Beautiful easy walk up a staired train with railings to very the magical trees and another path to view the falls that's right off the parking lot. There's one picnic table amd public restrooms. Many tour busses. read more

This literally drive up and walk 20 feet waterfall is perfect for anyone, even if you have trouble getting around! If you need a little walk there are stairs to a different view above the falls. 10/10 waterfall! read more

Rainbow Falls - Upper level - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Hina of Hilo is best known as the mother of Hawaiian hero, Māui... her name Hina relates to a powerful female force, a goddess or queen. This is my story... A weekend on the Eastside of Hawai'i Island must include waterfalls! Because in our world it's okay to chase waterfalls! After coffee and a light breakfast, my bestie and I decided to first take the short drive from Hilo town to see our first, the picturesque, Rainbow Falls! The rain, sans the tourists lol, made it special! At Waiānuenue aka Rainbow Falls, the mighty Wailuku River crashes into a large fresh water pool below. Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue, it translates to "rainbow water", the falls flows over a natural lava cave, the mythological home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess. The Battle of Wailuku River was also fought on these grounds. Offerings can be found until this day. No entree fee, just bring Aloha! In the end, I've been here before, perhaps even during the Battle of Wailuku River, but I know I'll return again and again. Easy access from town and the lush greens (tho much is non-native) gives an instant calm to one's soul. As wet as Hilo was during a storm, in my eyes it made it that much more magical, especially with my waterfalls chaser bestie... Kyra K.! It's okay to dream! Rainbow Falls derives its name from the fact that, on sunny mornings, rainbows can be seen in the mist thrown up by the waterfall. Yet, even on this rainy visit we could still see a few... a forever moment in time. read more

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Another tourist spot to stop, park, and enjoy for about 5 minutes then say, I'm glad I came and saw. Driving around the island and through Hilo, this is one of those places that you checkmark off your list of things to see. It is beautiful and worth the little detour on your drive. read more

Rainbow Falls - Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Great pit stop straight out of the airport on our way around the island. Beautiful falls and majestic trees!

Beautiful falls and easy to view. There is a parking lot and a small building with public restrooms right next to the falls. At the time of my visit (9/16), the hiking trail to the falls was closed. Therefore, we took a few pictures and left. There is a ramp that is handicap friendly. Only a few stairs for those who choose to take them. On a physical scale of 1-5, i would rate this as a 1. The restroom was clean. I checked under the toilet seat for tropical bugs or spiders- none to be found. The sinks have soap. The small lot is located near a neighborhood and off of a small street. They were doing some road repairs so the traffic pattern was affected but not much of a deterrent. Overall I'd recommend a quick pit stop here to see the falls, take a pic and use the restroom if needed. read more

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Solid waterfall with a couple of viewing platforms. If you're lucky enough to get a spot in the main parking area then you can almost see the falls from your car. There's a lower viewing platform next to the parking lot and a higher one up a few dozen stairs above the parking area - the high one is not ADA accessible. Other parking options are available nearby and all of them seem to be free. You won't get close enough to the falls to feel the mist. There's a restroom by the main parking area. Be sure to visit the most amazing banyan tree just after the high viewing platform - see my photos and videos! read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Loved this waterfall and the location! The waterfall is so beautiful and at certain angles you can see an actual rainbow (hence the name). The tail is nice since you can drive right up to it without any hiking or physical activity. It is great if you have older people in your group or kids who can't do a mile+ hike which most nice waterfalls or scenic routes are located. There is a trail in that area but it was closed when I was visiting. There are also restrooms available. The waterfall can get a bit crowded at times but there's a lot of turnover where people come and take photos and leave after 10 minutes so if you wait around, there are a lot of photo opportunities. There are a bunch of different angles you can see the waterfall at. Highly recommended to come by and see if you're in the area! Might not be worth it to drive across the island just for the waterfall though. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

You need sunshine to see the rainbow. You don't need sunshine to see a beautiful waterfall in an amazing setting. Just a short drive from the center of Hilo Town. Drive up and it's just steps to the viewing area. Most exquisite waterfalls require an hour or more of hiking to see. Everyone can enjoy this waterfall. Rainbow Falls is a definite stop during your trip on the Big Island. read more

