Boiling Pots (or Pe`epe`e in Hawaiian) is beautiful and is one of my favorite places to take visitors to Hilo. The area gets its name from the pools of water that look like pots of boiling water when the water is flowing strong or it's raining. The mauka side (mountain side) of the area has a beautiful waterfall. You're not technically supposed to go down to the water, but the wearing down of the paint on the railings tells another story. Pe`epe`e is part of the larger Wailuku River. Wailuku means churning or dangerous waters. Local people of every generation know people who have gotten sucked under and drowned in Wailuku River. Don't swim here if you don't know what you're doing, and especially if you're not with someone who's familiar with the area. There's a big parking lot and public bathrooms are available. read more

One expects to boil eggs here and possibly get scalded with hot water... But their idea of a boiling pot is a metaphor. The boiling pot is just rushing water into holes in the rocks that visitors may not observe because the trails are closed to preclude the likely tragedy of people tumbling off the cliff into the rushing water, rocks and vegetation 50' below. I really was looking forward to the trail and boiling water... But drove away feeling like a chump. Bonus! The drive up is worth the trip! Beautiful homes that make you say,. "I could live here!"; But of course you can't because you live in California. read more

More of a locals swimming hole than a major attraction. Some spots for cliff diving. Natural pools and small waterfalls in this smaller park. Unless you're looking to cool of with a swim, safe to skip this one! read more

It was a hot day, so some family friends we were visiting took us up here to swim. We're all getting ready to jump off a ledge and my buddy is being a pain in the ass trying to get me to go first "c'mon dude-c'mon dude-c'mon dude-let's go-hurry-hurry-hurry-hurryuphurryuphurryup.." I'm not afraid of heights, but jumping off high places I usually have to sort of.. turn off my brain. It gets really mad when I do stupid things while it's telling me not to. Many a scars and broken bones have resulted. Brain: This ledge is very high up. Me: Oh? Gosh I didn't notice, thanks for that valuable piece of information. Brain: Sarcasm, oh that'll help. Me: So will hypocrisy. Brain: It's gonna hurt.. Me: I'm disconnecting you. Brain: You know can't actually-- Me: Go away. Brain: Fine. I'll be back later. Or not. While I'm about to go, nobody was paying attention to my dad who was getting a running start! WOOSH!!! Right past us and off the edge he goes! "Whoaaaaaaa! Myron!!!" he caught us all by surprise, I didn't think he was even gonna swim! The ledge we were jumping from was pretty high, it was several seconds of hang time. Higher than Waimea rock for sure. Just remember keep those legs together to avoid an unplanned enema. So we swim around and jump some more, it was a great time. The water was calm and pretty chilly. I was told after heavy rains (the only kind of rain in Hilo) the water flows down from one pool to the next and it's a little more dangerous. Just as we're leaving, a group of middle school kids are coming down the path. Instead of going down to where we were, no hesitation, they start launching off a ledge about 10 feet higher and several feet farther back. Pwned. read more

DO NOT GO DOWN TO THE BOILING POTS We hopped the fence, not heading any of the warning signs, and struggled down a slick path of muddy rocks covered in tall grasses to get down to where the boiling pots were. We walked upstream and we were about to get into the river when we all heard a cracking sound. Then we looked up to see a giant dead tree crashing towards us. We narrowly escaped. One of our party of 8 injured her knee diving out of the way. The tree landed where we had been standing and some segments of it landed where we would've been in the water. Please don't go down to the boiling pots, there are so many better places to visit. read more

Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots - These are the photos of the tree that would have crushed us if we had not dove out of the way - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Okay: there are signs everywhere saying "Do Not Go Beyond the Fence on Fear of Death"... And I'm sure people have hurt themselves here... And probably a few have tragically died... But if you're in good shape (and as sure-footed as a mountain goat), THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! Imagine swimming in a pool fed by three waterfalls, with gentle rocks upon which you can sit half-submerged in the water as the thunderous roar of water pounds down around you! There also are grottos and caves--it's like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, only real! And out in the tropical sky. Doesn't get much better than this.... (P.S. Hiking and swimming here is not recommended by the City of Hilo, the State of Hawaii, my lawyer, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. [But I did it anyway.] If you can't figure out how to get down to the pools, wait 15 minutes for some 20-something group of locals to pass by and follow them.) read more

