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    Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots

    4.0 (79 reviews)

    Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots Photos

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    Nancy S.

    Stopped here while using the Shaka guide on our tour around the island. There is a good amount of parking and restrooms to use. A side to view the falls going up a ramp. Nice spot for pictures or to have a picnic. Recommend you make a stop along your way. Gates close at 6pm. No swimming allowed.

    As far as you can go
    Heather K.

    Peepee falls is not worth the drive to see, you can't see it up close. If you're in the area it's fun to see but don't make a trip out of it.

    Signage
    Courtenay O.

    Once you get over the funny name (and if you have to use the bathrooms, bring soap & a towel) and all the warning & Do Not Do ... signs, you'll see beautiful waterfalls. Below the largest one, which is furthest away, you can see the steam. This is a beautiful, lush area, with no parking fees. It has two informative signs about the Battle of the Waikiki River and why this is called Boiling Pots. It's a very restful place.

    Lanny H.

    This is another easy park to get to without being charged a fee. The parking area is small so if it's busy you might have to wait for a parking spot. Only a few people were here when we visited. This would be very cool when the river is running high. It was low at the time of our visit. The falls are way off in the distance.

    Jenn N.

    Cool view of the falls & river. It's not very big but definitely worth a quick swing by. Decent restroom and parking. Cool little stop!

    Feb W.

    First of all this waterfall cannot be seen in a closer perspective view unless you got your binoculars with you. However for an up-close view a trail on the right side that requires a short hike will lead you to get there. But it is advice to hike down when the stream flow is heavy because you could swept away and drown, for safety measures it is important to follow certain rules & warning. If the waterfall itself is a distant view, boiling points are the opposite. A series of small pools and cascades can be seen closely from the lookout point. You can swim here but at your own risk. It's only a few minutes drive from the Rainbow Falls and comparably majestic as the Rainbow Falls. Did enjoy feasting our eyes on the gushing water and will surely recommended to any visitors! Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps!

    06.04.21 short paved path to the overlook
    May A.

    Lesser known waterfall? Not crowded at all... in fact we were the only ones there, 8 of us in my family. Hawaiian words use the caret marks or 'okina (the backward quote) to proper pronounce their words. So it's not pronounced PeePee but Pe'e Pe'e Falls (pronounced Peh-eh Peh-eh Falls). Now that we learned how to pronounce the name this was one of the falls we visited while in the Big Island located near downtown Hilo. We entered the parking area at the Wailuku River State Park. There is a little bit of a walk on a short paved path to the waterfall overlook. We strolled past a manicured grassy lawn with palm trees and shrubs. There are restrooms here as well. When we reached the public access viewing area it was like wow! that's far (the waterfall) and the overlook seemed more for the Boiling Pots rather than the waterfall. I'm not sure if there are trails to get closer to the falls but we were limited with the view. It's an impressive waterfall but we could only admire it from a distance. There are some interesting interpretive signs to read and educate visitors at the viewing area. There were multiple streams coming from different directions into a series of pools, not a whole lot of water, maybe there wasn't enough rainfall... I'm guessing this is the Boiling Pot. It's okay, I didn't find it very interesting, though. The waterfall was about 50 to 60-feet tall. Review #2287

    Entrance to the park
    Kendra F.

    Wow. I was staying in Kona for about a week and on the last day decided it would be a treat to see the waterfalls in Hilo. It was about an hour and a half drive. I saw many pictures online and they're beautiful, but seeing it for myself was gasp worthy. Coming here was a truly beautiful, relaxing experience that was part of my reality. Cliffs look to be blocked off. Be safe when visiting.

    Travis P.

    The name of this place is pretty funny. Pretty good view and parking is plentiful here. I think rainbow falls was a bit better but worth checking out here still.

    Kay O.

    This magical wonderful creation of nature is simply beyond words! Crossing through the water about waist high was safest for me since I do not swim, yet I had water socks on. I saw other 6 foot tall people cross while standing up only wetting their stomach. I crossed through the water where there were some rocks so I could wedge my feet in between to secure myself. Easy half mile walk to the Falls with some light rock climbing and some prickly bushes. Listening to the Falls roar was simply magical! I wish we brought lunch to eat, but our granola bars were sufficient. We sat just listening to the glorious sound for maybe two hours! I will definitely make this hike next time on the big island!!

