kauai Waterfalls
Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls splits into two streams that drop about 173 feet into the pool below; from the lookout the visible drop is closer to 80 feet.
If you are old enough to remember Fantasy Island (we are, no shame! Fantasy Island aired during the 70s and 80s), the falls were featured in the opening credits of that show.
One of the biggest draws to Wailua Falls is how easy they are to reach. They are located right next to a parking lot so you don’t need to do any hiking to get there. The lookout is at the end of Maʻalo Road (Highway 583), north of Līhuʻe.
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
The 151 feet tall ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is a waterfall located on the ʻŌpaekaʻa Stream in the Wailua River State Park on the eastern side of Kauaʻi.
This is one of Kauaʻi’s most accessible major waterfalls that flows over a basalt ridge left behind by a volcanic eruption that took place millions of years ago.
Fun fact: ʻOpaekaʻa in Hawaiian means “rolling shrimp”, probably because, at one time, freshwater shrimp were found here in abundance.
Waipoʻo Falls
The Waipoʻo Falls is an 800-foot cascading waterfall that can best be seen from various lookouts along the road through Waimea Canyon. There also is a popular and family-friendly 3 mile (round trip) hike that takes you to the top of the falls.
The trail itself can get muddy after heavy rain and please make sure to pack in and pack out all of your trash. Mahalo!
Mount Waialeale Falls (Wall of Tears)
Mount Waialeale is one of the highest peaks on Kauaʻi and is, with about 372 inches of rain a year, one of the wettest places in the United States. All this rain has to come down, and does so along countless waterfalls. After heavy rains there are so many waterfalls, that it has earned Waialeale Falls the title of “Wall of Tears”, or the “Weeping Wall”.
The Weeping Wall is reachable on foot, but there is no marked trail: the route follows the river bed, so go with a guide. Smaller waterfalls line the river the whole way up.
If hiking is not your thing, you can also see these waterfalls as part of a helicopter tour.
Hanakoa Falls
The Hanakoa Falls and the Hanakapiʻai Falls (mentioned below) are the two main waterfalls that cascade down the Nā Pali Coast on Kauaʻi. At 1000 feet tall, Hanakoa Falls is the taller of the two.
You can see the falls either from a helicopter or after a long day of hiking the Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast. The trail is 11 miles each way and passes through several valleys, with waterfalls and sea caves along the route. A camping permit from Hawaiʻi State Parks is required to go beyond Hanakapiʻai, 2 miles in.
Hanakapiai Falls
Hanakapiʻai Falls is the second-tallest waterfall along the Nā Pali Coast. Getting there is an 8-mile round trip from Kēʻē Beach: 2 miles on the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiʻai Beach, then 2 miles up the valley on an unmaintained trail. Entry to Hāʻena State Park needs an advance reservation.
When hiking bring swimming gear as you will pass Hanakapiʻai Beach after a few miles of hiking.
Hanakapiʻai Falls drops about 300 feet into a small pool.
Kalihiwai Falls
Kalihiwai Falls is a two-tiered waterfall on the Kalihiwai River. The falls are visible from a bridge over the river on the north coast of Kauaʻi, between Kalihiwai Bay and Princeville.
There are four more waterfalls upstream of the bridge, on private land. Princeville Ranch used to run a guided hike and horseback ride to them, but as of October 2026 it offers riding lessons only, so the view from the bridge is the view.
Kipu Falls (now blocked off)
The Kīpū Falls in East Kauaʻi have a dangerous reputation after a string of drownings and injuries. In 2011 the Grove Farm Company, which owns the land, fenced off the access route, and it remains closed.
Uluwehi Falls (a.k.a. Secret Falls)
The Uluwehi Falls got their nickname “Secret Falls” in the pre-internet days, when only few people knew how to get there. Nowadays it is easy to find out how to get there, but it still takes effort: about 2 miles of paddling up the Wailua River to the trailhead, then a 1.5-mile round-trip walk with two stream crossings.
The falls are about 100 feet tall, with a pool at the base.
Hoʻopiʻi Falls
The Ho’opi’i Falls lie at the end of a 1.5 mile long trail close to Kapaʻa on Kauaʻi. The drop is only about 20 feet, but there is a swimming hole and the walk is easy. There is no official trailhead: the path starts in the Kapahi neighborhood and parts of it cross private land, so park legally and stay on the stream-side path.
Good to know: Hoʻopiʻi has an upper and lower section. Most people stop at the upper Hoʻopiʻi waterfall, but the lower falls, another 15 to 20 minutes downstream, get far fewer visitors.
Hoʻolea Falls
The Hoʻolea falls are yet another small(ish) waterfall, but we have good reasons to include them as the final item in our list of favorite Kauaʻi waterfalls: They sit at Kalalau Beach at the end of the Nā Pali Coast, and the 11-mile hike in (each way) keeps the crowds away.
To get to the falls you first need to hike the complete 11 miles of the Kalalau Trail (a camping permit from Hawaiʻi State Parks is required), and then hike up the stream to the waterfalls. Most people take two or more days for this trail.