Rainbow Falls - Spectacular! - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Don't go chasing waterfalls... You can just drive to one while in Hilo. Sorry ha. Definitely 5 stars - You don't even have to hike to see this waterfall! (Although a short hike would be a fun thing to do, depending on how hot and humid it is) Drive right up and park your car in the designated parking lot (plenty of parking space). Walk right up (there are a few steps but also a ramp for wheelchairs or strollers). And boom, you are face to face with a beautiful waterfall. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Waianuenue aka Rainbow Falls is a waterfall you really don't have to chase. Drive up, walk a few steps and BAM! Waterfall, lava cave, lush vegetation, and of course, the mini rainbow (if it's sunny). Fun fact: the lava cave is home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess, the goddess of the moon, well... according to legends. And the falls drop into Wailuku river. Supposedly, there is another viewing area on the upper left side of the falls but it's closed due to visitors falling injuring themselves. But the main viewing area is accessible for all; young, old, wheelchair bound and strollers. The rainbow in the falls is created when sun's rays hits the mist/droplets from the waterfall that surround the falling water. The light reflects off the inside of the droplet, and when it exits, it creates a dispersion of light. So yeah, go when it's sunny or you'll see just falls. Best to go in the morning when the light is hitting the falls just right and when it's not crowded. You can spend a good 10-20 minutes here. There's benches to sit on to take in the views and a restroom nearby. You can't hike to, jump nor swim in the falls, it's mainly a pretty thing to look at. Walk up, Ooo and Ahh, bathroom, then leave. There's hibiscus flowers and monstera plants to admire all around. And off in the distance you can see an ancient banyan tree in the dense tropical forest. Definitely check out the falls if you're in Hilo! It's free and pleasing to the eye. read more

Rainbow Falls was our second stop after visiting the caves, and despite hearing mixed reviews, we're so glad we didn't skip it. Parking was fairly easy since the lot is small, but cars cycle through regularly. As three girls in dresses, this spot was perfect because we could just hop out of the car and be right at the falls. I would not call it a hike....more like a stroll. You can enjoy the view across the falls or head up to the top. The rain had left the water a bit murky, but it was still beautiful. Dont miss it! read more

Rainbow Falls - View from the vantage point across from the falls. Literally steps away from the parking lot. - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Small but beautiful waterfall very close to the city area of Hilo. Free parking and there is a small trail that goes into some trees, but there is not much to do at the park. There is an elevated viewing area but the view is blocked by trees so the view is actually better at ground level. Nice for a quick 10 minute stop and photo but not much else to do. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls are the waterfalls located in Hilo, Hawaii. The main falls are about 80 feet tall. There are a few smaller ones next to the main waterfall. These waterfalls are in the Hawai'i State Parks. There is no fee to see the falls. It's a super easy access, especially for the elderly. My elderly parents enjoyed the beautiful waterfalls without much effort to get to the waterfall outlook. At the time we visited, we could not see the rainbow. At the right lighting, Rainbow Falls will have its eponymous rainbow prism. Rainbow Falls on sunny mornings around 10 am, rainbows can be seen in the mist thrown up by the waterfall. At Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls, the Wailuku River rushes into a large water pool below. The whole water area is filled with lush, dense nonnative tropical rainforest and the turquoise-colored pool. It's also surrounded by many beautiful, colorful wild ginger plants and giant monstera. There are also many varieties of old trees, flowers, vegetables, and even wild animals. The falls are within the Wailuku River State Park. This is such a beautiful and magnificent destination in Hilo. Highly recommend for everyone! Lots of bugs and mosquitos so protect yourself! Sunblock and hat on super sunny days. read more

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Such a beautiful sight! The path to see the falls are easy to access- you can climb up to the top and also see some wonderful lush greenery. read more

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Wow a slice of Mother Nature. A short drive from downtown Hilo brings you to theses majestic waterfalls. Simply place rainbow waterfalls into Waze and away you go. Simple directions. Easy to find , plenty of free parking. Even a man selling fresh coconuts from his truck. The falls viewing area is clean and easy to access. All paved and flat. Rest room area are maintained and clean. read more

Rainbow Falls - Natural beauty - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Take a quick stop here for a beautiful view of Rainbow Falls! We came here early and were able to see a rainbow at the bottom of the waterfall! Parking is free and the view is better than Akaka Falls read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Visited the Rainbow Falls which is located right within Hilo with a nicely cared for park attached to it. As you get out of your car you immediately hear the falls. There is a large viewing platform providing a nice vantage point. The fall flows over a natural lava cave, the mythological home to Hina, ancient Hawaiian goddess. Rainbow Falls gets its name from the rainbow that can be seen in the mist at certain times when the sun shines through. The walls are surrounded by thick forest with blooming flowers. There is no fee to visit this State park. read more

