Hawaii County, Hawaii

Waterfalls Near Kapaau, HI

18 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Kapaau, 1 of them inside 10 miles. The nearest is Keanapakulua Falls, 10.0 miles south of town. Kaluahine Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (4.2 stars from 10 Google reviews). Most of the falls are southeast of Kapaau.

Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.

Photo of Hiʻilawe Falls in Hawaii County, Hawaii
Pictured: Hiʻilawe Falls, HI

Best Waterfalls Near Kapaau at a Glance

Photo of Kemole Falls, a waterfall 6.1 miles from Keanapakulua Falls
Pictured: nearby Kemole Falls (6.1 mi)
Closest

Keanapakulua Falls

10.0 miles south of Kapaau.

18 Waterfalls Near Kapaau, Ranked by Distance

  1. Keanapakulua Falls

    Kapaau, HI · Hawaii County · 10.0 mi south of Kapaau
    2.5 (4 reviews)

    Keanapakulua Falls is the closest named waterfall to Kapaau, 10.0 miles to the south in Hawaii County. It ranks 7th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau.

    Rating
    2.5 (4 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0948, -155.8436)
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  2. Waiokanalopaka Falls

    Waikoloa, HI · Hawaii County · 11 mi south of Kapaau
    2.6 (5 reviews)

    Waiokanalopaka Falls lies 11 miles south of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 2 of 18 by distance. It ranks 6th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waikoloa.

    Rating
    2.6 (5 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0779, -155.8479)
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  3. Wai‘ilikahi Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 12 mi southeast of Kapaau
    3.3 (3 reviews)

    Wai‘ilikahi Falls lies 12 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 3 of 18 by distance. It ranks 9th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    3.3 (3 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.1358, -155.6494)
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  4. Waiʻilikahi Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 12 mi southeast of Kapaau

    Waiʻilikahi Falls lies 12 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 4 of 18 by distance. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Address
    Hawaii County, HI (GPS 20.1328, -155.6469)
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  5. Lahomene Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 12 mi southeast of Kapaau

    Lahomene Falls lies 12 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 5 of 18 by distance. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.1223, -155.6538)
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  6. Kemole Falls

    Waikoloa, HI · Hawaii County · 14 mi south of Kapaau
    1.7 (9 reviews)

    Kemole Falls lies 14 miles south of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 6 of 18 by distance. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waikoloa.

    Rating
    1.7 (9 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0278, -155.7819)
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  7. Naalapa Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 15 mi southeast of Kapaau

    Naalapa Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 7 of 18 by distance. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.1125, -155.6097)
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  8. Nanaue Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 15 mi southeast of Kapaau

    Nanaue Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 8 of 18 by distance. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Address
    Hawaii County, HI (GPS 20.1063, -155.6137)
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  9. Waiamoa Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 15 mi southeast of Kapaau
    4.0 (4 reviews)

    Waiamoa Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 9 of 18 by distance. It ranks 8th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    4.0 (4 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.1196, -155.6033)
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  10. Papala Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 15 mi southeast of Kapaau
    5.0 (3 reviews)

    Papala Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 10 of 18 by distance. It ranks 10th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    5.0 (3 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0989, -155.6170)
    View details Directions

  11. Aimoo Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 15 mi southeast of Kapaau

    Aimoo Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 11 of 18 by distance. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Address
    Hawaii County, HI (GPS 20.0940, -155.6202)
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  12. Aa Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 15 mi southeast of Kapaau
    5.0 (1 reviews)

    Aa Falls lies 15 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 12 of 18 by distance. It ranks 12th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    5.0 (1 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0911, -155.6216)
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  13. Kakeha Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 16 mi southeast of Kapaau
    4.4 (7 reviews)

    Kakeha Falls lies 16 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 13 of 18 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    4.4 (7 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0921, -155.6037)
    View details Directions

  14. Kaluahine Falls

    Honoka'a, HI · Hawaii County · 16 mi southeast of Kapaau
    4.2 (10 reviews)

    Kaluahine Falls lies 16 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 14 of 18 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. A hike into Waipi’o Valley & over a black sand beach leads to this cascade that flows after rain.

