Makapipi Falls sits beneath a bridge on the Hana Highway near mile marker 25, where you can look down at the water spilling over a lava ledge into a pool framed by greenery. This is a quick Road to Hana stop with a different angle from most Maui waterfalls, and no long hike is needed to see it from above. The flow depends on rainfall, so the falls may be more striking after wet weather or barely flowing in a dry spell. Pull over only where it is safe, as the road is narrow and there is no designated parking lot.
A waterfall beneath the highway
Makapipi Falls is near mile marker 25 on the Hana Highway, where the road crosses Makapipi Stream. The water passes beneath the bridge and drops over a lava rock ledge into a pool below.
The elevated view sets this stop apart from waterfalls you see from the base. From the bridge, you can look down toward the pool and the surrounding greenery. The falls are described as roughly 30 to 40 feet high, though the amount of water changes with rainfall.
Finding a safe viewpoint
The bridge is the main viewing point. Some accounts place a small pull-out just beyond it, but parking is limited and there is no designated lot. The Hana Highway is narrow and winding, so use care when pulling over and when walking near the road.
The falls are visible from above without an extended hike. Accounts of access to the water below differ, and a short route down is described as steep, so do not assume the pool is an easy or safe place to reach.
When the falls are flowing
Rainfall affects how much water runs over the ledge. A visit during or after wet weather may bring a stronger cascade; in a dry spell, the falls can be very slight or absent. The pool and lava bed still give the bridge viewpoint its distinctive overhead angle, but the waterfall’s appearance can change considerably.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where are Makapipi Falls?
The falls are beneath a bridge on the Hana Highway near mile marker 25, close to Haiku on Maui.
Can you see Makapipi Falls without hiking?
Yes. You can look down at the falls from the bridge above them, without a long hike.
Is there parking at Makapipi Falls?
There is no designated parking lot, and roadside space is limited. Pull over only where it is safe.
When is Makapipi Falls flowing strongest?
The flow depends on rainfall. It is stronger during or after wet weather and can be very low or absent in dry conditions.
