The Wailua River is the only navigable river in the islands. It begins at Kauai's heart and the wettest place on earth, Mt. Waialeale, and flows all the way to the ocean. Along the way, other smaller streams feed in. The river's many forks create several waterfalls, such as Wailua, a 900-ft double spouted waterfall at the southern end of the river. Kayaking is one of the major activities on the Wailua.
Limited reopening scheduled for September 21, 2026.DLNR’s September 20 notice schedules limited reopening at Wailua River and Waimea Canyon State Parks for Monday, September 21. Wailua River’s designated landing and trailhead access will reopen, but hiking beyond the trailhead and access to Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls) remain closed; individual kayakers may not access Fern Grotto. Waimea Canyon trails, campgrounds, and shelters remain closed. Kōkeʻe Road, all other Kauaʻi State Parks, and all Kauaʻi camping remain closed. Confirm your operator’s service separately before booking or traveling. Use Travel Alerts to check connected roads and parks.
Near the mouth of the river are several large rocks with ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs. The river enters the ocean at Wailua Bay near the town of Wailua on Highway 56. There is an excellent lookout for the Wailua River just before mile marker 2 on Kuamo'o Road (Highway 580).
Wailua River State Park Fees
Non-resident visitors are now required to pay $5 per person (entry) and $10 per vehicle (parking) at Wailua River State Park locations, including the popular ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls overlook. Hawaiʻi residents continue to park free. Your receipt functions as a day pass that covers all Wailua River State Park sites for the same day. The Wailua River corridor is culturally significant to Native Hawaiians and contains some of the oldest rock work on Kauai. Read more about the fees.
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Non-residents: $5 per person + $10 per vehicle. Receipt works as a day pass for all Wailua River State Park sites.
Planning your trip? Hawaii has introduced new visitor fees and reservation requirements for popular attractions, beaches, and state parks. It pays to plan ahead — some sites require advance reservations or turn away visitors who arrive without paying.
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Trades are breezy right now with scattered showers on the windward side and mountains; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Tomorrow stays breezy with the same pattern.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is still uncertain. If it comes closer, expect heavier rain over a longer stretch; if it stays farther out, impacts will be shorter and lighter. Winds will increase late this week, with potential gusts over 70 miles per hour on the highest summits.
Plan your leeward beach time and snorkeling for today through Tuesday. Save summit drives and offshore water sports for after Saturday, and check updates daily as this develops.
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Trade winds are pushing across Maui right now and staying breezy through tomorrow. Windward slopes and peaks will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. Rough seas mean a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain. Late this week, winds will increase across Maui, with summit gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph on Haleakala. The Big Island—especially Hilo and Puna—faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding if the storm tracks close.
Leeward beaches and snorkeling work best today through Tuesday. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday.
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Trades are kicking today with moderate wind and rough seas. Windward slopes will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain, but the Big Island faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding, especially in the Hilo and Puna areas. Summit winds could exceed 70 mph late in the week. Check forecasts daily as the situation develops.
Leeward snorkeling and beach time work well through Tuesday. Save summit drives and windward hikes for today or tomorrow, and avoid offshore water sports and high elevations Thursday through Saturday.
0:000:58
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Trades are steady now with scattered showers on the windward side and ridges; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Through Tuesday it stays breezy with rough seas around Maui and the Big Island, where a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is uncertain. Winds will increase across the eastern islands late this week, with potential for summit gusts over 70 mph on Maui and the Big Island if the storm intensifies.
Get your beach and snorkel time in today and tomorrow on the leeward coast. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday as conditions deteriorate. The track could shift significantly—check updates daily.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
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