Hanawi Falls
Hawaii · 30-foot drop · Last verified 2026-05-23
Flow at Hanawi Falls is light today (12 cfs) — visit for the geology, not the volume. September averages 11" of precipitation here — expect high flow.
Right now
Streamflow
11.8 cfs
Hanawi Stream near Nahiku, · 28m ago
Overnight
71°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Thursday
77°F
Chance Rain Showers
Today's daylight
Sunrise 6:10 AM · Sunset 6:32 PM · 12h 22m
Snapshot built 13m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS HFO.
Hanawi Falls is a 30-foot horsetail cascade on Hanawi Stream, visible directly from the Hana Highway bridge at mile marker 24 on Maui's Road to Hana. A second, much taller 200-foot cascade sits hidden downhill — but the trail down is unmarked, steep, and dangerous, so 99% of visitors enjoy the upper section from the road. Flows year-round thanks to consistent rainfall on the windward slopes, but peaks November through April.
The trail
0 miles each way, rated easy. Roadside shoulder of HI-360 (Hana Highway) just past mile marker 24. Capacity 3-4 cars. Free.
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 16508000 · 1.2 mi away
Hanawi Stream near Nahiku, Maui, HI
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Below 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 1.6 cfs · 1115% of last year — significantly wetter
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanBest | 73 | 66 | 16 | 0 |
| FebBest | 71 | 64 | 18.6 | 0 |
| MarBest | 72 | 65 | 25.2 | 0 |
| AprBest | 72 | 66 | 18.8 | 0 |
| May | 73 | 67 | 15.5 | 0 |
| Jun | 74 | 68 | 12.9 | 0 |
| Jul | 75 | 69 | 16.8 | 0 |
| Aug | 76 | 69 | 13 | 0 |
| Sep | 76 | 69 | 11 | 0 |
| Oct | 76 | 69 | 12.6 | 0 |
| NovBest | 74 | 68 | 15.6 | 0 |
| DecBest | 73 | 67 | 17.1 | 0 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanawi Falls (this page) | — | 30 ft | easy | Y | Free |
| Kopiliula Falls | 2 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Waikani Falls | 3 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Waiokilo Falls | 4 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Keʻākū Falls | 4 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Waiokuna Falls | 4 mi | — | — | — | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~30 ft)
- Champagne Falls30 ft
- Crevice Falls30 ft
- Cucumber Falls30 ft
- Eternal Flame Falls30 ft
- Georgiana Falls30 ft
Questions visitors ask about Hanawi Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Hanawi Falls?
Hanawi Falls is 30 feet (9 m) tall. Height is sourced from To-Hawaii.com.
Can I bring my dog to Hanawi Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed. Always leash and pack out waste.
Is Hanawi Falls wheelchair accessible?
Yes — Hanawi Falls has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area with ADA parking. Conditions can change seasonally; verify with the land manager before driving.
Can you swim at Hanawi Falls?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Hanawi Falls. Roadside viewing only — there is no safe trail down to the stream. Cliff-jumping has happened here but flash floods and falling rocks make it dangerous.
When is the best time to visit Hanawi Falls?
Peak flow is typically November, December, January, February, March, April. Season-wise: winter, spring. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Hanawi Falls?
No entrance fee. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is Hanawi Falls from a major city?
Hanawi Falls is 13 miles from Hana (about 25 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Hawaii
Where it is
20.8076, -156.0962
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-23
Been there?
Marina and Theo verify pages one road trip at a time. If you've been to Hanawi Falls recently, your local knowledge improves the page for everyone. Pick the kind of contribution that fits — every email lands in our inbox and gets read (and credited when we publish).
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