Rainbow Falls (Hawaii)

Rainbow Falls
(Waiānuenue Falls)
Location Hilo, Hawaiʻi, United States
Coordinates 19°43′9″N 155°6′34″W / 19.71917°N 155.10944°W / 19.71917; -155.10944Coordinates: 19°43′9″N 155°6′34″W / 19.71917°N 155.10944°W / 19.71917; -155.10944
Type Plunge
Number of drops 1
Longest drop 80 ft (24.38 m)
Watercourse Wailuku River

Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls is a waterfall located in Hilo, Hawaii. It is 80 ft (24 m) tall and almost 100 ft (30 m) in diameter. The falls are part of the Hawai'i State Parks. There is no fee to see the falls.

At Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls, the Wailuku River rushes into a large pool below. The gorge is blanketed by lush, dense nonnative tropical rainforest and the turquoise colored pool is bordered by beautiful, although nonnative, wild ginger. Monstera is also in abundance. The falls are accessible via Wailuku River State Park, Waiānuenue Avenue, coordinates 19°43′9″N 155°6′34″W / 19.71917°N 155.10944°W / 19.71917; -155.10944, and are best seen from the park's viewing platform.

Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue (literally "rainbow water"),[1] the falls flows over a natural lava cave, the mythological home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess.[2]

Rainbow Falls derives its name from the fact that, on sunny mornings around 10AM, rainbows can be seen in the mist thrown up by the waterfall.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel Hoyt Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of Waianuenue ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  2. ↑ Lloyd J. Soehren (2010). "lookup of Waianuenue ". in Hawaiian Place Names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved November 11, 2010.

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