LiDAR terrain view · USGS 3DEP
Moʻoloa Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
Remote private watershed land with no documented public trail or access. Do not enter without landowner permission.
About Moʻoloa Falls
Moʻoloa Falls is on Molokaʻi, not Kauaʻi, high in the East Molokaʻi mountains at about 3,250 feet near Moʻoloa summit and Haha and Hina falls, north of Ualapuʻe. PAD-US records the land as a private landowner watershed protection area. No public trail or legal access is documented.
The Setting
Moʻoloa Falls sits at 3,219 feet within Private Landowner Watershed Protection Area, in the mountains of Hawaii.
Nearby Falls Worth Visiting
Puʻukaʻōkū Falls, the tallest waterfall in Hawaii at 2,756 feet, lies 4.9 miles to the northeast. Also nearby: ʻOloʻupena Falls (900 ft, 4.7 mi).
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
No public trail to Moʻoloa Falls is documented, and no reliable length or elevation figures exist.
Accessibility
The falls are not open to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Moʻoloa Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Moʻoloa Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
The waterfall can be visited year-round, but conditions may vary depending on rainfall. Dry seasons may offer easier access, while rainy seasons can make trails slippery and water flow stronger.
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, flash flooding during heavy rains, and potential encounters with wildlife. Always check weather conditions before visiting.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on East Fork Kawela Gulch, 1.4 miles away, not on Moʻoloa Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
5 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Higher than usual for this time of year
Based on 29 years of record
3.24 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
The water is flowing higher than usual for this time of year.
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge EF Kawela Gulch nr Kamalo, Molokai, HI (2 km away).
Today
Roaring
6 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Roaring
5 cfs
6/10Tue
Roaring
7 cfs
6/10Wed
Roaring
6 cfs
6/10Thu
Roaring
6 cfs
6/10Fri
Roaring
5 cfs
6/10Sat
Roaring
1 cfs
6/10Best window: Today — roaring flow, chance rain showers (trip score 6/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late November to late December, peaking in December.
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 Ualapue hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Moʻoloa Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Moʻoloa Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 68°F to 60°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 15 ft³/s
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.
1-meter lidar measures about 354 feet of descent through Moʻoloa Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. The brink sits at about 3,254 feet above sea level.
Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 183 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 468 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing southwest, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 3,254 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 354 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Southwest
- Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southwest).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
The falls are in the roadless upper mountains of East Molokaʻi. No public trailhead or route is documented.
Get Directions on Google MapsElevation
3,219 feet above sea level
Coordinates
21.097709° N, -156.885720° W
Land Management
Managed by PVT Restricted Access
Visitor Tips & Gear
Where to Stay
High-End Resort Condo Nestled on Molokai Shoreline
OUTRIGGER Kāʻanapali Beach Resort
Kahana Beach Vacation Club
Gardens at West Maui
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
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