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. My friend Jolee who is an amazing swimmer and comes here all of the time, was caught in a flash flood and been missing for 4 days. Please stay out of these boiling pots. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees read more

Up the road from Rainbow Fall is this beautiful waterfall. This fall connects to Rainbow Fall. It's a gorgeous site. Unfortunately, it's fenced up so u can not touch the stream and can not get any closer to the fall. read more

Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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It never really gets crowded here, so this is a great place to walk down the path from the overlook, get your feet wet, maybe go for a swim or just chillax for a spell. I have seen people swimming naked in these ponds. If you are able, the pond under the waterfall is accessible to swimmers, but use caution since many folks have drowned at this park over the years (I mean dozens). The Pots themselves are a series of rounded ponds, unique geological formations which somhow gives the illusion of boiling water when it has been raining and the river runs high. It is just as common to find locals here as tourists, so keep it casual and enjoy the park for what it is. Please don't drown! read more

Good place to take a bathroom break and stretch your legs while on a road trip around the Northern Coast going West to Hilo. The falls aren't spectacular. I probably would have hiked down to get a closer look but my compatriots weren't interested in staying long. read more

Overall: Worth a visit if you're in the area (near Rainbow Falls) This park is nothing special. Pe'epe'e Falls can be seen at a distance, but the boiling pots are nothing special - they aren't boiling pots at all. They are in fact just swirling concentrations of water. The viewing area is a very short walk from the car lot and this park is frequented by locals walking their dogs or taking the toddlers out for a walk. read more

Boiling Pots was a pretty stop, but I was disappointed there were no educational markers or signs at the site. I really wasn't sure what I was looking at until I looked it up online. This is a nice view point but don't go out of your way to stop here. I did see some locals with their dogs running around in the grass. It seems like a great place to bring your dog and play fetch! read more

We love waterfalls. We hike to as many as possible, so when we saw these, of course we had to go have a look. The Good: - Nice falls. These were beautiful to look at - Full because of rain. It is possible that during dry seasons they will not be so beautiful. - Great view! The Not So Good: - Bad railings will let people fall - Area closed to walk down there so no exploring or getting close - Disappointment - 3 for the view - 1 for the adventure Bottom Line: This place could be better if only we could hike closer to the falls. But they have blocked off most of the area so you can't get very adventurous with kids. So, good to look at once, but I could skip it next time I go to the big island. AllTrails.com http://alltrails.com/trail/us/hawaii/boiling-pots read more

Falls are cool, you can see wild boars and even hike into the forest! Bring bug spray!

Paired with Rainbow Falls down the street, it's a fun way to spend a little bit of time. And yes, you get to giggle at the street sign that doesn't have the accent marks so it's just "PEEPEE FALLS". ;) Free parking, no admission charge. read more

Not super exciting. It is a nice stop if you are driving by, see the sign and want to drop in, but not much of a destination. The overlook is far away from the water and we didn't feel comfortable going under the railing to go right down and look at it (many people do). I also thought the boiling part might have something to do with geothermal activity but it looks like it's just swirling water. They do have a nice open flat lawn that would be great for a picnic or small party. Otherwise, pretty but not a must see. read more

Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Loved the waterfalls! When I went there had recently been a lot of rain so the water level was high and you could jump off the edge and swim back to the waterfalls! The water was ICE COLD, but awesome. You could actually see 4 separate waterfalls! Plus, it's a very remote location! read more

Pe'epe'e Falls & Boiling Pots - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Beautiful places. Nice and easy to get to. Not a must see but if you are already in the area to see rainbow falls then it's a nice little add on to your trip. It's a little over grown in spots. Lots of parking. read more

