Right now
Right now as of Nov 3, 2026
- Status Unconfirmed: on Nov 3, 2026 no DLNR notice named the ʻŌpaekaʻa lookout.
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $5/person + $10/car (non-residents).
Status note (Nov 3, 2026): Unconfirmed: on Nov 3, 2026 no DLNR notice named the ʻŌpaekaʻa lookout. DLNR's Nov 2, 2026 notice said all other Kauaʻi state parks remain closed. Wailua River State Park's Sept 21, 2026 partial reopening covered the river, the designated landing zone and the trailhead. Check DLNR before you go. What the status labels mean
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is a 151-foot waterfall in Wailua River State Park on Kauaʻi's east side, according to Go Hawaii. You see it from a roadside lookout off Kuamoʻo Road (Route 580), not from a trail. Non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle, by credit card only. DLNR's hurricane recovery notices do not say whether the lookout is open.
About ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls drops 151 feet and is about 40 feet wide, per Go Hawaii. Wikipedia also gives 151 feet, in two drops, and says the falls flow year-round. DLNR does not publish a height.
The falls are in Wailua River State Park, run by the Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks. DLNR's park page names ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls and Wailua Falls as the park's scenic waterfall vistas.
Go Hawaii calls it one of the island's most accessible major waterfalls. You will also see the name written Opaekaa Falls, without the Hawaiian marks, on road signs and maps.
Poliʻahu Heiau across the road
Poliʻahu Heiau sits across the road from the lookout, Wikipedia says. DLNR offers a Poliʻahu Heiau brochure on its park page. Go Hawaii suggests walking uphill from the lookout and across the road for another view.
Getting there and parking
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is a roadside stop on Kuamoʻo Road (Route 580), which heads inland from Highway 56 in Wailua. Go Hawaii's directions read: "In Wailua, two miles up Route 580." Wikipedia's wording puts it about 1.5 miles up.
We found no official distance or drive time from Līhuʻe. The map pin uses USGS GNIS coordinates for the falls, not for the parking area.
Fees and hours
DLNR says that as of February 2026, parking and entrance fees are required to enter Wailua River State Park. Non-residents pay $5 per person to enter and $10 per vehicle to park.
Hawaii residents with a Hawaii ID or driver's license enter and park free. Children 3 and under are free too. Bring a card, because DLNR takes credit cards only.
Commercial vehicles pay $25 for 1 to 7 passengers, $50 for 8 to 25 and $90 for 26 or more. DLNR's February 2026 visitor notice says the fee covers the Wailua Falls, ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls, Kaumualiʻi and Marina areas.
DLNR lists park hours as 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. daily. Its page does not say whether those hours apply to the lookout, and access after the hurricanes may differ. No reservation is listed.
Parking and facilities
DLNR gives no lot size for the lookout. Go Hawaii mentions picnic tables and restrooms, but we could not confirm whether they are open after the hurricanes.
Wailua Falls is in the same state park and falls under the same fee. For a long day hike on the north shore, see Hanakāpīʻai Falls. Our Hawaii waterfalls guide lists more.
Map and nearby falls
Map loads as you scroll. Open in OpenStreetMap
OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
The lookout (no hike)
There is no hike to see ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls. It is a roadside lookout, and there is no official trail to the top or the base. DLNR gives no walking distance from the lot.
Wikipedia says the best view is from the sidewalk past the parking lot, toward the bridge. From there the falls usually show as a double cascade.
The closed trail to the base
The old trail to the base has been closed since 2006, according to Wikipedia. A steel fence blocks it, with a sign warning of danger and hazardous conditions.
Wikipedia says entering the closed area is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail. Treat the lookout as the only legal view.
Park-wide rules are tight right now as well. DLNR release nr26-114, effective September 21, 2026, says "Hiking is strictly prohibited past the trailhead until further notice" in Wailua River State Park. The release does not mention the lookout.
When to visit
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls' status is unconfirmed, so check DLNR's Important Park Notices on the day you drive up. DLNR lists the same park hours year-round and gives no best season.
Wikipedia says the falls usually run as a double cascade that "may merge after heavy rain." It adds that full sun makes the water sparkle.
Hurricane recovery and park status
DLNR's newest notice, dated November 2, 2026, covers Hurricane Nolo and Hurricane Lowell recovery. It says all Kauaʻi camping remains closed and all other Kauaʻi state parks remain closed. It also says Hāʻena State Park reopened on October 15, 2026.
Wailua River State Park partly reopened at 6:30 a.m. on September 21, 2026, per DLNR release nr26-114. Kayakers may use the river, the designated landing zone and the trailhead. Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls) remains closed in its entirety.
DLNR's notices of September 23, October 5 and October 30, 2026 carried the same partial reopening. None of them names the ʻŌpaekaʻa lookout, and neither did any county or news item we found. That is why we list the status as unconfirmed.
