Makahiku Falls

Makahiku Falls is a striking 200-foot horsetail cascade that serves as the appetizer on the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park, giving hikers a dramatic preview of what awaits at Waimoku Falls farther up the valley. The water slides down a broad, dark lava cliff face in a silvery sheet, visible from a fenced overlook just half a mile from the trailhead. The falls plunge into the Ohe'o Gulch stream system below, and on clear days the Pacific Ocean is visible in the distance beyond the valley mouth.

The viewpoint is reached via an easy 1-mile round-trip walk from the Kipahulu Visitor Center, making Makahiku an accessible option for those who don't want to tackle the full 4-mile Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls. The trail follows a gentle uphill grade through guava trees and grasslands, with interpretive signs about Hawaiian cultural sites along the way. Most hikers continue past Makahiku to the bamboo forest and Waimoku Falls, but the Makahiku viewpoint alone is worth the stop.

The falls run year-round with consistent flow from the upper slopes of Haleakala. Morning typically offers the clearest views before afternoon clouds build over the crater rim. The Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park is located on Maui's remote southeastern coast and requires a long drive on the Hana Highway to reach. Park entrance fee ($30 per vehicle) applies.