Before you go
No public trail or legal public access is documented. The falls sit in the remote, privately held upper Hanapēpē Valley.
Photo Credits (5)
About Kāhili Falls
Kāhili Falls is in the remote upper Hanapēpē Valley in interior Kauaʻi, at about 1,535 feet elevation and roughly 0.6 mile north-northeast of Mānāwaiopuna (Jurassic) Falls. It is not on public protected land, and no public trail or legal hiking route to it is documented.
Nearby Falls Worth Visiting
Manawaiopuna Falls (400 ft) lies 0.6 miles to the southwest.
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
No public trail reaches Kāhili Falls, and no hiking route or trail statistics are documented.
Accessibility
The falls are not open to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Kāhili Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🤑 Fees are required
Permit required
Access to Kāhili Falls requires permission from the landowners or booking a guided tour that includes access to the falls.
🏊 Is There Swimming at Kāhili Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Kāhili Falls can be visited year-round, but weather conditions may vary. The dry season (spring and summer) typically offers better trail conditions and clearer views.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Heavy rains during wet season (November through March) bring higher flow but can make trails slippery.
Safety Information
Visitors should be cautious of slippery rocks, sudden changes in water levels, and potential flash floods. Always follow the guidance of tour operators or landowners.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Hanapepe Riv, 3.4 miles away, not on Kāhili Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
1.84 ft
Water depth at gauge
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge Hanapepe Riv blw Manuahi Str nr Eleele, Kauai, HI (5 km away).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late January to late January, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Kalaheo hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Kāhili Falls Frozen?
Updated about 7 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Kāhili Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 79°F to 67°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- no gauge
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
The laser survey finds one clean step here: roughly 276 feet of drop concentrated at the brink. Elevation at the pin is about 1,535 feet.
The ground changes about 33 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 352 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing west, the falls glow in afternoon and evening light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,535 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 276 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- West
- Glows in afternoon and evening light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading west).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
The falls are deep in upper Hanapēpē Valley about 4.5 miles north of Kalāheo, with no road or public trail access.
Get Directions on Google MapsElevation
1,496 feet above sea level
Coordinates
21.995592° N, -159.521815° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Where to Stay
Kauai Shores Hotel
Poipu Plantation Vacation Rentals
Banyan Harbor Resort
Hanalei Bay Resort
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
Mānāwaiopuna (Jurassic) Falls is about 0.6 mile away in the same valley and can be visited only on a helicopter tour. Waimea Canyon is to the west.
Wildlife
The area around Kāhili Falls is home to various tropical birds and native Hawaiian plants. Visitors may also encounter insects and other small wildlife.
Cities near Kāhili Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
Aerial
LiDAR
LiDAR
LiDAR
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