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Rainbow Falls
Categories: Local Flavor Active Life Parks Local Flavor, Parks [Edit]
967 Waianuenue AveHilo, HI 96720
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
39 reviews for Rainbow Falls
39 reviews in English
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Review from Lucy K.
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful little water fall. YOu dont even have to hike over to it, its just a simple drive and walk. Close to Akaka falls and a number of other falls in the area.
There is also some steps you can take up to get a view from the top of the fall.
It definitely gets rainy in this area, but its not a downpour - i mean this is a rainforest...what do you expect? The view is beautiful and there are plenty of places to get that perfect picture! -
Review from Duane M.
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pretty waterfall. I have seen many more that are taller, but if you are taking the trip to Hilo, you should stop off at this place. It is convenient.
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Review from Benjamin L.
Oakland, CA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
After going to Akaka? this is nothing compared to that, although this is free, still a must stop, maybe because there was no rainbow so I didn't think it was anything special, will probably be back next time i visit hilo
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Review from G S.
Hilo, HI
12/31/2011 1 photo
Married my best friend Kevin at Rainbow Falls- February 14, 2010
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Review from Chad Y.
6/21/2011
If Akaka and Rainbow falls were siblings, Akaka might have got the looks, but Rainbow got the brains. Why you ask? Well, its conveniently located right on the outskirts of Hilo and the county certainly has made it accessible to view a spectacular free show of nature!
It isn't as high as its more well-known sibling, however it still overs a great show. While the rain may deter you from going, you certainly should make the trek as you will get this awe inspiring view of water cascading down the cliff. Granted the water might be a little more dirty then if you go during the nicer trickle.
It is a bit of walk, so do plan to wear some comfortable shoes. Nothing trek worthy of course and the paths are paved, but it can get a bit slippery.
Parking is readily available and free so it makes it even easier to stop by and take a few pictures! -
Review from Vicki D.
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are in Hilo you should swing by. It's not as awesome as Akaka falls, but it's nice to see and then walk around to the left of the falls in the big trees. There is one big tree that you can climb into the stalk area and look up. They call it the "elevator". It's a nice little stop when visiting Hilo.
There are also restroom facilities for your pit stops! -
Review from Kari S.
4/18/2011
I think this is a Yelp joke. :(
I felt sorry for the waterfall. The water looks yellow and polluted. There was trash everywhere. Dirty diapers, paper scraps. What is wrong with some people that they can't walk 30 ft to a trash can? This is not a 'hike' by any means either. To see the waterfall you can take a short walk up some stairs OR to get an even better view you can view it from a landing just a few steps from the parking lot. On the plus side parking is free and easy. If you are traveling with people limited by mobility this could be an interesting stop. If you want to hike and enjoy some natural beauty skip this. -
Review from Kailey O.
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here expecting a hike...
this is NOT a hike!!
you arrive and park 20 ft away from the fall, and theres a nice path that leads to a cool tree. takes about 10 minutes to do everything here. also the water looked a little bit like sewage... (April 2011)Listed in: Travel bug, Outdoorsy
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Review from Edwin N.
Hilo, HI
10/4/2011
It's okay. Just have to appreciate what nature has to offer.
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Review from S. M.
Naperville, IL
3/14/2011
These falls were resplendent, and very convenient to downtown Hilo. You'll hear the water before you see it; it's an exhilarating sound.
We went on a grey morning so no rainbow, but it was still worthwhile to see this natural wonder (especially as this park has no entrance fee, unlike Akaka Falls further away). The greenery surrounding it is also so verdant.
You can't get particularly close to the water, and there are about two overlook spots that pretty much everyone has to go to. We went early in the morning so this wasn't a problem (we were the only people there) but I imagine that at different times of the day this could be more of an issue.
Overall, if you're near Hilo, it's worth a visit. -
Review from Jasmyn K.
Arlington Heights, IL
7/13/2010
If you are on a time crunch, which we were, and want to at least see one waterfall this is a good place to go. Very easy to get to and a 2 min walk up some stairs and you can view them. Follow Andrea V's advace and you can go wading in the pools of water above the fall. The water is a lil dirty with lil fish in it, but still fun.
Also, there was a woman named Kat selling beautiful handmade shell items from her car....reasonable prices and way better than the cheesy shit at ABC stores. -
Review from Nhung H.