If you want certainty before the drive, call DLNR's Kauaʻi State Parks office and ask about the Kuamoʻo Road lookout.
| Height | 151 ftNote: per Go Hawaii and Wikipedia; DLNR publishes no height |
|---|---|
| Trail | No hike; roadside lookout off Kuamoʻo Road (Route 580). The old trail to the base has been fenced and closed since 2006 (Wikipedia) |
| Difficulty | No trail; you view the falls from the roadside lookout |
| Entry fee | Non-residents: $5 per person entry plus $10 per vehicle parking, credit card only. Hawaii residents with a Hawaii ID or driver's license and children 3 and under are free (DLNR). |
| Permit / reservation | No permit or reservation; non-resident entry and parking fees apply |
| Parking | Kuamoʻo Road lookout lot; $10 per non-resident car |
| Hours / season | Wailua River State Park: daily 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. (DLNR; not stated separately for the lookout) |
| Dogs | Not stated on the DLNR park page |
| Swimming | No legal access to the pool: the trail to the base has been fenced and closed since 2006 (Wikipedia). DLNR has no swim statement for the falls |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No official detail. Go Hawaii calls it one of the island's most accessible major waterfalls but gives no accessibility specifics |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Go Hawaii mentions picnic tables and restrooms; not confirmed by DLNR or since the 2026 hurricanes |
| Best time to visit | No official best month; Wikipedia says the two strands may merge after heavy rain |
| Managed by | Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks (Wailua River State Park) |
Safety and swimming
Stay at the lookout and behind the fence. The trail to the base has been fenced and closed since 2006, according to Wikipedia, and no official route reaches the pool.
A Honolulu Star-Bulletin report of December 20, 2006 said two women died the day before after falling about 300 feet on the unofficial path to the base.
Leptospirosis is another reason to stay out of the water. The Hawaii Department of Health advises against swimming or wading in freshwater streams and ponds anywhere in Hawaii. The bacteria come from animal urine and enter through broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth.
DLNR's Na Ala Hele hiking-safety sheet warns that rain on the mountains and ridges can suddenly raise stream levels. Our waterfall safety guide has more tips.
Conditions change: confirm with DLNR before you go.
Where to stay near ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Wailua.
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Photos
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls FAQ
Do you have to pay to see Opaekaa Falls?
Yes, if you are not a Hawaii resident. DLNR charges non-residents $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle, by credit card only. Hawaii residents with a Hawaii ID or driver's license and children 3 and under are free. DLNR's February 2026 notice says the same fee covers Wailua Falls.
How do I get to Opaekaa Falls?
Drive inland on Kuamoʻo Road (Route 580) from Highway 56 in Wailua. Go Hawaii puts the lookout two miles up Route 580. We found no official distance or drive time from Līhuʻe.
Do you have to hike to Opaekaa Falls?
No. It is a roadside lookout, and Wikipedia says the best view is from the sidewalk past the lot. The old trail to the base has been fenced and closed since 2006.
Which is better, Wailua Falls or Opaekaa Falls?
They fit the same trip. Both are roadside lookouts in Wailua River State Park under one DLNR fee. Go Hawaii gives ʻŌpaekaʻa 151 feet and Wailua Falls about 80 feet. Neither lookout has a confirmed status after the 2026 hurricanes.
Is the Opaekaa Falls trail open?
No. The trail to the base has been closed since 2006, Wikipedia says, and entering is a misdemeanor. DLNR's 2026 notices also say hiking past the Wailua River State Park trailhead is "strictly prohibited" until further notice. DLNR has not stated the lookout's status.
How tall is Opaekaa Falls?
151 feet, according to Go Hawaii and Wikipedia. Go Hawaii adds that it is about 40 feet wide. DLNR does not publish a height.
Nearby waterfalls
Wailua Falls1 mi straight-lineUnconfirmed80FT
Hanakāpīʻai Falls18 mi straight-lineOpen300FT
Waipoʻo Falls20 mi straight-lineClosed800FT CASCADE
On these lists: Roadside waterfalls
Sources
The details of the 2006 fall come from a search-result excerpt of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin archive. Fees, hours and park notices were read on DLNR's own pages.
- DLNR State Parks: Wailua River State Park (read Nov 3, 2026)
- DLNR Important Park Notices (Nov 2, 2026 notice; read Nov 3, 2026)
- DLNR news release nr26-114: Wailua River State Park partial reopening (Sept 19, 2026)
- DLNR visitor notice: new parking/entry fee management (Feb 2026)
- Go Hawaii (Hawaii Tourism Authority): ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
- Wikipedia: ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
- USGS National Map GNIS layer: ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls coordinates
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin: report of the Dec 19, 2006 fall (Dec 20, 2006)
- Hawaii DOH: Leptospirosis
- DLNR Na Ala Hele: Hiking safety
Last verified Nov 3, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks (Wailua River State Park) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.