    Jacqueline T.

    We came here to try to see the falls and didn't have any luck. The boiling pots were pretty uneventful. I think we weren't there when there was enough rainfall or something because there wasn't much water. You can barely see the falls because they are upstream behind the trees. I thought there would be a path to a better viewpoint but it seems like the only good place to view the falls is on private property. It's right down the street from Rainbow Falls so it doesn't take long to get here. I probably wouldn't bother stopping though.

    Why it's called Boiling Pots
    Bessie T.

    There is some historical reference for this scenic spot. It's another lookout right above and up the road from Rainbow Falls. Don't need to spend more than a few minutes up here. There's a decent sized parking lot. Also with a comfort station. Drive up, get out of your car, walk towards to the lookout, take a tourist photo, go back to your car. Nothing special. Just meh. The upkeep at this park is very clean. Enjoy a little but of greenery and fresh air and open space while you're here when escaping a concrete jungle. There is a small area by the lookout where there are several benches under a big tree. Nice place to sit and have a quick snack. Maybe enjoy some quiet time and meditation if there no people traffic.

    Kelly M.

    Nice stream and falls. Lots of people jumped the fence to go swimming. Plenty of parking. Good for a stop and a photo for the unadventurous (like me!) or a swim for the more adventurous.

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    2 years ago

    Awesome little stop to take a look and enjoy more of Hawaiis natural beauty. Couldn't see the boiling pots on my trip.

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    1 year ago

    Not really any trail that leads closer to the waterfall. However there is a good amount of parking and the view is really good

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    9 years ago

    It's a nice area where actually you can go and swim at. There was a double rainbow when we went and that was a special treat.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots

    Does it cost to park/visit here?

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    Review Highlights - Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots

    It's only a few minutes drive from the Rainbow Falls and comparably majestic as the Rainbow Falls.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    Kaumana Caves - Entrance- with a maybe 45Degree angle of stairs go straight down! Hee

    Kaumana Caves

    4.6(134 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    This is easily one of the best things we did on the Big Island. Luckily we saw a couple of You Tube…read morevideos that told us to bring a good flash light. We went by WalMart and picked up a decent power Flash light. Don't think you can do this with you cell phone light. The caves are not modified with railings and walkways and colorful lights. This is raw spelunking. At first it feels a little creepy but once you get in and start exploring the anxiety of being underground goes away. The floor is uneven and jagged. Don't come in flip flops. Bri g some sturdy sneakers or hiking boots. Water is constantly dripping from the roof but none of that matters cause you are so enthralled by the experience. You go through giant tubes carved out by lava you also enter giant cavernous rooms formed by the intense molten flow. Breathtaking is the best way to describe it. I wouldn't recommend little kids under eight. It is very hard to traverse some of these rocks. But go! Please go. You will thank me. Definitely Recommended.

    When we went it was on and off raining. The stairs are quite steep- down to the two caves. One on…read morethe right and one on the left. If you have trouble with balance etc. you should consider waiting in the car as the caves were wet and slippery. Was just accross the street from the parking lot. We were there for about 1/2 an hour. And it's FREE! I enjoyed seeing what the lava had created. We went to the volcano after this. Recommend flashlights and at least one head lamp. Phone lights are just too little!

    Photos
    Kaumana Caves - Rooster looking for food-with lots of hens and babies. In the parking lot.

    Rooster looking for food-with lots of hens and babies. In the parking lot.

    Kaumana Caves - Inside looking out. Say by to the light.

    Inside looking out. Say by to the light.

