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Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside
MM 22
Recommended
A small roadside state park a little past halfway to Hāna, featuring a couple modest waterfalls, picnic tables, and restrooms. It's an easy, free place to stretch your legs and cool off.
⏱ 15 – 35 min at stop
🚗 92 min from Pāʻia
✓ Free to access
At a glance
What to expect: Two small falls, short paths — A pair of low waterfalls feed pools just a short walk from the lot. The grounds are compact. It's a 2 minute walk from the parking to the main waterfall.
In the water: People do wade and swim — The pools are a popular spot to get your feet wet or take a dip, although the pools are technically off limits.
Access & parking: Free, limited spaces — There's a smalling parking area that fills up quickly on nice days. Restrooms and picnic tables are on site; there's no drinking water.
Best time: After a dry spell — The pools are clearest and most inviting when there hasn't been recent rain. The falls run year-round but can turn murky after a storm.
About Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside
Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside sits at about Mile 22, a little past the midpoint of the drive to Hāna. The park is small but a very popular stop as the pools offer an opportunity to swim, and some even jump from the falls.
From the parking area a short paved path leads to the first falls and its pool, with a second small cascade and pond off to the side. Nothing here is a long walk; part of the appeal is how accessible it all is after a stretch of road with few places to safely pull over.
People do swim and wade in the pools, and jumping from the ledge is a long-standing local pastime but neither is officially sanctioned, and the footing on wet rock is slick. The falls are fed by stream and rainfall, so the water quality varies depending on weather and rainfall.
Good to know
All freshwater in Hawaiʻi can carry leptospirosis, a bacterial infection. Skip swimming if you have any cuts or scrapes, and don't submerge your head. If you do jump from the ledge, make sure you have checked the underwater topography first.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside worth stopping at?
- Yes. It's a convenient free stop a little past halfway to Hāna, with two small waterfalls, picnic tables, and restrooms - one of the few places along this stretch with actual facilities. It's more of a rest break than a destination, but provides a swimming opportunity on nice days.
- Can you swim at Puaʻa Kaʻa Falls?
- People do wade and swim in the pools. Swimming isn't officially sanctioned, the rocks are slippery, and Hawaiʻi freshwater carries a leptospirosis risk, so judge conditions and avoid the water with open cuts.
- Does Puaʻa Kaʻa have restrooms?
- Yes. It's a state wayside with restrooms and picnic tables, which makes it a useful pit stop on a road with limited facilities. There's no drinking water, so carry your own.
- How long should you spend at Puaʻa Kaʻa?
- Most people spend fifteen to thirty-five minutes. It's a nice spot to take a break.