Day Visit to Kulaniapia Falls for Beautiful Waterfall Swimming and Peace

Many people immediately picture swimming in a perfect waterfall when they dream of visiting Hawaii, but it’s not as simple as just showing up in a mountain forest and jumping in. Kulaniapia Falls is one of the few waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii that you can actually swim in, and like most falls, it’s located on private property. That doesn’t mean it’s difficult to do, but it takes planning and you’ll want to make a day of it. Kulaniapia Falls is located in Hilo on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii and I must say, visiting and swimming in the waterfall is dreamy.

Have you been to Kulanipia Falls before? If you’ve seen it on a map, you might’ve thought that it’s a place you can hike to or something. You actually can access the falls through visiting the Inn at Kulaniapia and obtaining a day pass. We’ve got all the details to do this full waterfall swimming day, including our take on if the admission price (yes, there’s a cost) is worth it. If you have any questions about visiting Kulaniapia or other waterfalls on the Big Island, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!

Why Visit Kulaniapia Falls?

The highlight of spending the day at Kulaniapia Falls really is the amazing access to an incredible waterfalls and getting to simply enjoy the roaring, splashing falls as you swim, paddle or relax, but there is more to do when you visit than this. I really do love the experience of swimming to the pounding splash down area of the Kulaniapia Falls, and being as large of a waterfall as it is, it’s a unique waterfall swimming adventure.

On the Big Island of Hawaii there are a few places where you can enjoy waterfall swimming, and most of them are via tours as there are very few waterfalls on public land that are open to swimming. The Umauma Experience just north of Kulaniapia Falls has a wonderful zipline and waterfall swimming option, and then Hawaii Forest and Trail does the coolest guided hike from the Kona Coast side of the island to the Kohala waterfalls. Kulaniapia Falls is great for setting aside a whole day for just relaxing and forgetting about the world and you can enjoy it without other people (maybe a few others) as it’s very private.

Book a day-visit here!

Tips for a Great Waterfall Swimming Day

When you come to Kulaniapia Falls, you’re actually accessing the trail to the falls from the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls then doing a short hike through some beautiful gardens down to the waterfall. As you go there are Buddhist statues and meditation areas in the gardens before you make it to the splash pool. Take your time going down or if you want to take a break midway through your visit, walk back up through the beautifully landscaped space. For your time swimming at Kulaniapia Falls, you’ll see that there are standup paddleboards and kayaks available as well. You can enjoy a variety of activities on the water or hang out on the shore. It’s all up to you.

Note: there is NOT a lifeguard on duty and when you purchase your access passes for swimming at Kulaniapia Falls, you do acknowledge this and accept responsibility for your party for the day.

Because Kulaniapia Falls runs all the way down the hill into the ocean, be sure that if you’re wearing sunblock that it’s reef-safe sunscreen. Even being this far from the beach, regular sunscreen can have a negative impact on the corals and fish below.

Being Prepared for Kulaniapia Falls

Spending the day at Kulaniapia Falls can be an all day thing. While there is a dining option at the Inn above the falls, this is for guests and has limited service. Before you head up from Hilo, stop into Foodland or KTA to grab your snack supplies for the day, or get deli sandwiches or musubi to bring with you. And water! Tempting as it may be to drink from the beautiful Hawaiian waterfall you’re enjoying, it’s not recommended.

And now’s the time that I say my favorite thing: I recommend wearing Keen sandals or another type of hardy water-smart sandal for your short hike and waterfalls swimming. There are rocks in the splash pool at Kulaniapia Falls so to protect your toes you’ll want to wear something on your feet, and preferably close-toed.

Bring a towel with you, or a good blanket for laying out on the grass, and then of course your camera. Kulaniapia Falls is really beautiful, and when it comes to waterfalls you can swim in on the Big Island, it’s the largest one. I relate it more to Waimea Falls in the Waimea Valley on Oahu than to any other waterfalls on the Big Island. I like to have a waterproof phone case to get pics in the water too.

Where is Kulaniapia Falls?

Kulaniapia Falls in only about fifteen minutes from downtown Hilo, and it’s very near the Lavaloha Chocolate Farm. When you purchase your day passes online (link above and below) you’ll have communication with the property and they’ll provide you with access instructions, including a gate code to enter the property for the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls.

In your instructions, you’ll also get information for where to park for the day. As this is an active B&B property, there are designated areas for hotel guests and some places for day visitors. If you have any questions about your access or planning your visit to Kulaniapia Falls, you can call the property or talk to somebody when you arrive.