Right now
Right now as of Nov 3, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (3 days).
Status note (Nov 3, 2026): Open, as far as we can tell: on Nov 3, 2026 the NPS Haleakalā Current Conditions page (last updated Feb 11, 2026) listed no Pīpīwai Trail closure. Its only Kīpahulu alert said "The Pools of ʻOheʻo in the Kīpahulu District are not accessible for swimming." What the status labels mean
Waimoku Falls is a 400-foot waterfall at the end of the Pīpīwai Trail, in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, per NPS. The trail is 4 miles round trip with 800 feet of elevation change. You pay the park entrance fee, $30 per vehicle for three days. On November 3, 2026, NPS Current Conditions listed no Pīpīwai Trail closure.
About Waimoku Falls on the Pīpīwai Trail
Waimoku Falls is 400 feet tall, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The Kīpahulu District page captions its photo "400-foot Waimoku Falls."
The falls are in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, on Maui's east side past Hāna. NPS calls Kīpahulu a remote district that is only accessible via the Hana Highway.
The Pīpīwai Trail passes two named falls. NPS calls Makahiku Falls a nearly 200-foot waterfall, with an overlook half a mile in. Waimoku Falls is at the end of the trail, 2 miles in.
Between them, the trail crosses a bamboo forest about one mile in, on boardwalks and footbridges. In the same district, NPS says the Pools of ʻOheʻo are not accessible for swimming.
Getting there and parking
Waimoku Falls is in Haleakalā's Kīpahulu District, which NPS says you reach by "driving 12 miles past the town of Hāna." The district is only accessible via the Hana Highway.
NPS warns that no food, supplies or gas are available in the park. Plan fuel, water and snacks before you set out.
The trail starts near Hale Hālāwai, where the Pīpīwai and Kūloa Point trails meet, per NPS. NPS gives no parking details or trailhead coordinates. Our map pin marks the falls, so navigate to the Kīpahulu District instead.
Entrance fee and passes
Haleakalā charges $30 per private vehicle, valid for three days, NPS says. Motorcycles pay $25 for three days. Visitors with no car pay $15 each, which admits one person to both the Summit and Kīpahulu areas.
Children 15 and under are free. NPS accepts the Haleakalā Annual Pass ($55), the Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Annual Pass ($55) and America the Beautiful passes. After hours, the self-pay machine takes credit cards only.
Reservations and hours
NPS lists no reservation for Kīpahulu. The park's $1 sunrise reservation is listed under the Summit District, for vehicles entering between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.
NPS says the Summit and Kīpahulu Districts are open 24 hours a day. It does not list Kīpahulu Visitor Center hours on its hours or basic information pages.
Camping at Kīpahulu
NPS runs Kīpahulu Campground, booked on Recreation.gov with a rolling 30-day window. Overnight stays are allowed only in designated camping areas.
On the way, Twin Falls is a short stop on the Hana Highway. Our Hawaii waterfalls guide covers more falls across the islands, such as Mānoa Falls on Oʻahu.
Map and nearby falls
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The Pīpīwai Trail
NPS lists the Pīpīwai Trail as 4 miles round trip with 800 feet of elevation change, and calls it moderately strenuous. The Waimoku Falls viewing area marks the end of the trail, after 2 miles one way.
NPS describes the trail as unpaved and rocky, with exposed tree roots, and often muddy. Wear shoes with good grip and carry rain gear.
Makahiku Overlook
The Makahiku Overlook is 0.5 miles in, NPS says, and takes about half an hour each way. Makahiku Falls is nearly 200 feet tall. That makes the overlook a shorter out-and-back.
The bamboo forest
The bamboo forest begins about one mile in, NPS says. Boardwalks and footbridges carry the trail through it.
Waimoku Falls viewing area
The trail ends at the Waimoku Falls viewing area, 2 miles from the start. NPS gives no total hiking time for the full trail, so allow extra time on muddy days.
Trail rules
NPS says off-trail travel is "dangerous and illegal" and that hikers are required by law to stay on marked trails. Pets are prohibited on all trails. NPS also asks hikers to check and comply with posted trail closures before heading out.
When to visit
NPS gives no best month for the Pīpīwai Trail. It tells visitors to "prepare for hot, humid, rainy weather." Both districts are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Read the NPS Current Conditions page the morning you drive. On November 3, 2026, it listed no Pīpīwai Trail or Hana Highway alert, but the page was last updated February 11, 2026.
