A Waterfalls + Circle Island Tour experience by Wasabi Tours. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: Swim under the 120 ft private Kulaniapia Falls, then hike to ʻAkaka and Rainbow Falls on a small-group loop of the island's east side.
ʻAkaka Falls drops 442 feet, reached by a short rainforest walk from the parking area. Image credit: Wasabi Tours 
An ocean lookout along the graded shoreline path at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, set above Onomea Bay. credit: Wasabi Tours A short stop at the Waipi'o Valle overlook before you head down into the valley. Image credit: Wasabi Tours he pool below the 120-foot Kulaniapia Falls, the private swim stop on this tour and Hawaiʻi's largest privately accessible waterfall. credit: Wasabi Tours People still live and farm on the Waipiʻo Valley floor, visible from the lookout as roads, houses, and taro patches. Image credit: Wasabi Tours
5 Tour Highlights:
- Kulaniapia Falls: a 120 ft private waterfall you can swim under, gated to the public and Hawaiʻi's largest privately accessible falls. Cold plunge, not a warm dip.
- ʻAkaka Falls: a 442 ft drop reached by a short loop walk on the Hāmākua Coast.
- Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden at Onomea Bay: a graded shoreline path through more than 2,000 plant species.
- Rainbow Falls in Hilo: an 80 ft cascade beside a large banyan tree.
- mall group capped at 13 guests, with park-ranger-trained guides on a counterclockwise loop that returns over Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Important: Bring yourself: swimsuit and towel for the Kulaniapia swim, plus closed-toe walking shoes with grip for uneven, slippery ground.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth |
|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $279 | $269 |
Tour Provider: Wasabi Tours
Activity: Waterfalls + Circle Island Tour
Tour start time: Between 7 am to 8:30 am depending on pickup location
Duration: 10 to 11 hours
Location: Waipiʻo Valley
Pick-up available? Yes! Pick up from all major resorts and hotels in Keauhou, Kona, Waikoloa, and Kohala Coast area between 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM
Included: Local-style picnic lunch (teriyaki chicken, fish, vegetables, steamed rice). Assorted juices, snacks, and bottled water. All admission and entry fees
Cancellations: Minimum 24 hours notice for groups of 1-5, 48 hours notice for groups of 6 or more, and 72 hour notice for private groups to receive a full refund.
Read more: about waterfalls in our Big Island waterfalls guide.
Read more about this tour
Kulaniapia Falls drops 120 feet into a pool this tour lets you swim in. It is Hawaiʻi’s largest privately accessible waterfall, gated off from the public, and you get the time and the permission to walk in and swim under it. Expect cold water. This is a plunge, not a warm dip.
The guides lead the long drive and the short hikes, and they know the Hawaiian history behind each stop and keep the ten-hour day on schedule. Wasabi’s guides are park-ranger trained. This is a full day: pickup runs in an early window between 7:00 and 8:30 am from Keauhou, Kona, Waikoloa, and the Kohala resorts, and you are out for 10 to 11 hours (10 to 11 hours).
What you actually stop for, in order
The route runs counterclockwise around the north and east of the island. You pass through Parker Ranch country and stop at the Waipiʻo Valley Lookout, the high overlook above the valley floor. From there it is down the Hāmākua Coast to ʻAkaka Falls, a 442 ft drop reached by a short loop walk. Next is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden at Onomea Bay, more than 2,000 plant species along a graded path to the shoreline. Then Kulaniapia for the swim, Rainbow Falls in Hilo for the 80 ft cascade and its banyan, and the return over Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
A short loop walk to the 442 ft ʻAkaka Falls through tropical forest. Image credit: Wasabi Tours
The tour is rated moderate. The hikes are short in distance but several sections run over uneven, sloped, and slippery ground, and a couple of pitches on the way back up are steep. Wear closed-toe shoes with grip. The garden path is graded. Watch your footing on the waterfall approaches.
Who should book this over a drive-yourself day
This is for people who want to swim a waterfall, not photograph one from a railing. You could string ʻAkaka, Rainbow Falls, and the botanical garden together on your own. You cannot get into Kulaniapia on your own. You ride the loop in a Mercedes Sprinter van, so nobody in your group has to drive after a 7 am pickup.
Lunch is a local-style picnic, teriyaki chicken, fish, vegetables, and steamed rice, eaten outdoors at a stop with a view. The guides often hand out malasadas during the day, an extra that is not on the itinerary. Watch the water on the drive too. At least one group has seen dolphins off the coast; sightings are not guaranteed.
Group size caps at 13. Adult fare is $279 and youth (12 and under) is $269, plus tax. Pack a swimsuit and towel for Kulaniapia, and wear shoes you do not mind getting wet.
[Video] Watch highlights from the Waterfalls Adventure
About Wasabi Tours
Wasabi Tours has run Big Island day trips since 2006 and is a member of the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaiʻi. Their guides are park-ranger trained and lead in English, Chinese, and Spanish, with a stated focus on environmental preservation. We list them because the reviews are consistent on the thing that is hardest to fake: guides who know the history, handle the land with care, and tend to deliver more than the booking promises.
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