    Rating
    4.2 (10 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96727 (GPS 20.1182, -155.5851)
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  15. Hiʻilawe Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 16 mi southeast of Kapaau
    3.5 (39 reviews)

    Hiʻilawe Falls lies 16 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 15 of 18 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Kapaau. Plunging over 1000 feet, this famous waterfall was made when a lava flow created the large cliffs.

    Rating
    3.5 (39 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0948, -155.5964)
    View details Directions

  16. Hakalaoa Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 17 mi southeast of Kapaau

    Hakalaoa Falls lies 17 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 16 of 18 by distance. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0945, -155.5953)
    View details Directions

  17. Ipuu Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 17 mi southeast of Kapaau
    2.8 (6 reviews)

    Ipuu Falls lies 17 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 17 of 18 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    2.8 (6 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96727 (GPS 20.0982, -155.5896)
    View details Directions

  18. Waiholoa Falls

    Waimea, HI · Hawaii County · 17 mi southeast of Kapaau
    3.0 (2 reviews)

    Waiholoa Falls lies 17 miles southeast of Kapaau in Hawaii County, number 18 of 18 by distance. It ranks 11th for review count among waterfalls near Kapaau. Its own nearest town is Waimea.

    Rating
    3.0 (2 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hawaii County, HI 96743 (GPS 20.0810, -155.6024)
    View details Directions

Where the Waterfalls Are

Kapaau sits in or near the Hawaii Island: Hilo and the Hamakua Coast area of Hawaii. On the Big Island, nearly all of the 37 named falls lie on the windward northeast side between Hilo and Waimea. Streams fed by the rains on Mauna Kea's slopes cut steep gulches across the Hamakua Coast and spill over old lava flows on their way to the ocean. In Hilo, Rainbow Falls drops over a lava ledge on the Wailuku River and is known for rainbows in morning sun, while Waiale Falls is a short distance upstream. North of town, Akaka Falls is reached by a short loop through tropical plants in a state park. Kulaniapia Falls sits on private land outside Hilo. Read the Hawaii waterfall guide.

By direction from Kapaau: 15 to the southeast and 3 to the south. They are spread across Hawaii County (18). The average distance is 14.5 miles.

By Distance

Within 10 miles of Kapaau

Keanapakulua Falls (10.0 mi)

10 to 20 miles of Kapaau

Waiokanalopaka Falls (11 mi), Wai‘ilikahi Falls (12 mi), Waiʻilikahi Falls (12 mi), Lahomene Falls (12 mi), Kemole Falls (14 mi), Naalapa Falls (15 mi), Nanaue Falls (15 mi), Waiamoa Falls (15 mi), Papala Falls (15 mi), Aimoo Falls (15 mi), Aa Falls (15 mi), Kakeha Falls (16 mi), Kaluahine Falls (16 mi), Hiʻilawe Falls (16 mi), Hakalaoa Falls (17 mi), Ipuu Falls (17 mi), Waiholoa Falls (17 mi)

Nearby Towns With Waterfalls

Waterfalls Near Kapaau: FAQs

How many waterfalls are near Kapaau, HI?

18 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Kapaau: 1 within 10 miles, 17 10 to 20 miles, 0 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.

What is the closest waterfall to Kapaau?

Keanapakulua Falls in Hawaii County is the closest, about 10.0 miles south of Kapaau.

What is the best-rated waterfall near Kapaau?

Kaluahine Falls has the highest Google rating among nearby falls with at least 10 reviews: 4.2 stars from 10 Google reviews. The most reviewed is Hiʻilawe Falls.

Which counties are the waterfalls near Kapaau in?

Hawaii County (18).

How does Kapaau compare with other Hawaii towns?

Kapaau ranks 15th of the 23 Hawaii towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.