2026 storm notes
DLNR's September 23, 2026 notice closed Maui state parks for Tropical Storm Nolo starting September 25, and DLNR has since reopened them. Those were state parks, not the national park. We found no NPS closure for Nolo.
| Height | 400 ftNote: per NPS |
|---|---|
| Trail | Pīpīwai Trail: 4 mi round trip (2 mi each way), 800 ft elevation change, moderately strenuous (NPS). Makahiku Overlook at 0.5 mi; bamboo forest about 1 mi in |
| Difficulty | Moderately strenuous, with 800 ft of elevation change on an unpaved, rocky, rooty and often muddy trail (NPS) |
| Entry fee | Haleakalā entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle, valid for three days; $25 per motorcycle; $15 per person with no car. Age 15 and under free. Haleakalā Annual ($55), Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Annual ($55) and America the Beautiful passes accepted (NPS). |
| Permit / reservation | No permit or reservation listed for Kīpahulu; the park entrance fee applies |
| Parking | Kīpahulu District, 12 mi past Hāna |
| Hours / season | Open 24 hours a day (NPS). Kīpahulu Visitor Center hours are not listed on the NPS hours page |
| Dogs | No. NPS says pets are prohibited on all trails |
| Swimming | Not recommended: NPS says entering or wading in the streams is not recommended because of flash floods and sudden rockfall. The Pools of ʻOheʻo are not accessible for swimming |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No accessible route listed. NPS describes the trail as unpaved, rocky, with exposed roots and often muddy |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Best time to visit | No official best month; NPS says to prepare for hot, humid, rainy weather |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Haleakalā National Park, Kīpahulu District) |
Safety and swimming
Flash floods and rockfall are the main hazards. NPS says flash floods and sudden rockfalls can happen at any time in Kīpahulu, and that entering or wading in the streams is not recommended.
Stay back from the base of Waimoku Falls. A sign photographed near the falls (Paul Keeler, Wikimedia Commons) reads "DANGER: FALLING ROCKS UNSAFE BEYOND THIS POINT."
NPS says the Pools of ʻOheʻo are not accessible for swimming. Its hiking page adds: "Due to flash floods and rock slides, swimming is not recommended in 'Ohe'o Gulch."
On June 2, 2011, NPS confirmed that a fatal mishap involving a visitor happened on May 31 near Waimoku Falls on the Pīpīwai Trail. NPS gave no age or cause, and the trail closed during the investigation.
Stay on marked trails, which NPS says is required by law. Our waterfall safety guide has more on flash floods.
Conditions change: confirm with NPS before you go.
Where to stay near Waimoku Falls on the Pīpīwai Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Hāna.
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Photos
Waimoku Falls on the Pīpīwai Trail FAQ
How long does it take to hike to Waimoku Falls?
NPS lists the Pīpīwai Trail as 4 miles round trip, 2 miles each way, with 800 feet of elevation change. It rates the trail moderately strenuous and gives no total time. The first half mile, to the Makahiku Overlook, takes about 30 minutes each way.
Do you need to pay to hike the Pīpīwai Trail?
Yes. You pay the Haleakalā entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle for three days, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person with no car. Children 15 and under are free. America the Beautiful and the park's annual passes are accepted.
Can you swim at Waimoku Falls?
NPS does not recommend it. It says entering or wading in the streams is not recommended because of flash floods and sudden rockfall. A posted sign near the falls warns of falling rocks, and the Pools of ʻOheʻo are not accessible for swimming.
How tall is Waimoku Falls?
400 feet, per NPS. The Kīpahulu District page captions its photo "400-foot Waimoku Falls."
Do you need a reservation for the Pīpīwai Trail?
No reservation is listed for Kīpahulu. The park's $1 sunrise reservation is listed under the Summit District, for vehicles entering between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Is the Pīpīwai Trail open?
As far as we can tell. On November 3, 2026, NPS Current Conditions (last updated February 11, 2026) listed no Pīpīwai closure. NPS asks hikers to check posted trail closures before heading out.
Are dogs allowed on the Pīpīwai Trail?
No. NPS says pets are prohibited on all trails in Haleakalā National Park.
Nearby waterfalls
More waterfalls to explore
Sources
- NPS Haleakalā: Hiking (read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Haleakalā: Current Conditions (last updated Feb 11, 2026; read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Haleakalā: Kīpahulu District (read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Haleakalā: Fees & Passes (last updated Dec 18, 2025; read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Haleakalā: Operating Hours & Seasons (read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS: Short hike to Makahiku Falls
- NPS: Hale Hālāwai
- NPS news release: Park confirms fatal mishap in Kīpahulu (June 2, 2011)
- DLNR Important Park Notices (Sept 23, 2026 Maui notice)
- USGS National Map GNIS layer: Waimoku Falls coordinates
Last verified Nov 3, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service (Haleakalā National Park, Kīpahulu District) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.