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Makahiku Falls
Located within the Hana Highway Region on Maui
Makahiku Falls
Road to Hana Waterfalls
Makahiku Falls is along the Pipiwai Trail, above Seven Sacred Pools as it heads toward the majestic Waimoku Falls. Makahiku Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfall stops on Maui.
It is approximately a half-mile from the trailhead. The trail follows the Pipiwai Stream and is a fantastic hike on Maui. It is roughly 3.8 to 4 miles roundtrip, gaining about 800 feet in elevation. It takes 2 1/2 - 5 hours to hike, depending on how much nature loving you do. The final destination is Waimoku Falls, which is even larger than Makahiku Falls. Both falls are absolutely beautiful and more than well worth the hike to get to it. The bamboo forest is about the midway point, and believe me, you'll know when you're there. It's like you've left the island for Thailand because of all the bamboo.
Pipiwai Trail Map
Route map for Pipiwai Trail from the Kipahulu trailhead through the bamboo forest toward Waimoku Falls. Tap the map to open it full size.
Take Highway 31 south from Hana. The parking lot for all falls and trails is located just past mile marker 42 on the ocean side of the road. Follow the signs to the trailhead. If you cannot find the trailhead, it's on the opposite side of the road from the 'Ohe'o Gulch National Park Visitor Center.
Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
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Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
0:000:54
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Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
0:000:57
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Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
