Waipio Valley - Hiilawe Falls

Waipio Valley is located in the Big Island’s Hāmākua region on the island’s northern coast. Peaceful, green, and incredibly scenic, it’s known for its steep sea cliffs, wide valley floor, and dramatic waterfalls. Long ago, Waipio supported a thriving settlement, but much of the valley’s history was shaped by powerful natural events, including tsunami waves that changed the coastline.

One of Waipio’s most famous sights is  Hi‘ilawe Falls, a towering waterfall that drops nearly 1,300 feet. It’s one of the tallest waterfalls in Hawaii and an unforgettable photo stop on a clear day.

Waipio is one of seven valleys along the windward side of the Kohala Mountains and is the largest and southernmost of them. The valley stretches roughly six miles inland and about a mile across, with a striking black-sand beach at the shoreline. Cliffs rise on both sides of the valley, reaching close to 2,000 feet in elevation, and multiple streams create cascades and smaller falls throughout the area.

If you want to explore on foot, hiking is possible, but keep in mind that the road into the valley is steep and typically requires a 4WD vehicle to drive down. Many visitors stop at the Waipio Valley Lookout, where the views of the valley and beach are spectacular. For a deeper experience, you can hike down the trail to the valley floor and explore the rivers, jungle trees, and open landscape at your own pace.

Another memorable way to experience the area is a Waipio Valley horseback tour, which lets you take in the scenery without doing the full hike. We recently drove our SUV deep into the valley – check out our Waipio Valley 4x4 Adventure blog post for our story and photos.

Hawaii (Big Island) landmark open: tours Monday to Saturday at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30

Waipio Valley, The Big Island, Hawaii (HI), USA, US