ʻAkaka Falls State Park

ʻAkaka Falls State Park on Hawaiʻi Island preserves a steep, lush gorge centered on ʻAkaka Falls, where Kolekole Stream plunges 442 feet, with trails also offering views of Kahūnā Falls and smaller cascades. The area carries cultural meaning through the name of Chief ʻAkaka-o-ka-nīʻau-oiʻo-i-ka-wao and local traditions linked to stones in and near the stream, including Pōhaku a Pele and Pōhaku o Kāloa. It is also ecologically significant for native stream life, including the endemic ʻoʻopu ʻalamoʻo and the ʻōpaekalaʻole, both adapted to move between the sea and the rugged waters above the falls.

Pepeekeo, Hawaii · United States