RT Waimoku Falls

A towering 400-foot waterfall cascading down a sheer lava rock wall, reached via a lush rainforest trail through bamboo groves and stream crossings.

General Information

Hours:

Open daily from 9am to 5pm
Trail access begins at sunrise and ends at sunset

Fees:

Included with Haleakalā National Park entrance fee:
Private vehicle: $30 (valid 3 days)
Motorcycle: $25
Individual (on foot or bicycle): $15

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed

Closest cities with hotels:

Hāna (12 mi)

Seasons:

All year; best on dry, sunny days

Location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kz5Zz7XzZzq5z9A6

Website:

hawaii-guide.com

How to Get There

From Haleakalā Visitor Center (38 mi): Drive southeast on Crater Road to Highway 37, then take Highway 360 (Hāna Highway) to Highway 31; park at the Kīpahulu Visitor Center and hike 2 miles on the Pīpīwai Trail to reach the falls.

Overview

The Waimoku Falls is one of Maui’s most spectacular natural wonders, plunging 400 feet down a vertical lava rock cliff into a boulder-strewn basin. Located at the end of the Pīpīwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, the falls are the grand finale of a 4-mile round-trip hike that winds through dense rainforest, past banyan trees, and through a towering bamboo forest. Along the way, hikers also pass Makahiku Falls, a 185-foot cascade visible from an overlook about halfway in.

The trail gains about 650 feet in elevation and typically takes 2.5 to 5 hours to complete, depending on pace and stops. Conditions can be muddy and slippery, especially after rain, and stream crossings may require caution. Swimming at the base of the falls is not recommended due to falling rocks and flash flood risks. The journey to Waimoku Falls is as rewarding as the destination, offering a rich sensory experience of East Maui’s lush, untamed beauty.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Waimoku Falls, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.