Upper Waikani Falls
Upper Waikani Falls
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
36 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
10
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
JMD
Winter Haven, FL148 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
The parking was just around the corner from the falls (which weren't really visable from the road). The road down to the bridge is a dangerous walk due to cars passing. As you walk from the parking to the falls you are supposed to climb down on the side of the bridge that you approach and then go under the bridge to get to the falls. It is a rather precarious climbing down from the road. We were all very scared, and luckily a professional tour guide helped us down after he helped his group. This is not for the less adventurous, but the falls are gorgeous. The water is chilly.
Written 14 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tara T
Royal Oak, MI51 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
Beware - the 10 minute hike to the falls is somewhat perilous, but worth it!!! Wear shoes with grip (though my husband did it in cheap sandals) and bring your camera. The first challenge is getting down the side of the bridge. There's two ways to go down on opposite ends of the bridge. I preferred the side closest to the ocean. Still very very steep, wet, slippery, etc. As I was climbing down I had 2 locals stop to provide commentary: the first man condescendingly told me that I was really "pushing it", that people had died trying to get to the falls; the second was a fat woman who muttered "Idiots" as she drove past. (Later I witnessed a local screaming obscenities at an older man and his wife for parking on the road....it wasn't clear where else to park for this.) Despite this, we attempted the hike carefully. It was very slippery, and I almost fell a few times. Taking it slow and plotting your steps is key. We made it no problem and were so happy once we saw the beautiful falls. Good swimming and pictures!
Written 2 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,213 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
Photogenic and worth the stop but stopping will be be a bit tricky.
Nicknamed the 3 Bears, there is a poppa sized one, a mumma one and a baby bear. They are on the right as you cross one of the many narrow one-way bridges. You might see one or two cars pulled off to the right but there is barely room for these ones and it’s a non-parking zone anyway. Instead keep going across the bridge and there is a bay with a number of parking spots on the left. You’ll need to walk back down the road. It's a bit hairy as there is no footpath so you might not want to do this if you have small children with you.
From the bridge, you’ll have a good view of the falls, the beautiful pool beneath and the Jurassic Park like cliffs and ferns. You can also go down beside the falls - if you are bit adventurous. On a good day you can stand under the water. The stairs are on the other side of the bridge. We were very tempted to give it a go but we decided against it as the footing looked a little dodgy. The day we were there was rainy so it was pretty muddy and slippery looking. On the upside, that meant that there was a lot of water in the waterfalls. On another sunnier day, I’d definitely have wanted to try it.
Nicknamed the 3 Bears, there is a poppa sized one, a mumma one and a baby bear. They are on the right as you cross one of the many narrow one-way bridges. You might see one or two cars pulled off to the right but there is barely room for these ones and it’s a non-parking zone anyway. Instead keep going across the bridge and there is a bay with a number of parking spots on the left. You’ll need to walk back down the road. It's a bit hairy as there is no footpath so you might not want to do this if you have small children with you.
From the bridge, you’ll have a good view of the falls, the beautiful pool beneath and the Jurassic Park like cliffs and ferns. You can also go down beside the falls - if you are bit adventurous. On a good day you can stand under the water. The stairs are on the other side of the bridge. We were very tempted to give it a go but we decided against it as the footing looked a little dodgy. The day we were there was rainy so it was pretty muddy and slippery looking. On the upside, that meant that there was a lot of water in the waterfalls. On another sunnier day, I’d definitely have wanted to try it.
Written 9 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony
New York City, NY1,007 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
The waterfall is located around milepost 19 on the Hana Highway. Normally is supposed to be three separate falls. However, it rained heavily the morning we made the drive there and it turned into one roaring waterfall. Still was a pretty site.
There is no place at the waterfall to park and people routinely just stop along the road to take pictures. There is a turnout past the waterfall on the left if you are driving towards Hana. The turnout can fit a couple of cars. The walk from the turnout to the waterfall is not easy since there is no shoulder. Would suggest waving a flashlight so cars can easily see you.
There is no place at the waterfall to park and people routinely just stop along the road to take pictures. There is a turnout past the waterfall on the left if you are driving towards Hana. The turnout can fit a couple of cars. The walk from the turnout to the waterfall is not easy since there is no shoulder. Would suggest waving a flashlight so cars can easily see you.