San Jose, CA
9/16/2010 2 photos
This is not a must-go-here location...but if you're really into waterfalls then yeah you should go! :)
When we visited the park it was very hot and there weren't any rain for a couple of days so the rainbow fall had no rainbow :( boohoo....We probably should have visited after there was heavy rain...which did occur while we were there. We also visited the boiling pots which was near by but they were also drought and had little water.
Overall, there are other things near by in Hilo if you do visit the park and have some extra time to roam around downtown Hilo.Listed in: Big Island, Hawaii
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Review from Yanira S.
Chandler, AZ
7/1/2011 1 photo
This place is fun for the family. Our family made Rainbow Falls a part of our day trip when we drove around Hilo. I think there was a $1 per person charge when you walk up to the main entrance and from there it's a semi-short circular hike to the falls. I wore flip flops and was fine but I wouldn't have minded wearing my tennis shoes either. It's a beautiful "hike" full of the Hawaiian flora all us Arizonans kill to see. Great place for photos and it wasn't too crowded at all.
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Review from andrea v.
1/17/2010 1 photo
Rainbow Falls is part of the Wailuku River, which at 26 miles, is the longest river in all of Hawaii. Just above Rainbow Falls are Boiling Pots and Pe'epe'e Falls(not pee-pee, say it like peh eh peh eh). :)
If you are interested in seeing one, you may want to take a few extra minutes to see them all because they're just a short drive apart.
There are more fantastic waterfalls out there, but this is by far one of the most easily accessible. It's a short drive from downtown Hilo (about 10 minutes) and once you are parked, you can pretty much see the waterfall. There are a couple of viewing areas, depending on whether you want a quick look (steps on the right), or want to get a little closer after climbing some stone steps (on the left). If you look closely at the falls, you can see the cave behind the lower half of the 80 foot fall. Here lives the beautiful goddess Hina, mother of demigod Maui (or so the legends say).
Here's a little secret + disclaimer: I do not know if is legal and please know that it may not be safe to do so, so do it at your own risk: You can climb up 'behind' the falls (by the Banyan trees) and even get on the rocks up by where the water falls. If you do go back here, be careful, as the mud can be slippery. But remember, the Wailuku River is the River of Destruction (wai=water, luku=destruction).
Other useful info:
Restroom facilities are available
Small picnic area with drinking water is available.
If you get lucky and go at the right time, you can see the rainbow that gives this natural beauty it's name.
It's FREE to park and visit.Listed in: Hilo, Hawaii- free and…
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Review from Adrienne g.
San Francisco, CA
6/7/2008
Right in the middle of downtown Hilo, take Waianuenue Ave (Route 200) to Rainbow Falls
Just seemed weird that we drove up & right beside kids playing soccer in a city park (or maybe it was their school) there are the Falls - no hike to get there, no inviting walk to take you around; just BOOM, here are the Falls
The pics you see in all the mags & even on this site must have been taken in better times b/s this " waterfall " is nothing but a trickle & in fact, it looked like the water's flow was about to dry up all together
Disappointing......Listed in: Big Island Hawaii Advice
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Review from Kealoha V.
Long Beach, CA
10/12/2009
Before I left, one of my co-workers asked me to take photos of waterfalls and I didn't know if or when I might actually see one on my trip, but sure enough, one of the very first things my Dad took me to was to Rainbow Falls.
The walk from the parking lot to where you can actually see the waterfalls is pretty short. Along the way my Dad pointed out every plant, trees, flower and explained to me what it was. Quite a variety in just that one area (later I would find out that's nothing compared to all the that he had around his house). There are stairs off to left of the parking lot probably take you up to a place to get you closer to the falls, but we didn't walk up there. Instead we went to the place to view the falls as you see in all the photos that people have posted. I too took a number of photos and a video. Which I will be adding here upon my return home.
There was a good amount of water flowing and it made for a pretty nice sight. I can now tell and show my co-worker that I did see and take photos of a waterfall. :)Listed in: I can never say that I've…
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Review from Nam N.
4/11/2009 1 photo
As a former Hilo local, my honey was giving me the must-see spots in his old area. Rainbow Falls was one of our stops :)
A quick drive from downtown, you'll find a beautiful waterfall that is extremely accessible. Ample parking, steps with side railings... Rainbow Falls is a great spot if you have a little time.
