Akaka Falls State Park

This majestic 400+ foot waterfall is set in a lush rain forest. There’s a fairly easy hiking loop that will take less than 30 minutes, and also passes kahuna falls, which is about 100 feet high. There are lovely blossoms, massive stands of bamboo, and ancient looking trees. At times we felt like we were on Pandora from the movie Avatar! $ 5 to park in their lot, or $ 1 per person if you park on the road just outside the lot.

Akaka Falls gives you a taste of adventure without having to go through the logistics of planning. Drive up, pay $ 5 to park (or park right outside the gate for free), and spend a half hour feeling like you’re on a jungle excursion complete with a 400′+ waterfall.
This is definitely worth a stop on your tour of the Big Island, and it isn’t a big time commitment. Do the full loop.

It’s wasn’t so much of a hike. Yes, it was nice to be outside but it wasn’t something extravagant. The waterfalls were blocked off. The view was ok. Wish I could get closer to it.

If you are a resident of Hawaii, this attraction is free and so is the parking; just show your Hawaii I.D. and you’re in at no charge. I took a visitor from the mainland and it was only $ 1.00 for him to go.
First and foremost, the last time I went there, which was just a couple of days ago, it was the first time I actually walked the circle loop as it’s always raining over there but on this particular day it was ABSOLUTELY stunningly beautiful so I chose to do the circle loop and I am so glad I did. The flora and fauna along the way until you get to the falls are stunning. There are smaller waterfalls once you get past the main attraction that aren’t to be missed.
Take your time and enjoy the scenery. The walk is very easy with minimal inclines.

Absolutely beautiful! I agree with the other Unilocalers. Do the circle loop. Although Akaka Falls is the most beautiful site the loop is a really great 15 min experience. Paved path with railings. Some stairs but if you go the circle route is actually the easiest walk to see everything. Very lush and beautiful. So worth the stop!
Parking tip: Small parking lot but because it’s a quick visit spots open up quickly. $ 5 for parking. You can park on the street just outside I think for free or $ 1 per person to enter.
Bathrooms were good.

We really stopped here just for a lunch break. They have a couple of picnic tables, and it isn’t very crowded, but the view is nice. I did the very short hike around to two waterfalls, but the Akaka Falls is the special bit. The other one is ok, but I’ll admit the banyan tree you pass along the walk is fascinating.
Nice, clean, not that far to get to, and just a nice refreshing break.
Then again, if you can helicopter to the MULTIPLE falls just to the north, well, then — that’s a six star attraction.

What a beautiful park! Plus being a Hawaii resident all we had to do was show our id and we got to go in for free! Yay!
It’s not a difficult walk to the falls. It’s quite beautiful and most of the walk is in the shade which is fantastic! The wildlife (geckos, birds) and plants were so beautiful to look at as we walked around. It is a loop trail and took us about 22 minutes to complete it walking at a leisurely pace.
The glare from the sun was so bright it was hard to see the falls clearly, but we had a good time anyways.

As much times as I’ve come here, this water fall does not get tired to look at. I wish I could get closer to it. On this trip, we did see people swimming at the bottom. How did they get there?
It’s late September, it’s not crowded with a bunch of tourist making the short hike enjoyable looking at the different fauna and brilliant colors. With a good rain in the past days the fall looks wonderful. Got lucky in this dry heat spell.
The do charge $ 1 person unless you are local with an ID. My cousins who originally from here had California IDs. However, the guard let them through once he heard their mainland accent pidgen. They got lucky.
It’s very humid I ended up taking my shirt off hoping I don’t get bit too much by mosquitoes. Wish there was places where you could sit and picnic. The one bench they have there giving the best view just isn’t enough especially when there’s lots of people pushing around.
Well, if you are on the big island put this on your bucket list. You’ll be happy to kick it off once you complete it.

Beautiful! If you’re on the Big Island and near Hilo, definitely come check this out. The hike itself is just a half mile, but it’s on a cool path amidst the lush foliage of this side of the island. You’ll see two waterfalls, and they’re both beautiful! There’s even informational placards about fish that swim up the waterfall, WHAT.
Pro-​tip: park just outside the little yellow gate of the park and walk in. The cost of walking in is $ 1 per person but it’s $ 5 per car.

There are two waterfalls in this park and a 0.4 mile loop for the entire park. There’s Hakuna Falls and Akaka Falls (you can actually see the top of Akaka Falls when you first start the trail). Hakuna’s not very impressive as it’s really far away and somewhat covered by trees, but Akaka is quite pretty. The waterfall is twice as long as Niagara Falls! Wow. The waterfall is pretty thin, but I was able to see it from the top to the bottom. Definitely recommend it; if you park within the parking lot, it’s $ 5 per car, otherwise it’s $ 1 per person. Not bad I guess! The roundtrip loop is very green, is paved, has stairs, and handrails. Easy walk suitable for people of all ages.

I visited Akaka Falls this past weekend with my mom and it was beautiful! We came from Hawi, and it took a little over an hour and a half to get to.
Directions: if you type into google maps, Akaka Falls, it pulls up. But we took the 19 to the 220 and Akaka Falls is at the end of the 220.
You pass a couple of coconut stands on the way in and out, we stopped and got a fresh coconut and fresh pineapples on the way out!
Parking lot is pretty small, but cars are coming and going all the time, so if you wait a few minutes you will find a spot. You have to pay for parking, if you are a local you don’t. It’s a nature walk. It loops around, you see one small waterfall, and then Akaka Falls is over a 400 ft drop. It’s beautiful!
Distance of nature walk: maybe ½ a mile?

