ʻAkaka Falls State Park
4.6(8.5K)google
4.4(559)yelp
WaterfallOutdoorPhoto SpotHikingMust-See
Overview
ʻAkaka Falls State Park is a state park on Hawaiʻi Island, in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The park is about 11 miles (18 km) north of Hilo, west of Honomū off the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) at the end of Hawaii Route 220. It includes its namesake ʻAkaka Falls, a 442-foot (135 m) tall waterfall.
Practical Info
Every day8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeThe summer and autumn months from May to October offer the lushest rainforest backdrop. Aim to arrive between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM when the morning sun clears the dense jungle canopy and strikes the deep gorge, perfectly illuminating the thunderous 442-foot plunge of the falls while keeping hiking conditions cool.
Getting ThereFrom Hilo, drive north on HI-19 Highway and turn left onto HI-220 W, which terminates right at the park's loop entrance. A small parking lot is available inside the gates for a standard out-of-state fee; if full during peak mid-day hours, legal street parking is available just outside the main gate.
Travel Tips
- Non-Hawaii residents must pay a mandatory $5 entry fee per person and a $10 parking fee per vehicle; the primary on-site lot contains fewer than 30 stalls and remains full from 10:00 to 14:00, forcing late arrivals to locate legal roadside turnouts further down Highway 220 or face a strict $250 impound tow.
- The 0.4-mile rainforest loop includes hundreds of steep, narrow concrete stairs made exceptionally slick by continuous mist, rendering it entirely inaccessible for strollers or wheelchairs; to bypass the longer trek and view Akaka Falls directly, take the left path at the primary trail fork for a 5-minute walk.
Photo Tips
Best LightLocated on the windward side of the Big Island, afternoon canyon mist and severe backlighting frequently obscure visibility; the optimal photography window is between 08:30 and 11:00, capturing early diagonal sunlight before heavy moisture-laden updrafts generate thick valley fog across the lens.
Reviews
Positive
- The 442-foot waterfall plunging into a deep rainforest canyon surrounded by wild palms offers iconic visual impact.
- The short paved loop trail features sturdy steel handrails throughout, offering excellent safety and fun for families with kids.
- Dense tropical flora along the trail is clearly marked with multilingual interpretive signs, and summit restrooms are regularly cleaned.
- Paying a low entry fee unlocks both Akaka and Kahuna waterfalls along a single loop trail, making the value highly cost-effective.
Heads up
- The official lot has very few spaces, and driving parking fees for tourists are heavily marked up, causing annoying queues at peaks.
- Crowd density spikes mid-day; because the concrete walkway is narrow, slow-moving photo takers cause frequent pedestrian jams.
- Because you can only view from distant cliffside decks and are strictly banned from water access, the depth of adventure is limited.
- Frequent mountain rains bring thick fog; on a bad day, the falls are completely hidden by white mist, leaving you with an underwhelming trip.