Waipo’o Falls

Welcome to the trailhead for the Why-po-oh Falls hike, located here at the expansive Pu-u Hee-nah-hee-nah lookout. You are standing on the western rim of Why-may-uh Canyon, a geological masterpiece famously dubbed the Grand…

As we make our steep initial descent from the parking lot, the most visually striking element beneath your boots is the intensely colored soil. The paths here are carved deep into thick deposits of vibrant, almost luminescent red…

Having successfully navigated the initial slick descent, the trail levels out slightly and plunges us deep into a dense, shaded rainforest corridor. Here, the sheer cliffs of the canyon walls block out the direct sunlight,…

Emerging from the dense, claustrophobic canopy of the forest, the trail suddenly opens up onto a massive, exposed promontory. You are now standing on the very edge of the canyon rim, completely unprotected from the sheer vertical…

Continuing along the exposed ridge line, tracing the very edge of the precipice, the trail leads us to a highly unusual and captivating geological anomaly. Carved directly into the side of the cliff face, overlooking the vast…

Leaving the dramatic viewpoints behind, the trail plunges back into the dense vegetation, and we arrive at the final, and most physically demanding, obstacle of the hike. The path forces us to navigate a steep, highly technical…

You have finally arrived at the magnificent terminus of the trail: the upper tier of Why-po-oh Falls. It is crucial to understand your geographical position here. …

As we turn our backs on the roaring cascade and begin the arduous trek back to the parking lot, the true physical reality of the Why-po-oh Falls trail becomes immediately apparent. The fundamental rule of canyon exploration…