Pretty and easily accessible! You can be adventurous and walk to Pe'epe'e falls just be smart and be careful cuz people do die out there especially in the boiling pots area! Don't mess around there! ... you can simply do a driveby on the way to Mauna Kea like we did. 3 waterfalls that can take less than 20 min for a detour. read more

I can't believe all these Debbie Downer people on here complaining about this waterfall. Truth is that if your lame this fall will be lame. We hiked over rocks and swam through 3 pools and had the most amazing adventure. It was a challenge and the reward was great. One of the best days I've ever had. read more

I couldn't believe this was a main attraction around Hilo. After seeing everything else on the Big Island, this was a serious disappointment. It's basically a series of small streams and waterfalls that are named "Boiling Pots" because the currents generate some ripples that LOOK like the water is boiling. Maybe I came during dry season, but it was not very impressive at all. You should just skip this and go to Akaka Falls. read more

Absolutely unlike any other spot in Hilo and your experience will depend on weather conditions, safety, common sense and time of year. Please listen to Jeanette Y and do not go hiking in any Hawaii valley or swimming in a waterfall area if there is threat of rain, rains the day or night before, or existing rains (duh). That said, if common sense is present and the conditions are hot, dry and sunny, AND water is flat and calm - relax on the rocks nearby or wade in the pool. Or dunk your tired feet in the cool water and enjoy the views. On a poor condition day, yes it will be rough, unimpressive or yucky. Note: posted on a sign there - is a legend of the Mo'o (lizard goddess). What the sign does not say is that if she is hungry, she will take you and pull you under. Ask the locals who know a lot about the conditions. read more

One of my favorite spots on the big island. A hidden gem. Multiple locations of various heights to jump into pools. It's difficult to reach the best spot upstream (we swam thru 3 pools to base of falls). As a result, it's not crowded with a bunch a tourists (like Akaka falls). They all take one look and leave, which I appreciated. read more

Best cliff-jumping ever. Definitely not safe for the faint-hearted traveler. The fresh water pots can be dangerous after rains...I fortunately was there when the water was low so we could swim from "pot" to "pot". If you make it to the end where the waterfall is, there's a 40 ft jump---I'm not stupid (or brave) enough to do it but my friends were...Although one ended up black and blue from the impact of the water (obviously, she was no pro diver), they all lived to tell the story of their crazy jump at Boiling Pots. If you're active and respectful of nature, definitely a great place to see! read more

if you're already visiting rainbow falls, why not another falls just a little bit up the road? for all the guys reading this, it's pronounced peh-eh peh-eh, so wipe that smirk off of your face. apparently the "boiling pots" are created by turbulent water from the old lava tubes. there is a path that goes down to the water, does make for some cool pictures. there was some local kid jumping some 10/15 feet off a ledge into the lower pool. i wouldn't venture to say it was safe, but it didn't look like he was going to kill himself. of course those are probably famous last words . . . read more

There was one review where the yelper said that this place is like an Irish Springs commercial -- I couldn't stop thinking that when I got there! So true! Sure, Pe'epe'e Falls isn't the biggest or most majestic looking waterfall, but I think most people would find it difficult to find something this beautiful either. It's a quick, lovely photo op for free! We came here right after Rainbow Falls (less than a 5 minute drive away), took our pics and were gone in ten minutes. From the parking lot, it's a short minute walk to the railed area. We saw a bunch of locals below us that were jumping into the pools below. That in itself was pretty cool to watch. read more

If you are in the area visiting Rainbow Falls, you might as well hop on over to Boiling Pots. It too, is located right up the hill from Hilo. To be honest, it seems that it's more impressive when it's raining. It's isn't really like it says though. No volcanic boiling water. It's just created by the water current swirling in depressions in the lava bed. So, without water flowing, there isn't too much to see outside of the waterfall. read more