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Easy to find waterfall location. This waterfall does not required much walking. The water is pretty. This place does get crowded when we went yesterday on Labor Day. The restrooms are located next to the parking lot and that is super convenience. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Beautiful spot to stroll the falls area is short 3 minute walk from the parking lot, but if you continue up the stairs you have paths that meander through the jungle and a top view of the falls. Free parking as of 2023 with a large restroom facility near he street. read more

Rainbow Falls - Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

If it has been raining hard the night before, you can treat yourself to one of Mother Nature in full glory. read more

Rainbow Falls - Limited parking stalls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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somewhere.....over the RAINBOW. Although Rainbow Falls is not as spectacular as its sister, Akaka Falls, I definitely think a visit is worth the time if visiting Hilo/Big Island. 1. Yes, there's parking. Though the lot is small, I think most won't linger too long. One would hopefully not wait too long for a space. I visited early on the morning of 1/14/22, and there was only one other car in the lot. 2. Yes, the viewpoint of the falls is unobstructed, and there are great photo ops. I found the area to be quite peaceful honestly. 3. Yes, parking and admission is free. Park your car in the lot and walk up and take your pics. BOTTOM LINE: A nice touristy spot/area to stop at if visiting the Big Island. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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The waterfall is great, but some of the angles to see it are off. Going up the stairs is probably not worth it. Parking lot can get crowded, especially when tours come through. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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We went to the Rainbow Falls after visiting the Akaka Falls. The Falls are only 30 minutes away from each other so it's worth stopping by. There are no trails at this fall but on the outskirts of the parking lot is an amazing, huge tree that looks ancient. There are also roosters randomly walking around, which was fun to see. Highly recommend taking the Pepe'ekeo Scenic Drive going between the Falls - it's a 4-mile drive through a very cool rainforest. read more

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"I would caption this with a waterfall pun but that's too mainstream." Came here two times and no luck to peek a rainbow through the falls. But that's totally fine coz even without the rainbow I still enjoy the view. So much beauty and my heart simply love it! This can be crowded but people easily come and go. Hiking trails around has a close sign and going up to the top view to witness a different angle of the waterfall is temporarily close. Viewing this falls from afar gives me a peace of mind while taking a lot of snaps to it. I would definitely come back here every time I pay a visit on Hilo. One of my favorite waterfall indeed! Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps! read more

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Rainbow Falls We didn't see the rainbow. Trails around it was closed. This was a fall that you can easily see as soon as you park the car. No hike required! It was like a drive by and see this waterfall! I assume the hike around this fall would have been beautiful! The 80-foot Rainbow Falls is renowned for the rainbow formed from its mist many mornings. Legends say that the cave beneath the waterfall was the home of Hina, mother of the demigod Maui. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/wailuku-river-state-park/ read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls is a good beginning start for introduction to the falls of The Big Island. Easy access with overlook. Parking lot and restroom access. read more

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Worth some time to visit if you're in Hilo We made it to the Rainbow Falls which was just a short 1.5-mile driving distance from Pe'epe'e Falls off Kaumana Drive. Both the Rainbow Falls and the Pe'epe'e Falls are located in the Wailuku River State Park in Hilo. To visit is free of charge! This is an easily accessible 80-foot waterfall named Waianuenue (or "rainbow water"). It got its name because around 10 in the mornings on a sunny day rainbows can be seen in the mist of the waterfall. Unfortunately, we did not know this until later and got there a little before 12 noon, we did not see any rainbows. View from a distance. The waterfall is pretty but just like the Pe'epe'e Falls you couldn't get close to it. This was just a quick stop, like 10 mins or so. My Mom was relieved that this was an easy walk to get to the overlook, LoL! no hiking involved to see the falls. Lots of parking and there are restrooms here. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Review #2288 read more

