Sacred Falls is an 80-foot plunge at the head of Kaliuwaʻa Valley on Oʻahu's windward side. Its state park has been permanently closed since a fatal Mother's Day 1999 rockfall that killed eight people, and the canyon remains legally off-limits due to ongoing rockfall hazard.
At 80 ft, it stands above roughly 63% of the 775 documented falls in this guide.
Its water comes from Kaluanui Stream. You'll find it in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is protected within Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks.
This is a backcountry waterfall: a remote, long, or permit-required trek for prepared visitors. Getting there takes a genuine backcountry effort, so come prepared with navigation, water, and enough daylight. Base a visit out of Hauʻula, the closest town.
When to go: year-round. Like most waterfalls, Sacred Falls (Kaliuwaʻa Falls) runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
