Sacred Falls

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Sacred Falls is one of Oahu's most stunning but off-limits waterfalls, located near Hau'ula on the windward coast. Known for its dramatic 80-foot cascade and steep surrounding cliffs, the trail was permanently closed following a tragic rockslide in 1999. Today, the only way to view the falls is via air tour, such as a helicopter ride. Despite its beauty, the area remains restricted for safety and preservation reasons.

Sacred Falls, Oahu

Sacred Falls, which is named after the 1,370-acre state park that it resides in, is a beautiful waterfall on Oahu that is surrounded by rocky cliffs and greenery. It drops 80 feet (24 m) down into a pool. This waterfall used to be one of the most popular ones on the island when it was still accessible via a hiking trail.

However, on Mother's Day of 1999, the trail was closed indefinitely after eight people were killed and 50 others were injured when boulders and rocks collapsed into the narrow Sacred Falls valley where the visitors were unable to escape from the falling debris.

Even before the incident, the area was known to be dangerous because the footing on the park's trail could become very slippery, and deaths had occurred on the waterfall trail when water from flash floods in the mountains swept hikers down the canyon.

The park still remains closed to the public, though there has been advocacy to reopen it with restrictions. For now, the only way you can see the falls is by air, such as while on an Oahu helicopter tour.

Key Features of Sacred Falls

• 80-foot waterfall: Sacred Falls plunges dramatically into a narrow canyon surrounded by towering cliffs and lush vegetation.
• Permanently closed trail: The hiking trail was closed in 1999 after a fatal rockslide that killed eight people and injured 50 others.
• Accessible only by air: The only legal way to see Sacred Falls today is by taking an Oahu helicopter tour.
• Located in a state park: Sacred Falls State Park remains off-limits to the public to ensure safety.