It is worth a little look-see. The view is handicap accessible, which is kind of cool. I think the foliage is nicer than the water features here. And it sure is a nice place for a little picnic. read more

It's a very serene location with bathrooms and picnic tables. I thought I could incorporate some hiking into this area, but I didn't notice any hiking trails. It seemed more like a photo op spot. read more

If you want a nice little waterfall adventure this is the place! Fun to swim in the pools. It was a clear day when we went so the rocks were not sketchy. There's a little trail that takes you down the hill from the little lookout area... then it's every man for himself getting to the waterfall. You could tell that if it was raining you might be a little challenged getting down the hill and climbing on the rocks. Prepare to get dirt on you and wear good shoes. You might end up crossing some water between places but the rocks in the water are not sharp but kind of slick to walk on. Overall we had a good time! read more

Very pretty, also very quick to see. They say to go only after it rains a lot---wasn't anything wild when we went. Still, was beautiful, and a good excursion to tie together with rainbow falls. Great for all ages. Could do a picnic there as well, there are tables! read more

The pots weren't boiling at the time of my visit so I wasn't very impressed.

Sorry guys. My family was looking forward to come here on our trip and swim, but you can't. It's a pretty view, but the sign a say you can't jump and it's very hard to get to the actual water. I can see how people have gone swimming in it before, but right now it seems very closed off. I guess people could swim there, but my family isn't adventurous enough to inch our way down to the water. read more

Even worse then Rainbow Falls two minutes down the road. My husband and I have an app that said it's a "moderate" hike and thought it would be a nice trail to hike to a waterfall. It's about 100 feet of paved sidewalk and then an overlook to a disappointing waterfall in the distance. Definitely for tourists and not avid hikers. Not worth driving to. read more

You aren't suppose to hike down, but several people were. I think hiking down would be cool, just going to the lookout isn't very spectacular. It was starting to rain, so I checked it out real quick from the lookout. It's super close to Rainbow Falls, so definitely check it out if you are in the area. read more

what hilo lacks in beaches it more than makes up for in waterfalls. this is one of the coolest places i've ever been. just keep going upstream until you cant anymore. there is no obvious footpath to Pe'Pe falls, but there is no point of going here unless you make the trek up there. its like .25 miles and your in a irish spring commercial all of a sudden. bathrooms are at the top, parking is free. you are safer in the water than hiking up the right side. read more

One of my favorite spots on the big island. Multiple locations of various heights to jump into pools. It's difficult to reach the best spot upstream (we swam thru 3 pools to base of falls). As a result, it's not crowded with a bunch a tourists (like Akaka falls). They all take one look and leave. read more

The foliage near the observation deck hasn't been maintained so much of the interesting parts are blocked from view. If you're willing to hop the fence and climb down, I'm sure it's beautiful. Unfortunately it was drizzling and we didn't attempt it. read more

This rating is for people who want the quinessential experience of swimming under a Hawaiian waterfall. This waterfall is not as beautiful, large or as abundant as the other ones nearby like Rainbow and Akaka but its smaller size makes it swim-able (at times). I came here once in March after a rainy winter and I would definitely not have gone swimming (you can tell by how strongly Rainbow falls are flowing further down the road) but when I came back in early November and saw that Rainbow falls was completely dried up, we checked out this one and the water looked low/calm enough to swim from pot to pot. I would only recommend this when it hasn't rained in a long time and for those in fairly decent shape and swimming ability because after swiming from pot to pot and climbing over the rocks in between each pot, you are pretty tired for your final big swim stretch to/from the pool underneath the waterfall. Once you make it though, it is AMAZING! We swam up under the waterfall and climbed the rocks and just sat under the waterfall reflecting on how awesome that moment was and how beautiful the surroundings were :) When we went there were some other locals there doing the same thing, so that made us feel more secure, but I would definitely be cautious before embarking on this adventure yourself. I just wanted to share my experience to let others know that it is possible and safe if the timing is just right (aka the waterfall isn't flowing too heavily). read more