If you are on the Big Island you must make a visit to this waterfall! We stayed in Hilo and the drive to get here from Hilo is very pretty and an added bonus!
We went to 3 islands on our trip and this was by far our favorite waterfall of the many we saw! It is absolutely beautiful in person and not to be missed.
It is a fairly easy concrete trail and steps to get to the falls. It was about a 10 minute walk each way. Park your car right outside of the parking lot to save money on parking fees they charge which are dumb and easily avoidable. You will also pay an entrance fee. It was a few dollars per person to enter.
BEWARE– Mosquitos are everywhere and will attack you on the walk to get to the falls so do not make the same mistake as us and wear repellent!

If you are looking for a quick visit to c waterfalls, this is the place… We took the suggested full circle trail, but honestly, it wasn’t anything special… The main thing that’s worth it is the view of akaka falls. The whole trip together was about 15 minutes only
*note: this short trail does have some ascending and descending stairs, but it is a relatively short and easy (and paved) hike

A must stop for all tourists. Great waterfall, easy «hike» (more of a half mile round trip), and easy to find.
Waterfall was breath taking! So lush, green, and the smells! Pure heaven. Nature at it’s best.
Tips: $ 5 parking, and $ 1 per person to walk to the fall. Not unreasonable. Only weird thing is I heard an employee saying the machine only takes exact cash… don’t bring $ 20 if it’s only 1 or 2 of you. Do the math that sucks.
Another tip: walk to the right and work your way around to the waterfall!!! I hate that they even give you an option to go left to the waterfall straight off the bat. If your older or have trouble walking I get it. Easy access to the waterfall is great but then you become that dumbass who ends up walking against the flow of traffic all the way back around making people have to stop so you can get by seems dumb to me. Wouldn’t people rather end their walk with a waterfall?

I visited here a few months ago and am overdue in saying how glorious and spectacular a sight it was, as was the short hike to get to it.
The falls are a 442-​foot ribbon of water set amidst lush greenery. There are several good vantage points of the falls along the hike that tease you before you reach the closest viewpoint.
As a fish nerd, I have to also mention the helpful placard that described a small fish in the goby family that actually climbs up the rock behind the falls so that it can spawn in the stream above the falls… the fins on their bellies are modified into a suction cup that allows them to slowly climb up the wall, one tiny hop at a time, with water pounding them in the face the whole time. That is simply BAD ASS.
The hike is full of beautiful flowers and trees too. Just a fantastic little piece of heaven on earth.

Nice easy walk through paved walkway (0.4 mile loop footpath). Great for those not so outdoorsy. Enjoy the self-​guided walk through the lush tropical vegetation. You will not only seebthe free-​falling Akaka Falls but the cascading Kahuna Falls as well.
There is a fee of $ 1 per person or $ 5 per car.

Simply gorgeous! It’s a quick little hike that leads to not only views of the falls, but also just the scenery along the hiking route that is beautiful. The hike to the falls (I wouldn’t really even call it a hike) is a paved walkway, but there are stairs so if you have mobility issues you might have a more difficult time.
There is an entrance fee and don’t be that person that skips out on paying. It makes you look like a real jerk. When I was here there was no attendant to monitor payment, so it was all the honor system.
Make sure to bring your camera, because this state park is not to be missed!

«My friends, welcome to Jurassic Park.»
That’s pretty much how I felt as I walked through this short but worthwhile hike. There was such lush vegetation that if it weren’t for the stairs and concrete walkway you would forget you were in the middle of a jungle. There are numerous sweeping views of the gorge that seats Akaka Falls. The path allows for countless scenic shots. The falls are the stars of the show but not by much over the jungle itself in my opinion. It would have been really awesome to get to the waterfalls themselves instead of just viewing from a trail but it is the best way to preserve the beauty of the area.
Other tidbits:
Entry fee for the parking lot is $ 5 unless you are local resident. If you park outside of the lot it is $ 1. There is a badged attendant monitoring the entrance to the trail where you pay your fees into the machine (cash or card).
The suggested path is counterclockwise which worked for us as you get to see Akaka Falls last as your big reward rather than first. There are several streams that you cross over too so those are cool as well. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. It could help to bring a vegetation and bird species guide.
If you are coming from Kona side which is where we were, the trip is basically a day trip with all the stopping you will end up doing at beaches, scenic points, and the various towns. If you can maybe also book a place in nearby Hilo so you can spend the night instead of driving back to Kona.
A wonderful excursion!

This is really pretty, it’s a short walk through a paved path that circles around a wilderness of beautiful trees with other plants growing up on them. There is no path that goes directly to the falls you see it from a distance. This is a quick thing to see if you don’t have much time. If you go a couple of exists from the main road turning left as you leave you will end up at the state park with a small waterfall pouring into the ocean. The coconut guys at the stand near Akaka falls told us about it and said it’s the run off from Akaka Falls. You can go swimming in it with the kids– the water is calm and it gets more rough as you make your way closer to the opening of the ocean. I saw kids jumping off rocks into the water– looked like so much fun.