🌴 Waterfall Hikes in Kauai: Hanakapi’ai & Ho’opi’i Falls 🌊

If you're heading to Kauai and want to add adventure and beauty to your itinerary, these two waterfall hikes — Hanakapi’ai Falls and Ho’opi’i Falls — are absolute musts. These two hikes were highlights of our recent Hawaii trip. Here’s everything you need to know!

🥾 Hanakapi’ai Falls: A Challenging, Rewarding Hike Through Ha’ena State Park

Embarking on the hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls in Ha'ena State Park was hands down the most challenging and rewarding hike both my boyfriend and I have ever done. This 7.7-mile roundtrip trek (though my step counter said 11.26 miles, 26k steps, and 100 flights climbed!) leads you to a jaw-dropping 300-foot waterfall that feels straight out of a dream.

 Trail Breakdown:

• First 2 Miles: From the Ke’e Beach trailhead to Hanakapi’ai Beach. Parts of the trail lead through streams — ankle to knee-deep! I highly recommend wearing water shoes. We ordered ours on Amazon and loved our Tevas !

• Lunch Break at the Beach: We took a break here to explore and refuel. We packed turkey sandwiches on gluten-free Hawaiian bread from Foodland, plus chips, clementines, Yerba Mates, and tons of snacks. (there are bathrooms near the beach here if you need to go!)

• Final stretch to the Falls: After lunch, the real adventure begins! This narrow, slippery trail winds through streams, dirt paths, and even a bamboo forest. You’ll need both hands free to climb up a steep, muddy hill — hands and feet required so make sure to have a backpack or fanny pack for your phone, water bottle, or any other gear — once you make your way up this stretch you’ll begin hearing the roar of the waterfall ahead.

• Take a swim: There are a handful of spots to lounge in the stream before you reach the mighty falls!

  
  

Hanakapi’ai Falls pours down a dramatic cliff face into a cold, refreshing pool. It’s colddddd from the pace of the roaring water, but I recommend jump in anyway — it’s said to bring good luck, and you’ll need that cold plunge boost for the hike back!

We booked this hike through gohanea.com, which included our park entry and shuttle for just $35 each. The bus picked us up near Hanalei Bay and dropped us at the trailhead. 

I can’t recommend this hike to my fellow adventure lovers enough!

🌿 Ho’opi’i Falls: Jungle Serenity

If you're looking for something shorter and more peaceful, Ho’opi’i Falls is for you. Located on Kauai’s east shore, this 2.2-mile trail winds through a lush, green wonderland that is even featured in Jurassic Park! 🎥 

You begin on a local road and make your way into the beautiful, lush green path where you will find wildlife, flowers, and the streams that lead to the beautiful waterfalls

**Important to note

• The path can be slippery after rain, but it’s mostly flat and accessible for all skill levels. The most difficult part is the final climb down from the trail to the falls, but there’s lots of tree branches you can hold on to to make your way down

• Bring snacks, a book, and plan to hang out by the falls! There's a rope swing, plenty of space to lounge on the rocks, and calm spots to swim.

Once you’re done soaking in this magical paradise, head to Kapa’a town and stop at Russell’s — my favorite plant-based cafe on the island! Their banana pancakes (gluten-free) are my favorite on the island🍌🥞 When I first dined here in 2021 they were large and in 2024 they were mini & as delicious as I remembered.