    Kaumana Caves - One of the caves

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    One of the caves

    Carlsmith Beach Park - Beautiful clear water

    Carlsmith Beach Park

    4.8(89 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    This Beach park happened by accident when my niece was looking for a place for us to eat lunch in…read moreKona. This happened to be the closest picnic area that we could come to, thanks to a little tik- tok video she watched. If you're looking for a traditional beach with sand, this isn't the place. But what you'll get instead are the famous black lava rock formations Kona is known for that spill into several lagoons full of crystal clear water. As for eating, there are plenty of places to lay down a blanket in the grass, picnic and relax. The park has several trash cans for you to use as well and I did happily notice that the park was clean. I did not have to use the bathroom here so I can't comment on that. What impressed me the most was that they had built in stairs for you to walk into the ocean. In my entire life of traveling, I've never seen a beach park with built in stairwells to walk into the lagoons. This was a treat for me. If I have one big tip, it's to remember to have your water shoes because the rocks are sharp to walk on and can easily cut you if you're not careful. I also did read that they do have outdoor showers but I didn't see them when we were here. Lots of folks brought their own snorkeling gear because there were a lot of fish, not to mention at least 3 turtles that I saw swimming around. As I'm writing this review, I'm already missing Kona and the uniqueness of this island. If you plan on going to Kona, you must come and enjoy this place. It's truly special and I would recommend it to anyone.

    After coming across social media post, Carlsmith Beach Park was a must visit for me! I added it to…read morethe list of places for my uber driver/hubby to take me. We missed it the very first time, the hubby took me to the wrong beach & had to re-route. I remember it is hard to find via GPS if you miss the turn. We found parking after the beach and walked down. When I walked to Carlsmith Beach to finally check it out for the very first time, my heart just melted and just had that Wow, grateful, OMG moments and also feels like DeJaVu. I also asked my husband to pinch me, that I am not dreaming. It was so nice to just experience this live in real life, such tranquil atmosphere, crystal clear waters. I just love the color of the water, the ocean, so beautiful! Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo is a hidden gem for sure! After we took our tons of photos, enjoyed the scenery which I really wanted to stay longer but we had a busy day ahead. For next time I visit, I would love to picnic & enjoy lunch under the coconut, palm trees and go swimming. Although I didn't sea turtles during my visits, hopefully next time.

    Photos
    Carlsmith Beach Park
    Carlsmith Beach Park
    Carlsmith Beach Park - #intenslypassionatephotography

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    #intenslypassionatephotography

    Rainbow Falls

    Rainbow Falls

    4.2(382 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Amazing and beautiful area to have a picnic and take family out for an hour or two…read more Cute trail small hike for the kids to enjoy. Lots of landscape to take advantage if you are looking for a nice photo opportunity. $10 for parking and $5 for each person. Very reasonable. The scan code was easy to use and fast for payment. There was nice ambassadors helping not just one person so it made it a fast experience and they were informative of where we could walk and viewpoints. Great customer service. Restrooms were cleaned. The informational boards had graffiti on it.

    God's gift to man I tell ya!…read more This was a quick stop as we toured a bit of Hilo, and I'd say it's a "must stop" if you're here for a short visit. It's definitely, and annoying touristy, so just keep that in mind. Yes, I'm one of them, so I hated myself lol. Features to highlight: ~ A big parking lot with tour busses parked. As well as cars full of people causing traffic. ~ A fairly long line for the restroom. A perfect stop for bus tours. ~ From the parking lot, you'll see the people along the fence-line checking out the falls. Taking pics, selfies, tiky-tok'ing etc etc. ~ Don't get me wrong with the negativity, it is fairly picturesque! I just cropped the tourists out. The day was sorta cloudy, so we didn't see any rainbows coming from the falls. ~ Take the stone steps to the right, up to the top, and you'll be gifted with a different perspective of the river above and the falls. ~ As you walk along the railing, you'll also be drawn into the tall trees that lead to the giant banyan tree. I'm pretty amazed with how vibrant a tree can be, and how much shade these large banyans provide. ~ We only spent about 15-20 minutes here, but we full-on enjoyed every minute of it! Side story that you don't have to read: As I was walking past everyone. A family had asked if I could take a picture of them. I kindly said, "Sure." Then some other random bonehead tourist stopped me and said, "I'll take their picture!" Fine, whatever dude, here's their phone. As I walked away, I heard Mr. Bonehead say, "I'll take several angles and we'll do a funny one, OK?" Hahaha, I looked back at the family, and they looked super annoyed.

