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Oloʻupena Falls

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.

Eric Tessmer from Honolulu Hawaii, USA · CC BY 2.0
Essentials guide

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.

Find guided tours

Also good forHikingPhotography

When to go

Fed by trade-wind rain: the wetter months from November to April carry the most water.

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

Height, drawn to scale
Victoria FallsEiffel TowerPuʻukaʻoku FallsOloʻupena FallsAngel Falls
Width of the crest, drawn to scale

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.

Tours & tickets Stays