In Wailuku River State Park on the edge of Hilo, the 80-foot falls often throw a rainbow in their mist on sunny mornings. Legend says Hina, mother of the demigod Maui, lived in the cave behind them. The same fee covers Boiling Pots upstream, a chain of pools lined with basalt columns.
Why we love it
A five-minute stop that delivers. Come early on a sunny morning for your best shot at the rainbow.
What to expect
From the small lot on Rainbow Drive, the first overlook is less than 100 feet away, looking straight at the 80-foot falls and the pool below. For a different angle, a short trail on the left as you face the falls climbs about five minutes to an upper viewing area, where one of the island’s largest banyan trees spreads its roots. A rainbow forms when the sun is behind you and the mist is up, which happens on many mornings. Boiling Pots is a separate stop upstream, at the end of Peʻepeʻe Falls Drive. There, the river rolls between pools lined with hexagonal basalt columns.
Know before you go
- Fees
- Non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle, by credit card only, and one payment covers both Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. Hawaiʻi residents get in free with ID, and children 3 and under are free.
- Hours
- Both areas are open daily, 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and the gates lock at 6 p.m.
- Parking
- The lot is small and fills fast on weekend mornings. In February 2026, DLNR announced managed paid parking for non-residents at Wailuku River State Park.
- Best time
- Your best odds of seeing a rainbow are on a sunny morning, when the sun is behind you as you face the falls.
- Rules
- Swimming is banned in the pool and along this stretch of river, which can rise fast after heavy rain upstream. State park rules also prohibit alcohol and drones.
- Getting there
- Both stops are reached from Waiānuenue Avenue in downtown Hilo.
Photo: Chloe Leis via Unsplash
