Papalaua Falls is a waterfall on the northern shore of the Hawaiian island of Molokai, in the Papalaua Valley. Fed by the Kawai Nui stream,[1] it flows for 501 m (1,644 ft) and carves out a very steep fissure. It has five drops, and the middle of the falls has a 340 m (1,120 ft) drop that can be seen from the sea, making it popular with aerial or boat tours of the island.[2][3] While it flows all year round, it is especially powerful during the rainy season, from November to March.[4][5][6] The waterfall is commonly misidentified as the nearby Kahiwa Falls.[4] The area surrounding the waterfall still contains remnants of the terraces Native Hawaiians and Chinese used to grow taro.[7] Its name comes from the word pāpala-ua, meaning "rain fog".
| Papalaua Falls | |
|---|---|
 An aerial view of the waterfall in 2012 | |
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| Location | Molokai, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 21°09′51″N 156°48′26″W / 21.1643°N 156.8073°W |
| Total height | 1,250 ft (380 m) |
| Number of drops | 5 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Morgan, Lee. "Famous Waterfalls in Hawaii". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Shute, Megan (June 29, 2019). "The Secret Waterfall In Hawaii That Most People Don't Know About". OnlyInYourState. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Papalaua Falls - Best Waterfalls in Hawaii". Charismatic Planet. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Papalaua Falls - Top Waterfalls in the World". World Top Top. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Papalaua Falls". Wondermondo. June 14, 2010. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Chatsuthiphan, David. "Molokai by Air". Unreal Hawaii. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Miloseski, Metodija (June 19, 2013). "Hawaii`s Most Gorgeous Waterfalls". The Beauty of Travel. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.