A regular stop for tour buses, the lookout for this 'instant gratification' cascade is just steps from the parking lot. Depending on rainfall, the lovely 80ft waterfall can be a torrent or a trickle. Go in the morning and you'll see rainbows if sun and mist cooperate. To get here, drive up Waianuenue Ave, veer right when it splits into Kaumana Dr and follow the signage. (Waianuenue, 'rainbow seen in water,' is the Hawaiian name for these falls.)
©Michael Warwick/Shutterstock
Rainbow Falls
Hilo
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
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Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
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Nearby Hilo attractions
1. Lyman Museum & Mission House
1.22 MILES
Although small in scale, this museum is a good primer on Hawaii's natural and cultural history. Downstairs, geologic exhibits include fascinating examples…
1.26 MILES
How strong was Kamehameha the Great? According to legend, anyone with enough strength to budge the 3.5-ton Naha Store would also have the strength to…
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See the current swirling around a large rock in the upstream Wailuku River? Legend has it that the demigod Maui paddled his canoe with such speed across…
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Designed by architect Henry Whitfield, this stately building (1919) is typical of Hilo’s early 20th-century government buildings. The former courthouse…
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Centrally located, this mini park should be Hilo's 'town square,' but it is mostly green space bypassed by cars and pedestrians. It does come to life on…
6. East Hawai‘i Cultural Center/HMOCA
1.41 MILES
Curious about Hilo's art scene? Go to this downtown center, which displays well-curated works by both professionals and amateurs. Exhibits change monthly,…
7. Peʻepeʻe Falls & Boiling Pots
1.46 MILES
Two miles past Rainbow Falls is another drive-up lookout, Peʻepeʻe Falls & Boiling Pots. This unique series of falls cascading into swirling, bubbling…
8. Mokupapapa Discovery Center
1.53 MILES
Geared for kids, this center aims to educate the public about pristine Hawaiian ecosystems. Even adults might not know that the Hawaiian archipelago…