Since Hilo was having record rainfall, the waterfall and river was roaring. Because of all of the water, we were unable to do the secret hikes behind the falls nor do any jumps into the river from the rocks.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Either way- really beautiful. Especially for this mainland gal who rarely sees waterfalls :)Listed in: Big Island Adventure....
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Review from Heather F.
Foster City, CA
4/11/2009
Rainbows Falls is beautiful, and very easily accessible, but it leaves a bit to be desired after all the gorgeous waterfalls on this island. You can take a short walk up some stairs to view the falls from above, or simply take a short walk across the parking lot and view them from below. Side rails offer protection for the little ones (or Pete).
In the past I have been on a beautiful hike here, but it the water level is really high and the falls are quite strong right now because of all the rain fall. It is definitely not the trickle that others have mentioned, and during early April of '09 did not appear to be anywhere near drying up! This is worth seeing if you are in the Hilo area. -
Review from Michael S.
Campbell, CA
7/8/2011
It's not the best falls on the Big Island, but it is certainly the most convenient if you are over on the Hilo side of the island. It's a quick drive from the downtown area and the waterfall viewing area is right next to the parking lot so there's little walking involved, meaning people of any age can easily see this waterfall.
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Review from val a.
Irvine, CA
One of the best falls in Hilo.Relax and soak in the view.
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Review from Vira P.
9/6/2010 1 photo
I'm sure this would be very pretty if there was more water running.
Otherwise it's just another waterfall to visit.
If you're not a part of a tour, be careful of car thieves. -
Review from Katherine F.
Dublin, CA
7/14/2009
This was a complete surprise...got out of the car...and there it was!!! The best access to a waterfall...ever!!!
Esthetically, I am very fond of a "double" falls...so given the access, and the "design", it was a 4 star for me.
I would love to hike around this area in the future!!Listed in: Big Island, Big fun!!!
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Review from Janelle W.
Detroit, MI
9/11/2008 1 photo
No reason to stop at Rainbow Falls, yet no reason not to stop.
Whereas Akaka Falls is a must-see on a visit to the Big Island, Rainbow Falls can be missed without too much regret. Rainbow Falls is very small in scale as compared to Akaka Falls, so you won't be oohing and ahhing. But if you have the time (really, you only need 30 minutes, if that), it's a nice photo op.
Really easy to find from downtown Hilo--just take Waianuenue Avenue mauka. As an aside, you can impress your friends... wai=water, anuenue=rainbow. See, Rainbow Falls on "Water Rainbow" Avenue? Learn something new everyday, don'tcha? -
Review from Jim C.
Redwood City, CA
11/29/2007 1 photo
Cool small waterfall within 15 min of the Hilo airport. It's not as majestic as other Kauai waterfalls but if you have 1 hr to spare before heading to the airport and haven't seen any waterfalls, it may be worth a trek here since it's so close by.
Bottom line: If you didn't make it to Akaka, Rainbow may be for you. -
Review from Jose O.
Alameda, CA
1/19/2011 1 photo
The 80-foot Rainbow Falls is renowned for the rainbow formed from its mist many mornings. Legends say that the cave beneath the waterfall was the home of Hina, mother of the demigod Maui. The most dramatic time to view these falls is after a rain, this is when the greatest volume of water flows over the falls. If you are lucky enough to arrive at sunrise, often you will see an enormous rainbow stretching across the lagoon. With so much rain in the Hilo area, you will see vibrant vegetation and lush rain forest around the Wailuku River. Facilities include scenic lookout, paved parking lot, and bathrooms. Make sure to check out the awesome trees left of the waterfall.
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Review from Lawrence T.
Mountain View, CA
12/26/2007 1 photo
Drive by nature.
Good for a quickie. -
Review from Nick K.
Tempe, AZ
3/8/2008
Seeing Rainbow Falls was a very underwhelming experience.
If you just happen to be in Hilo, go ahead and stop by Rainbow Falls to satisfy your curiosity, but spend the extra half hour to check out Akaka Falls. -
Review from Melissa D.
