Maunawili Falls is a roughly 20-to-30-foot waterfall with a deep swimming pool on the windward side of Oʻahu, reached by an approximately 3-mile round-trip hike through muddy lush jungle. The trail segment crossing private land has been closed, while the portion within the Forest Reserve remains open.
Its 25 ft drop is taller than about 16% of the 775 waterfalls we track.
The falls are fed by Maunawili Stream. It lies in Honolulu, Hawaii. The site is on public land managed by Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Forest Reserve).
This is a moderate hike waterfall: a longer day hike, roughly one to several miles each way. Reaching it takes a moderate walk, so budget time and pack water before you set out. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 3 miles round trip. The nearest town is Kailua.
When to go: year-round. Water volume swings with the seasons here, strongest after snowmelt or rain and lowest in late summer, so check recent streamflow before you go.
