Best Waterfalls On The Road To Hana | Maui, Hawaii

Driving the Road To Hana in Hawaii along the east side of Maui has a seemingly endless supply of amazing waterfalls. It might be one place in the world where you could even get tired of seeing so many waterfalls. This extra curvy road is an adventure in itself, full of turns, one-lane bridges, steep cliffs, lush jungle, and of course, tons of waterfalls.  But driving the Road To Hana (AKA Hana Highway) can easily take an entire day if you include many stops.  So deciding what is worth a stop is really important so you can spend your time on only the best waterfalls on the Road to Hana.  So here are the ones that are must-see locations.

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Upper Waikani Falls (AKA Three Bears Falls)

Mile Marker: 20

This waterfall is located just before mile marker 20 on the road to Hana.  Upper Waikaini falls is visible right from your car as you cross one of the many one-lane bridges.  But it’s definitely worth parking to get out to enjoy the view without holding up traffic.  There is a small pull-off about 800 feet past the bridge on the right.  Park there, and then walk back to the bridge.

When the amount of water is right, you will see three distinct waterfalls of descending sizes (hence, Three Bears).  If the flow is too strong or too weak it could be one huge gush of water or less than three falls.

There is a way down to the falls, but it is not recommended because the climb down from the road is wet and the first ledge is large.  The trail below is also muddy and slippery, so proceed at your own risk.

I honestly found the views of the falls from the bridge to be better than down close to the falls. So because of the sketchy trail down, I would recommend just viewing from above.

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Lower Wailua Iki Falls

Mile Marker: 25.5

This is my personal favorite waterfall on the Hana Highway.  Lower Wailua Iki falls sits underneath one of the many one-lane bridges, but the best view is from up around the corner.  There is a small pull-out on the right, several hundred feet past the bridge, barely large enough for two cars.  But from here you can walk over to the guardrail and see the falls as pictured above.  Be careful of traffic passing by, because there is no shoulder to stand out of the road.

The waterfall empties into a large bowl with green vegetation on all sides.  From here you can also see the road wrapping around the bowl, putting in perspective how epic this road is.  It’s also worth a walk down to the bridge to look at the falls from above, and get a closer view of some smaller falls upstream from the bridge.  But be careful not to lean too far over the bridge guardrail, because it’s short and won’t stop you from falling over the edge.

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Wailua Falls

Mile Marker: 45 (counting down now from Hana)

This is another waterfall that is easily seen from the road.  Wailua Falls is often called Maui’s most photographed waterfall.  Unlike most waterfalls on the Road to Hana, this falls has a relatively large dirt parking area just past the bridge on the left.  You can see the falls right from the bridge, or backtrack and take the trail just before the bridge.  This falls has a large plunge pool underneath, that makes for a popular swimming spot for visitors who tend to reach Wailua later in the day.

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Waimoku Falls

Mile Marker: 42 (counting down now from Hana)

Waimoku Falls and the next one on the list (‘Ohe’o Gulch) are some of the most spectacular on the Road to Hana.  But they are also likely your farthest destination on the drive.  Hence, why it’s important to get an early start if you want to include these stops.  They both are found in the Kipahulu section of Haleakala National Park.  If you have enough time, it’s definitely worth the hike to these falls, though many people run out of energy or daylight by the time they reach them.

Waimoku Falls is the tallest waterfall you will see on the Hana Highway, standing at 400 feet tall.  But the hike to this falls if often the most substantial trail that people will take on this trip.  You take Pipiwai trail (3.4 miles, 908 feet elevation) whose other notable sights are a massive Banyan tree, bamboo forest, and several other smaller waterfalls.

Once you reach the falls there is a sign telling visitors not to go any closer to the falls. Anything besides water that comes over the falls, like rocks or sticks, can become a deadly projectile falling 400 feet onto unsuspecting visitors. And flash floods can turn a trickling falls into a massive flow of water in seconds, not giving visitors enough time to escape the canyon. You will probably see people ignoring the sign to get a closer look, best not to join them.

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‘Ohe’o Gulch (seven Sacred Pools)

Mile Marker: 42 (counting down from Hana now)

‘Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) is actually a cascade of several waterfalls and pools, however there aren’t quite seven pools total.  This name was given by a former owner trying to entice tourists to this remote part of Maui.  At the top of the gulch, there is a bridge that makes a great backdrop, especially if you have a telephoto camera lens.  At the bottom of the gulch, the river empties out into the Pacific Ocean.  This is great place to look down the coast and see waves crashing into the rocks.

The rules about swimming here seem to be getting increasingly restrictive.  First, cliff jumping was banned, and when we visited no swimming of any kind was allowed.  Injuries and subsequent lawsuits are the root of the problem.  Check with park rangers if you have interest in swimming.

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Tips for Seeing The Best Waterfalls on The Road To Hana

Warnings

This side of Maui gets an incredible amount of rain, and the weather changes quickly.  Rain can turn a peaceful waterfall, into a deadly scene in minutes.  Flash Flooding is very common at Maui’s waterfalls.  It’s always best to keep a safe distance from waterfalls and be alert for changing water flow or increased noise.

Theft is also a common problem on the Road to Hana.  Whenever exploring away from your vehicle it’s advised to carry all your valuables with you, or at least stow them out of sight.

What to Bring

Bring a rain jacket for this drive, because rain showers can strike at any moment.  And if it’s raining at one stop, don’t fret, it may clear up by the time you reach your next stop.

Bring footwear with good traction because the trails are muddy and slippery.

If you are bringing expensive electronics (cameras, phones, etc) then a waterproof bag or container is a good idea.

Bring a tripod if you want to get those wispy waterfall shots with long exposure photography.

If you do the hike to Waimoku Falls (3.4 miles) then I recommend packing these hiking essentials.

Start Early

The Road to Hana has enough beautiful sights and activities to fill an entire week of exploring.  So if you are trying to do the drive in just one day then you must start early!  This also will give you a slight head-start on the crowd of people who make this drive every day.  Getting to Paia by 6-8am is going to give you the most time and keep you ahead of the “sleep in” crowd.

Or there is accommodation in Hana, if you wanted to stay for a night and give yourself more time to explore.

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Conclusion | Best Waterfalls On The Road Hana

These are the best waterfalls on the Road To Hana that we think are must-see destinations.  This area of Maui is basically waterfall heaven, so you can bet that you will be impressed by these top picks.  It’s easy to get FOMO on the Hana Highway when you pass by waterfalls and aren’t sure if you should stop or save your time for better ones.  Hopefully this guide helps you maximize your time in Maui, and make sure you don’t miss any of the best waterfalls on the Road to Hana!

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