Hilo, HI
11/9/2010
Free, pretty and no walking involved. This is just a couple minute drive from downtown Hilo and so easy and pretty I couldn't rate it less than 5 stars. It is always pretty even when it is not going full speed. You literally pull up, park and walk a few feet to the falls. Hilo is really safe and if you want to picnic there you can and there are bathrooms. This is a 5-15 minute stop, perfect for picture taking and your scrapbook. If you are in Hilo, you should stop by no matter what because it is so easy to get to. This is perfect for older folks and little kids since walking in non existent whereas Akaka Falls is hilly up and down, not so great for the elderly or people carrying kids.
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Review from Linda L.
Issaquah, WA
12/17/2009
Overall: Nothing special...
We were in Hilo and heading back to the West side of the island and thought we'd pop by. The falls aren't that spectacular and reminded me of a smaller Snoqualmie Falls, except from the lush greenery around. The viewing area is easily accessible and a _VERY_ short walk from the car lot.
The falls are worth a visit, but don't expect to stay very long. This park also has picnic facilities as well as public toilets. -
Review from Jenn S.
9/21/2010
The waterfall is steps away from the parking lot and is a beautiful sight to see. You can also take the stairs up on the left to see the boiling pots, pond areas, and walk into the forest where there is a huge banyan tree. It's an easy walk but watch your step since there are rocks and the ground is uneven. This is a nice stop.
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Review from Dan M.
7/15/2010 4 photos
Super easy to get to, free parking, free admission, free restroom, few yards walk to viewing platform, easy hike to the top of the falls to a shady Banyan tree area, excellent photo ops.... no reason not to stop here if in/around Hilo. If you are lucky... the mango trees above will drop you some nice fruit to enjoy.
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Review from Chris K.
7/8/2009
This was a must-see according to our guidebook. I wouldn't say these are the most impressive or beautiful falls we visited though. Worth a stop, since you literally step out of the car and can see the falls.
Listed in: The Big Island Revealed...For…
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Review from Monica T.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/6/2009
This waterfall is extremely accessible from Hilo. If you have a couple hours to kill (even one hour will do), and it's a sunny day, head on up Waianuenue Avenue. While it's not as breathtaking as Akaka Falls, it's still very pretty. The parking lot is spacious, and once you get out you can walk about 20 steps to see the waterfall. Head to the left of the waterfall and climb the stairs for a different view. From the top of the steps, you can see why it's named "Rainbow Falls" as the sun hits the water falling to the river below creating a picturesque rainbow.
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Review from Willis Z.
Alhambra, CA
8/14/2010 1 photo
Free and easy. The view is just seconds from the parking lot and is easy to get to and to see. Take some time to enjoy the wonder of the water running over the lava tube cave. It is very beautiful sight to experience.
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Review from Brian A.
Honolulu, HI
11/19/2009
This waterfall, although not as spectacularly high as Akaka Falls, is very nice none the less. It's located right above Hilo, so it is easier to get to. There seems to always be plenty of parking. The falls is pretty much a short walk from your parking space. When we went it was flowing pretty good and the roar of the water was impressive. It's just what you would imagine a Hawaiian waterfall to be. All that's missing is the tropical beauty washing off under the shower of water.
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Review from Julian H.
Seattle, WA
5/20/2009
Nice spot, feels a bit touristy with the big tour buses pulling through. A pretty picture but we didn't spend more than ten minutes here.
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Review from Nina N.
Cypress, TX
4/14/2009
Nice waterfall, but that's all it was... I wish there was more to look at, like at 'Akaka Falls.
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Review from jason j.
San Francisco, CA
7/31/2008
the falls are just outside downtown hilo. no reason not to stop by to see these falls. but nothing spectacular nor breathtaking.
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Review from elle L.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2008
Because I rarely see waterfalls, I'm down for any opportunity. When I arrived, I heard the water and saw some stairs so I decided to walk up them. It shows the top of the fall but it wasn't such a great view. And when I was up there, I was thinking, man this can't be it. There has to be something else. And so I started following this trail that led to the forest and just saw a bunch of trees. I know people were feeling the same thing I was. Thinking if there was more to this water fall or if they were supposed to go into this dead end trail to find some thing else. But right before I was about to give up, I walked up this bridge/slope and there it was. HAHA. It was literally just a walk away and I didn't even have to walk up those damn stairs. I was tired from walking botanical gardens and akaka falls, I was glad that rainbow falls was just a really really really really short few steps away. I give it props for being a big waterfall and literally right next to where you park.
Listed in: theBIGisland
