United States · Maui County
Oloʻupena Falls
Oloʻupena Falls is a waterfall located in the north-eastern part of Hawaiian Island of Molokai, and at 2,953 feet is unofficially cited as the fourth highest waterfall in the world, and the highest in the United States.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Oloʻupena Falls drops 900 metres (2,953 ft). It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Maui County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Oloʻupena Falls is the tallest of the 147 waterfalls we cover in United States; number 4 on our list of the tallest waterfalls in the world. As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Oloʻupena Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Maui County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Maui County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Maui County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
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 79 m taller than Oloʻupena Falls. It drops 8.3× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Oloʻupena Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
21.15583, -156.85667
Quick answers
Where is Oloʻupena Falls?
Oloʻupena Falls is in United States (Maui County). The nearest base is Maui County, United States. Its coordinates are 21.1558, -156.8567.
How tall is Oloʻupena Falls?
Oloʻupena Falls drops 900 metres (2,953 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Oloʻupena Falls?
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 Oloʻupena Falls?
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 Oloʻupena Falls?
The usual base is Maui County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Oloʻupena Falls
Puʻukaʻoku Falls
Puʻukaʻoku Falls is a waterfall on the north side of Molokai, Hawaii. At 2,756 feet , is the 8th tallest…
Makahiku Falls
Makahiku Falls is a 200-foot horsetail waterfall in Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui in Hawaii.…
Mānoa Falls
Mānoa Falls is a 150-foot waterfall along the Manoa Falls Trail in Honolulu, Hawaii. Swimming in the pool…
Hiʻilawe Waterfall
Hiʻilawe Waterfall is one of the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in Hawaii located on the Big Island.…