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    Rainbow Falls
    Rainbow Falls - Fall from the guided area

    Fall from the guided area

    Rainbow Falls - Top of waterfall

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    Top of waterfall

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

    4.7(395 reviews)
    7.1 mi

    I'm smiling just thinking about this place because if I could ever imagine a tropical paradise,…read morethis would be it. Best money spent on the Big lsland. At $35 for adults, $25 for kids aged 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under-- it's money well spent. Some might call this place pricey but after coming here, I disagree. Places like this are so rare and unique that they can just take my money. I've never been to a garden so full of exotic plants, flowers that I'd never seen before, mini waterfalls, a pond, and to top it all off-- getting to see the ocean waves crashing onto the lava rocks at the end of the garden. Prior to this I had never seen orchids growing in the wild off of tree trunks. These guys were everywhere here. And how do I know this place is cool even for Gen Z?-- I caught my 20 year old nephew taking videos of a beautiful flower that he was admiring. Of course I didn't make a huge deal out of it because he would have blown me off. Once you walk the paths and over the bridges, you can see how meticulously this garden is maintained. When you find out the history of how Mr. Dan Lutkenhouse Sr. and his wife Pauline who bought this parcel of land back in 1977 and decided to turn it into a garden, you'll be even more amazed. There was no machinery used to turn this place into the garden it is today. It was 40 years of Dan and his assistant Terry Takiue who worked with *just* cane knives, sickles, picks, shovels and a chainsaw to clear paths through the jungle. Another fun fact: He had no formal training in botanical gardening... Insert mind blown emoji here... Can you imagine that?? I can only respect that these guys did this just so that we could enjoy this garden paradise for us and future generations to see. Bravo to this place coming from our fam that came and loved it.

    The variety of plant life here is huge. The walkways for the most part are very steep and paved…read more but there are also handrails and benches. The grounds are spectacular with so many varieties of flowers and flowering plants. The waterways and waterfalls have a calming effect splashing over rocks and between ferns. There is a small gift shop, but as far as refreshments go, they only sell popsicles or small boxes of water.

    Photos
    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - August 27, 2023

    August 27, 2023

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - Feathery canopy keeps you cool as you walk

    Feathery canopy keeps you cool as you walk

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

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    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach

    4.6(19 reviews)
    12.9 mi

    Loved this 5 miles round trip hike to the beach. Huge variety of vegetation and most of the trail…read moretramps through a tree forest. The tree forest is interesting with some abandoned and vegetation encrusted old jeeps and cars, historic rock walls and towards the end, spur trails to the sea cliffs, and a collapsed lava tube. At the end is a gorgeous bay favored by sea turtles. We saw at least 23 turtles on our visit. Please note that this trail is muddy and very muddy in spots even when it has not been raining, and the footing is very uneven so it is not for the casual walker, for flip flops or any shoes that you don't mind getting very muddy. I found that having hiking poles was helpful in order to gage how thick the mud was at various places on the pathway. Go early as it is very humid by late morning or mid day.

    The Puna Trail that leads from the dirt parking lot to the secluded Shipman Beach (Ha'ena Beach) is…read more2-1/2 miles in each direction and consists of a jungle, lava rocks, and muddy conditions. It can be challenging especially during the rainy periods and at times it may seem forever until you reach the very end. Nevertheless, I was finally able to make it to the beach and it was worth it in the very end, though it's not one of these points of interest that I would want to do again. As for Shipman Beach, it's a nice place to relax at if it wasn't for the strong waves and currents particularly during the winter months. On better days, you might even see some sea turtles hanging out on the rocks nearby (do not approach them!). Best to apply bug repellant prior to hiking and make sure to scrub your shoes before and after at the trailhead brush.

    Photos
    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - One of at least 5 abandoned vehicles

    One of at least 5 abandoned vehicles

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

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    Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots - parks - Updated May 2026

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