The best waterfalls near Honolulu, Hawaii are Mānoa Falls, Waipuhia Falls, Waimea Falls and 2 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Mānoa Falls, about 5 miles northeast of Honolulu.
For more waterfalls around Honolulu, browse the nearest towns: Maunawili, Hau'ula, Pupukea, Kualapu'u, Waialua, Makawao, Kapa'a, Puhi. You can also see every waterfall on the Hawaii waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 5 publicly accessible Hawaii waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Honolulu that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Mānoa Falls
5 miles northeast of Honolulu. Our top pick near the city 4.6 out of 5 from 1,144 reviews.
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Mānoa Falls is about 4.6 miles northeast of Honolulu, near Maunawili. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 1,144 Google reviews, and 75% of them give it five stars. In short: "A celebrated hiking area, this 150-foot waterfall is set amid tropical vegetation & an arboretum." Older records also call it Manoa Falls.
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2. Waipuhia Falls
5 miles northeast of Honolulu. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 17 reviews.
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Waipuhia Falls is about 5.2 miles northeast of Honolulu, near Maunawili. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 17 Google reviews.
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3. Waimea Falls
25 miles northwest of Honolulu. Rated 4.3 out of 5 from 520 reviews.
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Waimea Falls is about 25 miles northwest of Honolulu, near Pupukea. Visitors rate it 4.3 stars across 520 Google reviews, and 67% of them give it five stars. In short: "A 45-ft.-tall waterfall accessed via a paved path or shuttle through scenic botanical gardens." Older records also call it Waihee Falls.
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4. Sacred Falls
19 miles north of Honolulu. Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 30 reviews.
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Sacred Falls is about 19 miles north of Honolulu, near Hau'ula. Visitors rate it 4.1 stars across 30 Google reviews, and 67% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Kaliiwaa and Kaliuwaʻa.
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5. Maunawili Falls
6 miles northeast of Honolulu. Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 126 reviews.
Honolulu County, HI 96734 (GPS 21.3489, -157.7722)
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Maunawili Falls is about 6.3 miles northeast of Honolulu, near Maunawili. Visitors rate it 4.1 stars across 126 Google reviews, and 65% of them give it five stars.
Waterfall Day Trips From Honolulu
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mānoa Falls | 5 mi northeast | Maunawili | 4.6 |
| Waipuhia Falls | 5 mi northeast | Maunawili | 4.2 |
| Maunawili Falls | 6 mi northeast | Maunawili | 4.1 |
| Sacred Falls | 19 mi north | Hau'ula | 4.1 |
| Waimea Falls | 25 mi northwest | Pupukea | 4.3 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Honolulu. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Honolulu?
Mānoa Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 5 miles northeast of Honolulu and rated 4.6 stars from 1,144 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Honolulu?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Mānoa Falls is the closest, about 5 straight-line miles northeast of the city, near Maunawili.
How many waterfalls are near Honolulu?
We track 5 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Hawaii within 100 miles of Honolulu, 5 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Hawaii waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 5 publicly accessible Hawaii waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Honolulu that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Which Hawaiian island has the most waterfalls?
Kauai, with 40 named falls in our directory, followed by Hawaii Island with 37 and Maui with 30. Kauai is the oldest of the main islands, and long erosion under very heavy rainfall has carved its many valleys and cliffs.
Summary
Mānoa Falls is our top waterfall pick near Honolulu, rated 4.6 out of 5 and about 5 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Hawaii has falls year-round, but flow depends on recent rain far more than on season. The wetter months generally run from about October through April, when winter storms add to trade-wind showers and falls along the Hana Highway, the Hamakua Coast and Kauai's interior run strongest. Summer trades still bring regular windward showers, so many falls keep flowing, though some smaller ones shrink to a trickle during dry spells. Morning visits tend to be clearer, calmer and less crowded, and they are best for rainbows at Rainbow Falls in Hilo. Heavy rain can arrive suddenly in any month, and north-shore winter surf affects coastal trailheads on Kauai and Oahu.
For more Hawaii waterfalls, see the full Hawaii waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Hawaii, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Hawaii and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Hawaii.