Things to do nearManawaiopuna Falls
Manawaiopuna Falls is a remote waterfall on Kauai, Hawaii, celebrated for its dramatic cliffs, lush valley setting, and its famous role as a filming location.
Manawaiopuna Falls earned widespread recognition when it appeared as the helicopter arrival scene in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, introducing the cascade to audiences worldwide. The falls are located on Niihau Helicopter's private ranch land in the Hanapepe Valley, preserving the site in a largely untouched state.
The waterfall itself plunges around 400 feet down a sheer basalt face, fed by the rain-heavy interior mountains that make Kauai one of the wettest places on Earth. The valley walls rise steeply on all sides, draped in native ferns and tropical vegetation that thrive in the constant moisture.
Visitors arrive exclusively by helicopter, landing on a small pad near the base. Time on the ground allows you to stand close to the falls, feel the cool spray, and absorb the scale of the surrounding cliffs in a way no photograph fully captures.
Manawaiopuna Falls offers a rare combination of cinematic history, raw natural beauty, and genuine seclusion that makes it one of the most memorable stops on any visit to Kauai.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Manawaiopuna Falls
Book your helicopter tour well in advance, as tours to Manawaiopuna Falls fill up quickly, especially during summer and holiday periods.
Visit on a morning flight when cloud cover tends to be lighter and the light catches the falls at its most vivid.
Bring a light rain jacket since the valley floor near Manawaiopuna Falls stays cool and misty even on clear days.
Look for the narrow ledge pools at the base of the falls where water fans out across mossy rock before collecting below.
Pair your visit with a Kauai Na Pali Coast flight path on the return leg for a broader view of the island's coastline.
Top tours & experiences near Manawaiopuna Falls
Fly Doors-Off on a 50-55 Minute Kauai Helicopter Tour
Go doors-off over Kauai on a Hughes 500 helicopter flight
Fly a Doors-Off Helicopter Tour Over Kauai
Fly doors-off over Kauai’s waterfalls, canyons, and sea cliffs in a Hughes MD500
Fly a Doors-Off Kauai Helicopter Tour
Take a doors-off helicopter flight over Kauai’s canyons, cliffs, and waterfalls
Kauai Doors-On AStar Helicopter Tour, 60-65 Minutes
Soar over Kauai in a smooth, air-conditioned AStar with floor-to-ceiling views on a 60-65 minute flight
Fly a Private Kauai Helicopter Tour Over Waimea Canyon
Private Kauai helicopter flight for 2–3 passengers
Doors-Off Private Kauai Helicopter Tour
See Kauai’s hard-to-reach sights on a private 1-hour helicopter flight
65-Minute Kauai Air Tour Over Waimea Canyon
Fly Kauai in a G8 AirVan with window seats for every passenger
65-Minute Kauai Cessna Air Tour From Lihue
Fly a 65-minute Cessna tour over Kauai with window seats and a two-passenger cabin