Are there fees or permits required for Waiohiwi Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Waiohiwi Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Waiohiwi Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Waiohiwi Falls.

Nearby gauge (Honopou Stream) · 10 ft³/s · Much higher than usual

Waiohiwi Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Waiohiwi Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Waiohiwi Falls.

Hawaii

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Private Landowner Watershed Protection Area WPA · PVT

Before you go

Private watershed land with no documented public trail or access. Do not enter without landowner permission.

Photo Credits (1)

NOAA Office for Coastal Management / The USDA-FSA Aerial Photography Field office (crediting while reuse is desired as Courtesy Attribution) Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

About Waiohiwi Falls

Waiohiwi Falls is in Waiohiwi Gulch on the slopes of Haleakalā, about 1.6 miles north-northeast of Olinda on Maui, at roughly 2,000 feet elevation. PAD-US records the land as a private landowner watershed protection area. No public trail or legal access to the falls is documented.

The Setting

Waiohiwi Falls sits at 1,985 feet within Private Landowner Watershed Protection Area, in the hills of Hawaii.

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Puohokamoa Falls (200 ft) lies 6.9 miles to the east.

Puohokamoa Falls

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

No public trail to Waiohiwi 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 Waiohiwi Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Waiohiwi Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall winter

The falls can be visited year-round, but it is best to check weather conditions beforehand as heavy rains can make the trail more dangerous.

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.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 3 hours ago Moderate

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Honopou Stream, 3.3 miles away, not on Waiohiwi Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

10 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Much higher than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

0 1 4 10

Based on 115 years of record

1.29 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

The water is flowing much higher than usual, expect an impressive display.

About This Gauge

Honopou Stream near Huelo, Maui, HI

USGS 16587000

3.3 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 1 sq mi

Altitude: 1,208 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge Honopou Stream near Huelo, Maui, HI (5 km away).

High confidence

Moderate right now

10 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Moderate

11 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Moderate

9 cfs

6/10

Sat

Moderate

9 cfs

6/10

Sun

Moderate

11 cfs

6/10

Mon

Moderate

12 cfs

6/10

Tue

Moderate

12 cfs

6/10

Wed

Moderate

14 cfs

9/10

Best window: Wed — moderate flow, mostly sunny (trip score 9/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late March to early May, 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 Olinda hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Waiohiwi Falls Frozen?

Updated about 16 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Waiohiwi Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 76°F to 66°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 7 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.

Through the falls the surface drops roughly 189 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Elevation at the pin is about 2,002 feet.

The ground changes about 26 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 64 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face west and glow in afternoon and evening light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Waiohiwi Falls near Olinda, Hawaii, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Waiohiwi Falls near Olinda, Hawaii, showing about 189 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing west

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 2,002 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 189 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: West; Glows in afternoon and evening light.

Ground profile through the falls

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 in Waiohiwi Gulch near Piʻiholo, northeast of Makawao and Olinda. No public trailhead or route is documented.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Elevation

1,985 feet above sea level

Coordinates

20.847618° N, -156.284439° W

Land Management

Private Landowner Watershed Protection Area WPA

Managed by PVT Restricted Access

Visitor Tips & Gear

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)

8.6 miles away · 10 sites

Reservable

Overview There are two primitive wilderness tent areas which are accessible only by trail, Hōlua and Palikū. Backcountry users must plan to enter the park entrance for their stay no earlier than 7 am unless they have also obtained a sunrise reservation granting access to the park between 3 and 7 am. Sunrise reservations can be made on recreation.gov. Hōlua, the wilderness tent area reached by the shortest hike, lies at 6,940 ft (2,115m) in the shrubland near Koʻolau Gap. Hōlua is 3.7 mi (6 km) on

Book on Recreation.gov

Additional Information

Wildlife

The area is home to a variety of tropical birds, insects, and other native wildlife. Be cautious of potential encounters with insects or other animals.