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Great hike and the price is right!! Was an easy drive and short distance for some great pictures. Would come again and again! Can't beat free either! read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Made a quick pit stop to check out this beauty! All you can really do is look at the waterfall the surrounding stairs are closed of permanently it seems. We were there for about 10 minutes and it was worth seeing. Parking can get pretty full but just as many are coming many are also leaving so just be patient. Enjoy! read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Wow, Rainbow Falls! What a wonderful waterfall situated right outside (2 miles) the town of Hilo, HI! For a quick little pitstop with access to such a photogenic waterfall, I'm happy to give it 5 stars. I found Rainbow Falls to be charming among a pleasant overlook setting. Rainbow Falls is one straight plunge of about 80 feet. There was no fee to visit and hang out here at your own accord. For me...stopping here first thing in the morning (when it wasn't crowded) was the perfect way to get my day started. I grabbed a quick breakfast nearby and then came here for time to admire the falls and soak up the fresh air on a cool, crisp morning in March. I had a moment to reflect about how cool it felt to be in Hawaii for the very first time, which had been a goal of mine for quite a while. The parking lot for the falls was spacious. I thought there were plenty of spots for exiting your car and then strolling over to the observation point. After seeing the falls from the overlook, I explored around to see if there was any sort of hiking path or trail where you could gain access down to the base of the falls. But...I never found any passageway. So ultimately, I believe just standing at the vista point is the best you can do. Also, what I really appreciated about this Rainbow Falls during my early morning visit was the sun was rising at my back which reflected well onto the falls. It was a lot easier to go with the sun than against it. And because of this, my pictures came out clear and concise. I'd definitely recommend stopping here in the morning. I would assume for mid - late afternoon time, you would have to battle the positioning of the sun in the sky plus along with there being a lot more people hanging out and possibly "photobombing" your special moments. And, from starting here at Rainbow Falls, I then conveniently drove 1.5 miles next to Pe'e Pe'e Falls to witness another scenic waterfall. Finally...from Pe'e Pe'e Falls I then drove 18 miles north to wondrous Akaka Falls, the main event of all the waterfalls situated in and around Hilo. Overall, this Rainbow Falls was such a terrific surprise and memorable waterfall for an area located just outside downtown Hilo. I had zero expectations for getting to view something so special, yet I felt pretty satisfied while leaving and returning to my car. This brief roadside stop is absolutely worth it and is an ideal way to begin your day exploring around The Big Island of Hawaii. read more

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This waterfall is right in the middle of town. It's right off a local road and isn't much at first site. Surprisingly, we missed the rain on our trip to Hilo so we didn't get to see any rainbows. The waterfall itself is a short walk up some stairs but has fantastic views! Definitely bring your cameras and smiles for some photos to share with friends/family. Unfortunately our visit was marred by some unfortunately disrespectful guests who brought their drone despite the obvious signs asking for no drones. This is why we can't have nice things people!!! Be respectful!! read more

Hubby, daughter and I came here to see this back when we went to Hilo on the big island. This waterfall was amazing and was close by our hotel. It was about a 5 minute drive. I could just stand there watching the waterfall for hours. Such a beautiful thing and the weather was sunny and warm. I am not sure of the history of the waterfall since I am not from the big island but definitely worth checking out if you're on the Hilo side. Plenty of parking spaces nearby. Just literally a walk up some stairs or a ramp for those that are handicapped and have a wheelchair. There were signs around saying no jumping into the waterfall. We saw a few people on the other side of the waterfall. I hope they were smart enough not to jump in the waterfall. I enjoyed my time here when we visited and this is one of the places to go if you visit Hilo on the big island. A must see. read more

Rainbow Falls - Pretty - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Parking is an issue. It is one way and while we followed the rules and went around, someone else stole a spot that opened up because they turned around in the parking lot and waited for a spot to open. The rainbow falls itself is beautiful, but be prepared to share the experience with lots of other people. It can take away from the serenity. I suggest taking a minute to enjoy the falls and help others take their group photos, get yours and then go explore the trees surrounding falls. We went on a rainy day and not many people ventured in there and we were able to have a family moment. read more

Beautiful and easily accessible! Mark these falls on your map when visiting National Volcano Park or Hilo. Parking and restrooms are available right off Rainbow Drive. Park and walk under 100 feet to see the 80 ft Rainbow waterfall. Walkways are paved well and guardrails line the trail. The walkway above the falls is currently closed off. Nonetheless you will have a great view of the falls. Go in the morning and you might see a rainbow! read more

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Although it feels weird rating a waterfall, nonetheless giving it a three star, it's only Scoring so low because it was just underwhelming. Located close to downtown Hilo, you park (free parking) and then literally walk up to the lookout point. There wasn't much sun the day we went so we didn't see any rainbows in the mist either. It's a beautiful site, but 5 minutes at this location and you're good. read more

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This is a pretty cool picture spot to check out. Parking can be a little tight here but if you're lucky should be able to find something. In and out in 5-10 minutes. read more

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Nice spot only minutes from the town of Hilo. There is a handicap ramp area if needed. There is also a nice path to climb the rock stairs up the hill. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls is really beautiful. Nice parking and an easy walk over to see the falls. This is a quick stop by, but not a place to stay long and I did not see any hikes around the falls. Now that I have been here, I probably would not come here again. read more

A beautiful falls. Wish there was some where guests were allowed to get into the water. Easy parking. Restroom facility on-site. read more

Rainbow Falls - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii