Wailua Falls
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Wailua Falls is a waterfall in Hawaiʻi, at a modelled elevation of 37 m. Kawaikini stands 1,587 m to the west, 7.7 miles off. The nearest named place is ʻAʻahoaka, a peak 0.5 miles away.
The story
Wailua Falls is a waterfall on the island of Kauai, part of the US state of Hawaii. The 173 foot (52.7 m) falls are located on the South Fork Wailua River near Lihue. The waterfall is prominently featured on the opening credits of the television series Fantasy Island. There are paths to the bottom of the falls, but it is often muddy and slippery. The "trail" further from the parking lot is less steep than the closer one. In ancient times, Hawaiian men would jump from the top of the falls to prove their manhood. Some people still leap off the top of the falls, though it is dangerous and illegal. In 2016, a man jumped from the falls and was knocked unconscious but narrowly avoided death when someone swam out into the pool to save him. The pool is great for swimming, but there are swift currents close to the waterfall. There is another waterfall nearby named 'Opaeka'a Falls.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q4102427, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What the record says
- Height
- 25 m
How to reach it
Named places within 25 miles
- ʻAʻahoaka: 0.5 mi
- Puʻupilo: 1.4 mi
- Mauna Kapu: 1.5 mi
- Nāʻiliakaʻauea: 1.7 mi
- Kokomo: 1.8 mi
- Kamokila Hawaiian Village: 1.3 mi
- Fern Grotto: 1.3 mi
- Kayak Starts: 2.6 mi
- Kayak Wailua: 3.1 mi
- Koibori Display: 3.1 mi
- Smith's Tropical Paradise: 2.2 mi
- Sacred Rudraksha Forest: 2.3 mi
- Wailua Homesteads Park: 2.7 mi
- Rayno Park: 3.2 mi
- Nukolii Beach Park: 3.3 mi
- Uluwehi Falls: 1.1 mi
- 'Opaeka'a Falls: 1.4 mi
- Kaholalele Falls: 1.7 mi
- Uhau‘iole Falls: 5.1 mi
- Hali`i Falls: 5.3 mi
- Hanamaulu Beach: 3.8 mi
- Kalapaki Beach: 5.4 mi
- Donkey Beach: 7.6 mi
- Hāʻula Beach: 9.5 mi
- Larsen's Beach: 12.1 mi
- Malae Heiau: 2.6 mi
- Hikina-a-ka-lā Heiau: 2.8 mi
- Kukui Heiau: 3.3 mi
- Statue of Dr. Jose Rizal y Mercado: 4.2 mi
- Heiau Hoʻouluia: 11.1 mi
- Japanese Garden: 2.4 mi
- Moir Garden: 12.1 mi
- McBryde Garden: 12.3 mi
- National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua‘i - South Shore: 12.6 mi
- Native forest restoration: 17.9 mi
- Keeper's Quarters: 13.5 mi
- 2nd Assistant Keeper's Quarters: 13.5 mi
- 1st Assistant Keeper's Quarters: 13.5 mi
- Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse: 13.6 mi
- Oil House: 13.7 mi
- Kahu Aina Mural by Melinda Morey: 13.8 mi
- Weaving Lauhala: 13.8 mi
- Wave Sculpture: 14.0 mi
- Mark Daniells Gallery: 14.0 mi
- Lilo & Stitch: 15.9 mi
- Kauai Museum: 4.2 mi
- Grove Farm Homestead Plantation Museum: 4.8 mi
- Waioli Mission House Museum: 13.9 mi
- Kokee Natural History Museum: 19.1 mi
- Hanalei Pier: 14.5 mi
- Alakaʻi Picnic Area: 17.3 mi
- Kukui Picnic Area: 18.1 mi
- Pine Forest Drive Picnic Area: 22.2 mi
- Waipuloku Spring: 13.7 mi
- Kepapa Spring: 21.9 mi
- Polihale Spring: 23.8 mi
- Makawehi Bluff: 11.7 mi
- Pihakekua: 12.0 mi
- Kanaʻele Bog Preserve: 9.2 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 8.6 miles of Wailua Falls. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawaikini | W 281° | 1,587 m | 7.7 mi |
| Wai‘ale‘ale | WNW 288° | 1,569 m | 8.0 mi |
| Kapala'oa | WSW 250° | 1,009 m | 8.2 mi |
| Makaleha | NNW 340° | 980 m | 6.5 mi |
| Kahili | WSW 242° | 941.5 m | 8.3 mi |
| Namahana (Kekoiki) | NNW 340° | 858 m | 8.4 mi |
| Pu'u 'Eu | NNW 343° | 838 m | 6.9 mi |
| Haʻupu | S 191° | 700 m | 7.7 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 06:42 | 18:20 | 18:49 |
| June solstice | 05:56 | 18:52 | 19:25 |
| September equinox | 06:27 | 18:05 | 18:35 |
| December solstice | 07:13 | 17:27 | 18:00 |
Local time (Pacific/Honolulu).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Sep–Jul.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 72 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 76 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 76 | 74 |
| Precip in | 2.8 | 3.6 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 4.6 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Lihue WSO AP 1020.1, 5 mi away.
Months at or above the year’s average flow: Nov–Apr — fullest in Mar, leanest in Jun.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean cfs | 166 | 136 | 182 | 138 | 104 | 70.0 | 83.7 | 93.4 | 84.8 | 99.4 | 178 | 174 |
USGS monthly mean discharge at gauge SF Wailua River nr Lihue, Kauai, HI, under a mile away — the nearest gauge, which can sit on a different stream.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element node/3836727349
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