Maui
Waterfalls
Want to see
lots of waterfalls? CLICK
HERE for GUIDED HANA TOURS
|
maui
weather
maui
map
media
links
waterfalls
wildlife
saving
$$$
planning
ahead
inter-island
travel |
| Most of the
accessible waterfalls on Maui are on the road to Hana. This is Puohokamoa
Falls. It is located near mile marker 12 on the Hana Highway ... usually
there are many cars stopped here. It is just a 2 minute walk to the falls.
It is a great place to swim, and a trail to the left hand side of the pool
leads to a rocky ledge. Brave souls like this guy draw applause from the
crowd when they jump. You can continue up this trail, above the falls, and
on to a more private pool with an equally beautiful waterfall. |
 |
| This
picturesque spot is right along the road, a few miles after passing the
Keanae Penninsula. There is a rough trail that leads to the falls ... it
begins on the far side of the bridge. In season, there are stunning torch
ginger blooms here. |
 |
| It is hard to
believe, but this is the very same waterfall after several days of heavy
rain. If it is raining while you are driving to Hana, don't be surprised.
This IS a rain forest. And the more rain, the more waterfalls there are to
photograph. |
 |
| Delicate waterfalls and pristine pools
are found along Hanawi stream. This is what Maui is all about! |
 |
| My favorite
place in all of Hawaii! This is the beautiful Blue Pool ... it is
impossible to capture the entire scene in one photo. To the left is a rock wall with a wide lacy waterfall framed
on both sides by wildflowers. To the right is the crashing of the surf. And in the
middle is a natural pool perfect for swimming. Unfortunately access to
this site is often blocked by locals who have "had
it" with the number of tourists who began visiting this
place following the publication of its location in a popular
guidebook. The road leading to the area is private property
owned by the local landowners. While some landowners seem to
grant permission to use the road by collecting a parking fee,
others say they prohibit you from going there. If you don't
want coconuts thrown at you (yes, it's really happened) we
suggest you stay away as you are clearly not welcome. |
 |
| A small but
beautiful waterfall in the Hana area. |
 |
| Beyond Hana,
Wailua Falls is majestic and accessible. Everyone stops here for a photo,
and local artisans are usually found here selling their wares. This
picture is taken from the bridge ... watch out for traffic while you are
looking through your viewfinder. |
 |
| Oheo Gulch in
Kipahulu is within the boundary of Haleakala National Park. This area has
long been known as the "Seven Sacred Pools" but this name was
invented to promote tourism. This is not a sacred Hawaiian site, and there
are a lot more than seven natural pools! It is a great place to swim and
jump from rocky overhangs, but don't expect privacy. |
 |
| This photo
shows beautiful Waimoku Falls, which is upstream from the Kipahulu
ranger station. This is the one and only really tall waterfall on Maui
that you can reach on a
well-maintained trail ... it begins from the crowded parking lot at the
so-called "Seven Sacred Pools." The hike to Waimoku Falls climbs
about 600 vertical feet and takes about an hour one-way. The trail passes
through a mystical bamboo forest ... when the wind blows the trees are
transformed into giant bamboo chimes. While it is impressive to stand at
the bottom and look up, the best perspective is from a helicopter. |
 |
| Alelele stream
is easy to find, and there is a trail of about a 10 minute walk to get to
this falls. Look for the bridge that says "Alelele" on the side
just a few miles beyond the Kipahulu area. This is one of my favorite
waterfalls. It is beautiful, and hardly anybody knows it is here.
Technically, it is also inside of Haleakala National Park, but most
people spend their time at the overcrowded Oheo Gulch area. |
 |
| These next two
waterfalls are in the West Maui Mountains. The first one is between Wailuku and
Kahakuloa.
From the place where this stream intersect the road, you can hike either
direction. A 40 minute hike upstream takes you to a place known as
"three ropes" because you can climb from one waterfall to
another. The hiking is a little rougher going downstream, leading to this
ledge. If you are brave, there is a rope dropping over the 60 foot
overhang. Thus far I haven't been brave enough to try it. This waterfall sometimes
flows "backwards" ... strong winds blowing off the ocean head up
the valley and water goes over the edge, only to be blown backwards by the
wind. |
 |
| Notice that I
saved the best for last. This is the most amazing waterfall on the island
of Maui, and the only way to see it is by helicopter.
This falls is not on the Hana side of the island ... it is buried deep
within the West Maui Mountains. Your best chance of seeing
double-tiered Honokohau Falls is by taking the 30
minute West Maui flight, or the 65 minute West Maui / Molokai
flight
(which is the same price as the 65 minute complete island of Maui tour).
In my humble opinion, West Maui is the part of the island you MUST see by
helicopter ... if you plan to do the Hana/Haleakala flight, upgrade to the
longer complete island tour and see it all! |
 |
We are a true activity company; we do not promote timeshare sales in any way.
