Wailuku River State Park (Rainbow Falls)

Rainbow Falls Photo #1 of 3 Viewpoints of geologic and scenic interest along Wailuku River. Boiling Pots is a succession of big pools connected by underground flow or cascades and whose waters roll and bubble as if boiling. The exposed hexagonal columns that line the pools were formed by the slow cooling of basalt lava. The 80-foot Rainbow Falls is renowned for the rainbow formed from its mist many mornings. Legends say that the cave beneath the waterfall was the home of Hina, mother of the demigod Maui. Photo copyright Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Kirk Lee Aeder.

Overview

"If you're looking for a waterfall near Downtown Hilo, take a short drive west on Waianuene Avenue to Wailuku River State Park. Here you'll discover the easily accessible Rainbow Falls, which has an 80-foot drop and is known for the rainbows that are formed in the surrounding mist.

Travel further upland along the Wailuku River and you'll find Peepee Falls (pronounced Peh-EH Peh-EH), which feeds the famous pools known as Boiling Pots. These terraced pools bubble as if they were boiling, connected by a series of cascading water flows alongside hexagonal columns formed by the slow cooling of basalt lava. As beautiful as Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots are, note that there are no lifeguards here and these areas are not safe for swimming. Instead, take a moment and simply enjoy the natural beauty found in Wailuku River State Park."

-Information gathered from www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/hilo/wailuku-state-park