The Hawaiian islands offer some of the best cliff jumping in the world.
PLEASE NOTE – CLIFF DIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS, SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
Here is a run down for the five best places for cliff diving in Hawaii.
Laie Point
This 30 ft nerve shredding jump, located on the north coast of the island of Oahu, will leave you wanting more. A famous spot due to the fact that it was a scene in the move ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, it is certainly a well-known spot on the island.
Just make sure if you take the plunge, do it during the summer as during the winter months the waves get seriously large. Getting stuck under these cliffs with big waves pounding is a place you certainly don’t want to be.
It’s pretty accessible with a ready made creak which makes makes it easy to ascend back up to the top for more action. It’s a popular spot, so don’t expect to be the only ones there. Once at the bottom there’s a few rocks for you to chill on (especially for those summer months when the waves aren’t too crazy)
There’s a spot along Laie Point without any shrubbery where you can jump freely
Climbing up the cliff at Laie Point
Lulumahu Water Tank Cliff Jump (Illegal)
PLEASE NOTE YOU’LL BE TRESPASSING IF YOU COME TO THIS SPOT.
This isn’t really a cliff jump but more of a Tank jump!
The jump is on the way to the Lulumaha Falls, situated about half way along the route from Pali Hwy, you’ll get to a reservoir. Once you arrive there, you’ll need to traverse a fence and you’ll enter an ILLEGAL AREA. The second fence you need to get over, you have to be ultra careful as one slip and you’ll end up falling in uncontrolled and possibly hit the water jump.
Getting back up is simple, as there is a grassy verge that runs along the shoreline.
This one isn’t for the fainthearted, and certainly shouldn’t be tried by beginners. Experts make their to the water tank near the middle of the reservoir and proceed to throw themselves of the 35 ft platform.
Mauna Wili Falls
If you live in downtown Honolulu, then this one is for you. The best thing about Oahu is you can easily find jungle wilderness right on your doorstep. Mauna Wili Falls is no exception. Following a 2 mile treacherous trail of slippery rocks and protruding tree roots, you’ll reach a really special place. The waterfall gently flows down the rocks from 20 feet into an ominous murky basin. The jump itself is 30 feet high into the dark water. As you can imagine with it being difficult to see, it’s important to check for any hazards, like rocks hidden just below the surface.
The foliage is really think around the top
It’s a popular spot being so close to Honolulu, so expect some company. Other cool stuff is that there is a rope swing to play around with!
Waimea Bay Rock Jump
This one is recommended for all you beginners out there. A huge rock that juts out into the ocean offers loads of possibilities for launching yourself from. Standing from the top, looking down into the murky water, you maybe forgiven for thinking that its dangerous. However there aren’t many rocks underneath the surface so this with the easily accessible climbing (stairs) up the rocks makes it for a pretty safe day out. The max height you can do on this location is about 5 meters, which is more than enough for me!
The rock at Waimea Bay sets on white sand
It gets crowded on top as people catapult
Other cool stuff to check out is that sometimes you can see turtles cruising past just underneath the surface, or maybe you can join them as they head down the underwater tunnel which runs directly through the rock.
It’s best to do this during the summer months as there are some monsters waves that crash this coastline during the winter months.
Spitting Cave
This one is the most dangerous for cliff diving in Hawaii on our list so please guys be extra careful here and make sure to ask locals for some insider knowledge on the perfect spot to dive in.
The cliff jump at Spitting Cave. Once at the bottom the currents are pretty strong. This jump is 40 feet.
At the highest point you can jump is at 70 feet, whilst there are lower platforms, they are all of a considerable height. Looking out over the cave, you’ll be taken back by the ferocity of the waves. Huge surges of water blast out from the cave system as pressure builds with each ebb and flow of the water.
You should be able to get some really nice footage from this location, but you need to be confident when taking on this beast.
For other cliff diving articles on this site, check out our review of the best cliff diving places in Vancouver.
Want To Go?
There are so many spots for cliff diving in Hawaii, the best thing to do is to ask locals for any hidden spots and just make sure to be safe. Taking precautions like cliff diving into the ocean only during the summer months, will avoid these sticky situations, especially if you are a weak swimmer.
All five of these spots are awesome just for hanging out for the day even without the cliff diving. The jumping is just the added bonus!
