The Wailuku River is a 28.0-mile-long (45.1 km) water course on the Island of Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiian Islands . It is the longest river in Hawai'i and the largest in the state by mean discharge. Its course lies mostly along the divide between the lava flows of Mauna Kea and those of Mauna Loa to the south. It arises at about the 10,800 feet (3,300 m) elevation along the eastern slope of Mauna Kea ( 19°48′26″N 155°25′13″W / 19.80722°N 155.42028°W / 19.80722; -155.42028 ( Wailuku River source ) ). It flows generally eastward, descending steeply from the mountain and entering the Pacific Ocean at Hilo .
6-488: Wailuku River State Park is located along the lower reach of the river. One section of the park includes Rainbow Falls ( 19°43′9″N 155°6′34″W / 19.71917°N 155.10944°W / 19.71917; -155.10944 ( Rainbow Falls ) ), and another section Peʻepeʻe falls and an area called the Boiling Pots (a series of small falls and pools). It is also one of the deadliest bodies of water in
12-678: 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
18-544: The park's viewing platform. Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue (literally "rainbow water"), the falls flows over a natural lava cave , the mythological home to Hina , an ancient Hawaiian goddess . Rainbow Falls derives its name from the fact that, on sunny mornings around 10 am, rainbows can be seen in the mist thrown up by the waterfall. [REDACTED] Media related to Rainbow Falls at Wikimedia Commons This Hawaiʻi state location article
24-661: The site of sewage leaks and is the subject of water quality research. Water advisories are posted online by the State of Hawaii. There is a plan for restoration of the Hilo Bay watershed that includes characterization of the Wailuku River. In the Hawaiian language , wai means fresh water and luku means destruction, so it means essentially River of Destruction. The river can rise into the trees and drop back down very fast. The high flood marks can be seen dated in concrete, on
30-598: The stairs going down to the river behind the Hilo Public Library. According to legend, the river was created in a battle between the god Maui and the lizard monster Kuna. The river is rated Class 5 white water and has been navigated by experts on kayak. Wailuku River State Park 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
36-583: The state, as the river is not guarded and can behave unpredictably. The lower reach of the river is used for the generation of hydroelectricity . The flow at Hilo averages 275 cubic feet per second (8 m³/s) with peak flows 40 times as great. Water flow is monitored by the USGS. The stream carries an average of 10 tons of suspended sediment into Hilo Bay each day, at 19°43′40″N 155°5′15″W / 19.72778°N 155.08750°W / 19.72778; -155.08750 . The river has been
#973026