United States · Hawaii
Hiʻilawe Waterfall
Hiʻilawe Waterfall is one of the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in Hawaii located on the Big Island. The waterfall drops about 1,450 feet with a main drop of 1,201 feet , into Waipiʻo Valley on Lalakea Stream.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Hiʻilawe Waterfall drops 442 metres (1,450 ft) on the Lalakea Stream. It is a cataract-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Hawaii, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hiʻilawe Waterfall is number 3 on our list of waterfalls between 100 and 500 metres. As a cataract waterfall, a large, powerful waterfall or series of rapids on a big river.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Hiʻilawe Waterfall itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Hawaii are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Hawaii, United States
- Country United States
- Region Hawaii, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Hiʻilawe Waterfall
United States
Height442 mWidth—
Most similar
Hog's Back Falls
Canada
Height600 mWidth—
Also a cataract waterfall and in Canada
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 2.2× taller than Hiʻilawe Waterfall. It drops 4.1× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Hiʻilawe Waterfall yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
20.09444, -155.59583
Quick answers
Where is Hiʻilawe Waterfall?
Hiʻilawe Waterfall is in United States (Hawaii). The nearest base is Hawaii, United States. Its coordinates are 20.0944, -155.5958.
How tall is Hiʻilawe Waterfall?
Hiʻilawe Waterfall drops 442 metres (1,450 feet). It is a cataract-type waterfall on the Lalakea Stream.
When is the best time to visit Hiʻilawe Waterfall?
Peak flow is January to April and November to December. Fed by trade-wind rain: the wetter months from November to April carry the most water.
What can you do at Hiʻilawe Waterfall?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Hiʻilawe Waterfall?
The usual base is Hawaii, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Hiʻilawe Waterfall
Akaka Falls
Big Island's most-visited waterfall
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