About Kalihiwai Falls
Kalihiwai Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall on a tributary that feeds the Kalihiwai River.
Since the best view of the falls sits on private land and I wasn’t able to book the private excursion to get closer to this falls, I had to settle for the rather subpar view you see at the top of this page. A telephoto lens (which I didn’t have at the time) would’ve helped with the photography immensely. Yet I’m pretty sure it would’ve been unsatisfying nonetheless.
So in order to get that view at the top of this page, I had to park the car in a suitable spot (see directions below), and then walk down the busy Hwy 56 towards the Kalihiwai River Bridge. During this walk, I had to breathe in exhaust fumes from passing motorists while also staying as far as I could from the road (harder to do when on the bridge itself) so I wouldn’t become roadkill. Needless to say the 50mph speed limit was clearly not adhered to, and I even caught strange looks from passing motorists. If I feel up for it, next time I’ll try to book the private excursion…
I understand that this used to be a waterfall that people got to visit without paying anything (like at Kipu Falls). However in matters such as this where it’s really up to the landowners what they want to do (e.g. choose to make at least some money off the attraction or close it off altogether), I guess it was only a matter of time before this one became restricted.
Kalihiwai Falls is visible from the bridge over the Kalihiwai River on Hwy 56 near the 25-mile post (between the Princeville Airport/Heliport and the turnoff for the Kilauea Lighthouse), about 10 minutes east of Princeville. Princeville was about 30 miles (an hour drive) north of Lihu’e.
At one time it looked like it was possible to park along the Hwy 56 shoulder east of the Kalihiwai River Bridge (there was no opportunity to stop on the bridge). However, due to liability concerns, the state prohibited parking on the shoulders of Hwy 56 so to get outside the no parking signs, we essentially parked about a quarter-mile east of the Kalihiwai River Bridge. At that point, the no parking signs disappear and there is a wide shoulder near the turnoff for Kahiliholo Road. It appeared there were other parking possibilities further east along Highway 56 or on Kahiliholo Road if the wide shoulder might be full.
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