The best hidden gem waterfalls in Hawaii are Waipoʻo Falls, Kopiliula Falls, Makahiku Falls and 2 more. Highly rated falls that few people review: 4.6 stars or better from 75 or fewer Google reviews.
See every waterfall on the Hawaii waterfalls page or the Hawaii waterfall map, or browse by town: Kekaha, Wailua, Hana.
How we picked: We took the 5 publicly accessible Hawaii waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
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1. Waipoʻo Falls
Waipoʻo Falls near Kekaha takes the top spot, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 19 reviews.
Kauai County, HI 96796 (GPS 22.1043, -159.6615)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 19 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 65 photos of it on Google Maps. Older records also call it Waipoo Falls. The nearest town is Kekaha, about 10 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is Waipo‘o Falls, about 0.3 miles to the northwest.
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2. Kopiliula Falls
Kopiliula Falls, near Wailua, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 12 reviews.
Maui County, HI 96790 (GPS 20.8147, -156.1339)
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 12 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 39 photos of it on Google Maps. Older records also call it Kopili‘ula Falls. The nearest town is Wailua, about 2.4 miles to the north. The nearest other named waterfall is Waikani Falls, about 1.4 miles to the north.
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3. Makahiku Falls
Makahiku Falls, near Hana, is next up, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 33 reviews.
Maui County, HI 96713 (GPS 20.6656, -156.0499)
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Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 33 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 174 photos of it on Google Maps. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Haleakala NP. The nearest town is Hana, about 7.5 miles to the northeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Waimoku Falls, about 1.0 miles to the northwest.
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4. Waipo‘o Falls
Head to Waipo‘o Falls near Kekaha, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
Kauai County, HI 96796 (GPS 22.1075, -159.6644)
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Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 5 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 14 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Kekaha, about 10 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is Waipoʻo Falls, about 0.3 miles to the southeast.
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5. Waikani Falls
Head to Waikani Falls near Wailua, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
Maui County, HI 96790 (GPS 20.8346, -156.1371)
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Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 13 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 34 photos of it on Google Maps. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: On Wailuanui Stream approximately 1 mi W of Papiha Point. The nearest town is Wailua, about 1.0 miles to the north. The nearest other named waterfall is Keʻākū Falls, about 0.9 miles to the northwest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hidden gem waterfall in Hawaii?
Waipoʻo Falls tops our 2026 list. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 19 Google reviews. It is near Kekaha in Kauai County.
How many hidden gem waterfalls are in Hawaii?
5 of the 112 waterfalls we track in Hawaii qualify. This page ranks the top 5; every waterfall in the state is on the Hawaii waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We took the 5 publicly accessible Hawaii waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
Which counties are they in?
The 5 on this list are in Kauai County and Maui County.
More Hawaii Waterfalls by Type
- 10 Best Historic Waterfalls in Hawaii 2026
- 7 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Hawaii
- 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Hawaii
- 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Hawaii
- 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Hawaii
Or browse every type on the hidden gem waterfalls by state page and the waterfall types hub.