Top 12 Moloka'i waterfalls

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List of Moloka'i waterfalls

List in alphabetic order.

1. Haha Falls

Circa 240 m tall fall, one of seven tall waterfalls at the upper rim of Kamalo Canyon.

2. Haloku Falls

Circa 700 m high seasonal waterfall, falling directly into Pacific Ocean.

3. Hina Falls

380 m tall fall, one of seven tall waterfalls at the upper rim of Kamalo Canyon.

4. Hipuapua Falls

Hipuapua Falls at the far end of Halawa Valley. It is possible that white spot to the left from falls is a spot of Moa'ula Falls.
David Holt, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Approximately 152 - 160 m tall horsetail falls with a single drop.

5. Kahiwa Falls

Circa 660 m high waterfall with 6 drops up to 183 m high, falling almost directly into Pacific Ocean. Strong winds can rise the waterfall up in the air.

6. Moa'ula Falls

Moa'ula Falls from the air. Far right side shows a glimpe of Hipuapua Falls
S.Kaiser, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Picturesque horsetail fall with at least 7 drops. Last two drops are circa 76 m tall.

7. Mo'oloa Falls

440 m tall fall, one of seven tall waterfalls at the upper rim of Kamalo Canyon.

8. Olo'upena Falls

Olo'upena Falls from above, marked with red arrow.
US NOAA/NOS Aerial Photography by Pacific Disaster Center, 2000, public domain.

Circa 900 m high seasonal waterfall, falls directly into Pacific ocean. One the highest known waterfalls in the world.

9. Papalaua Falls

Papalaua Falls from the air.
S.Kaiser, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

501 m high waterfall with 5 drops, highest drop 340 m high. Located at the far end of deep, very impressive valley.

10. Pu'uka'oku Falls

Pu'uka'oku Falls from above, marked with red arrow.
US NOAA/NOS Aerial Photography by Pacific Disaster Center, 2000, public domain.

Circa 840 m high seasonal waterfall, falling directly into Pacific Ocean.

11. Wailele Falls, Moloka'i

Wailele Falls of Moloka'i from above, marked with red arrow.
US NOAA/NOS Aerial Photography by Pacific Disaster Center, 2000, public domain.

Circa 580 m high seasonal waterfall, falling almost directly into Pacific Ocean.

12. Waimanu Falls, Moloka'i

Approximately 550 m high waterfall, the highest drop - 120 m.

12 waterfalls of Moloka'i, map

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Volcanoe, rain and ocean in the north-eastern part of the beautiful Hawaiian island of Moloka'i have created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.

Volcanic activity over the last 1.5 million years has created mountains here. Summit of East Moloka'i volcano (1,514 m high) gets a lot more rain than the western part of Moloka'i island - approximately 4,000 mm per year - thus the rainwater has cut spectacular valleys in the volcanic shield and formed very tall, nearly vertical ridges. Rain maintains lush vegetation - even very steep slopes here are covered with emerald green cover of plants. Waves of Pacific ocean have washed out the volcanic shield, creating spectacular cliffs.

All of this facilitates development of some of the most impressive waterfalls in the whole world.

Falling directly in ocean

Northeastern part of Moloka'i is adorned with extremely high cliffs towering above the sea up to 1,010 metres high. These cliffs belong to highest seaside cliffs of the world. Such cliffs ending abruptly in the sea Hawaiians called "na pali" - sea cliffs.

Most impressive are two sections of these cliffs containing some of the highest waterfalls in the world.

The highest cliffs - Haloku Cliffs - are located in some 4 - 5 km long section between the Pelekunu and Wailau valleys. These cliffs contain numerous extremely tall falls, though four falls stand out (from west to east):

Haloku Falls (˜700 m tall)
Olo'upena Falls (˜900 m tall)
Pu'uka'oku Falls (˜840 m tall)
Wailele Falls (˜580 m tall)

Just some 4 km to the east there are next high sea cliffs rising some 750 - 800 m high. These cliffs contain the very impressive Kahiwa Falls (˜660 m tall). Contrary to the four previous falls, this waterfall for most part is falling in free fall and not sliding along oblique surface of basalt.

When the wind is strong, Kahiwa Falls do not fall into the ocean - wind catches the water and rises it up again.

White ribbons in green valleys

Papalaua Falls, two streams.
S.Kaiser, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Some of the most impressive waterfalls though are located further inland, at the far end of very deep, emerald green valleys. Contrary to seaside waterfalls, these falls of valleys in general are less subject to seasonal changes, they are perennial and more powerful.

These falls are (in the order of height):

Waimanu Falls (550 m)
Papalaua Falls (501 m)
Mo'oloa Falls (440 m)
Hina Falls (380 m)
Haha Falls (240 m)
Hipuapua Falls (152 - 160 m)
Moa'ula Falls (more than 76 m)