Written 12 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gla_Rangers
British Columbia, Canada1,204 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Located just after mile marker # 19, they don't have any parking lot, so we and many others pulled over at the side of the road.
For the non-adventurous it is a great photo-op from the bridge, providing a great view of the Falls and also the swimming hole.
Numerous people were down swimming. To access cross the bridge and on the left side climb over the crash barrier and follow the path down. It is initially a steep decline, then once below the bridge it gets easier. The path is well defined, which provides access to the pool for swimming and great photos of the Falls.
For the non-adventurous it is a great photo-op from the bridge, providing a great view of the Falls and also the swimming hole.
Numerous people were down swimming. To access cross the bridge and on the left side climb over the crash barrier and follow the path down. It is initially a steep decline, then once below the bridge it gets easier. The path is well defined, which provides access to the pool for swimming and great photos of the Falls.
Written 5 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jubin Edachery
Fremont, CA1,372 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Small but nice waterfall and swimming hole (use caution) on road to Hana (MM19.5). Don't worry about parking right by the falls (there's hardly any). Drive a minute up the road and there is more parking, you can walk down to the bridge to see the falls.
When it rains a lot, Three Bears (as the falls are called) will actually become one big bear :)
When it rains a lot, Three Bears (as the falls are called) will actually become one big bear :)
Written 12 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin F
St. Albert, Canada72 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
Like others have stated, this is a perfect stop along the Road to Hana but be very careful of the walk from where you park back to the falls and bridge. Drivers are crazy insane. To get down to the falls you have a couple of options but I highly recommend using water shoes or runners as the rocks are covered in algae and moss and it makes for a slippery walk to and from the swimming hole.
We took our 13 year old down to the falls but our 9 year old was too nervous given the climbing involved on the trail.
We took our 13 year old down to the falls but our 9 year old was too nervous given the climbing involved on the trail.
Written 4 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hawaiiheart9815
Kapaa, HI170 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
The first time I did the Road to Hana I only admired these beauties from the road and I'm so glad this time around I made the trek to the bottom. If you are older or not physically fit the extremely short hike down might seem difficult, but for able bodied people it's not as frightening as other reviewers make it out to be. Just exercise wisdom and go slow as it is probably going to be slippery but you will be fine. I recommend driving past these falls and parking up the road on the next curve. Use caution when walking back down the road because of course people are driving at you on a winding road. When you reach the bridge you can climb down on either the right or left side of the side closest to you (in other words do not cross the bridge)...I recommend the right hand or ocean side. Carefully make your way under the bridge and the rocky trail is very evident through the trees and only take a few minutes to reach your destination. If the pool is brown or the falls are raging don't go in because of the high risk for bacteria and/or injury, but otherwise enjoy this perfect piece of paradise. These falls are unique which is why they're so great to visit. I've seen loads of waterfalls on Hawaii and these are definitely some of my favorites, not for the crowds, but for their one-of-a-kind beauty.
Written 24 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
Mountain View, CA356 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
The only place to go for a dip is a fairly serious trek from the highway. Down the ladder, then the pipe, then a rock scramble (steep, slippery, usually wet, and if you fall, it's going to hurt). There is no parking (a pullover a couple hundred yards on the Hana side is it), and the pool was murky with all the silt and sediment. Sorry, but this was a serious disappointment (and an hour's drive to get there, with the WRONG LOCATION SHOWN ON TRIP ADVISOR).
The location on the TripAdvisor App is basically inside Mama's Fish House - that's off by 20 MILES. Some web searching will show that it's actually between mile 19 and 20 on the Road to Hana, which STARTS a couple miles East of Mama's.
The location on the TripAdvisor App is basically inside Mama's Fish House - that's off by 20 MILES. Some web searching will show that it's actually between mile 19 and 20 on the Road to Hana, which STARTS a couple miles East of Mama's.
Written 28 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B. Parks
180 contributions
Sept 2019
Truly a thing of beauty in GOD's Creation. Relaxing and enjoyable to see and visit. Worth your time.
Written 21 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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