Boiling Pots and Pe'epe'e Falls, Hilo
Two miles above Rainbow Falls, the Wailuku River spills through a run of round lava pools that churn like a pot on the boil, with Pe'epe'e Falls dropping just upstream. You take it all in from a railed overlook, free and quick. This guide covers how to get there, why the water is off-limits, and how the stop fits a day of Hilo Hawaii waterfalls.
Quick answer
Boiling Pots is a chain of round lava pools on the Wailuku River in Hilo, where high water surges up between the basins and looks like it is boiling. Pe'epe'e Falls sits just upstream. You view both from a free railed overlook off Peʻepeʻe Falls Street, about two miles above Rainbow Falls. Swimming is illegal and has drowned people, so stay behind the fence. The pots put on their best show a day or two after heavy rain.
Key takeaways
- What it is: lava pools on the Wailuku River that churn when the river runs high
- Pe'epe'e Falls sits just upstream from the pots
- Free railed overlook, open daylight hours, no tickets
- About 2 miles above Rainbow Falls, off Peʻepeʻe Falls Street
- Swimming is illegal and deadly, view from behind the fence only
Visiting Boiling Pots and Pe'epe'e Falls
What to Expect at the Boiling Pots
You see the pots from a short paved path to a railed overlook, not from the water. On a calm day you look down on a chain of round green pools stepping down the gorge, quiet and almost still. After heavy rain the whole river turns loud and brown and the pots churn white, which is when the name earns itself.
Look upstream for Pe'epe'e Falls dropping in broad fingers toward the pots, give the stop about ten minutes, and keep well back from the edge on the wet rock.
Why the River Boils
The name fools people. Nothing is hot here. The Wailuku River carved a staircase of round pots, some fifty feet across, into columns of hexagonal basalt left by slow-cooling lava, the same six-sided rock you find at the Giant's Causeway.
The river also runs through lava tubes beneath the surface and breaks up between the pots, so when the flow runs high the water pushes up through the gaps and roils, and each pool looks like it is simmering. On a low, dry day the pots sit calm and green and the show fades. Come a day or two after heavy rain to see them churn, and look upstream for Pe'epe'e Falls, a broad fall that splits into fingers as it drops toward the pots.
The Legend of Maui and the Moʻo
Hawaiians tie these pots to the same story as Rainbow Falls downstream. When the giant lizard Moʻo Kuna threatened Hina in her cave below Rainbow Falls, her son Māui chased the creature upstream to the pools under this overlook. Māui called on the volcano goddess Pele for red-hot stones, threw them into the water until it boiled, and drove the moʻo out.
Older tellings name the pots for that boiling. It is a good tale to carry upstream from Rainbow Falls, since the two sites sit on the same river.
How to Get There and What It Costs
From downtown Hilo, follow Waiānuenue Avenue west past the Rainbow Falls turnoff, then turn right onto Peʻepeʻe Falls Street and follow it to the small lot at the overlook. The drive runs about ten minutes. The overlook is free and needs no ticket, and it keeps the same 7 am to 5:30 pm hours as the rest of Wailuku River State Park, which also holds Rainbow Falls, with the gate locking at 6 pm.
A short paved path leads from the lot to the railing, and both the pots and Pe'epe'e Falls show from there.
| Detail | Boiling Pots & Pe'epe'e |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free, no ticket |
| Hours | 7 am to 5:30 pm (gate locks 6 pm) |
| Drive from Hilo | About 10 minutes |
| From Rainbow Falls | About 2 miles upstream |
| Access | Paved path to a railed overlook |
| Swimming | Illegal and dangerous |
| Best time | A day or two after heavy rain |
Why You Cannot Swim Here
People have died in this stretch of the Wailuku River, and the state fences the overlook for that reason. The river accounts for about a quarter of all river drowning deaths in Hawaii. The pots hide undertows that pull swimmers down between the basins and into the lava tubes beneath, where rescue is near impossible, and the river can flash flood in minutes when rain falls on Mauna Kea upstream, long before a drop reaches you.
No legal trail leads down to the water. If you want to swim under a waterfall near Hilo, book the private Kulaniapia Falls, which opens a safe pool to day guests.
Can You Walk from Rainbow Falls to Boiling Pots?
Not along the river. The banks between the two sites are steep, private in places, and dangerous, so there is no safe riverside trail linking them. Drive between the two instead: they sit about two miles apart on the same road, and together they make a quick pair of stops, with Rainbow Falls first and the Boiling Pots overlook a few minutes further up.
Fitting It Into Your Day
The overlook takes ten minutes, so most people fold it into the Rainbow Falls stop rather than making a trip of it. From here you sit close to Liliʻuokalani Gardens on the bayfront and the shops of downtown Hilo, and the road on toward the volcano runs south from town. Our Rainbow Falls guide and Akaka Falls guide cover the two falls worth building a morning around.
Guided Waterfall Days from Hilo
The Boiling Pots overlook is a free roadside stop, so no tour sells it on its own. These full-day tours from Hilo string together the waterfalls, the volcano, and the coast, and many roll past the Wailuku River sites on the way. Each includes pickup and free cancellation.
from $199Our Pick — Best Overall Hilo, Hawaii: Volcano, Waterfalls & Beach Tour with Lunch
Our pick as the best overall Hilo waterfall tour: one day, one born-and-raised local guide, and the volcano, two waterfalls, a black sand beach, and lunch all handled for you.
- Kīlauea volcano — lava tubes, steam vents & crater rim views
- Rainbow Falls & Kawainui Falls scenic stops
- Hilo Farmer's Market — local fruits & crafts
- Richardson's black/green/white sand beach swim
from $175Best Value Volcano National Park & Rainbow Falls — Hilo Day Tour
The value pick — the lowest-priced full-day tour on this page, still covering Rainbow Falls, Volcanoes National Park, and the Big Island Candies stop.
- Rainbow Falls — 80-ft cascade over a legendary lava cave
- Kīlauea crater, steam vents & Thurston Lava Tube
- Chain of Craters Road — vast hardened lava fields
- Big Island Candies chocolate & macadamia nut stop
from $189Best if Short on Time Big Island Half-Day: Volcano, Lava Tube, Black Sand Beach & Waterfall
The pick if you're short on time — volcano, lava tube, black sand beach, and Rainbow Falls packed into an efficient half day with lunch included.
- Kīlauea crater & steam vents at Volcanoes National Park
- Walk through Nahuku (Thurston) Lava Tube
- Punaluʻu black sand beach — watch sea turtles
- Rainbow Falls on the Wailuku River
from $187.95Best for Cruise Days Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall & Gardens
Built around cruise schedules — pickup at the Hilo port and a 5.5-hour route timed to get you back to the ship with time to spare.
- Kīlauea crater, steam vents & Chain of Craters Road
- Thurston Lava Tube — 500-year-old underground river of lava
- Rainbow Falls — 80-ft cascade over a lava cave
- Big Island Candies chocolate & coffee tasting stop
The Boiling Pots on Video
Where Are the Boiling Pots?
Boiling Pots & Pe'epe'e Falls: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Boiling Pots in Hilo?
From downtown Hilo, take Waiānuenue Avenue west past the Rainbow Falls turnoff, then turn right onto Peʻepeʻe Falls Street to the overlook lot. The drive runs about ten minutes, and the overlook is free with a short paved path to the railing.
Can you swim at Boiling Pots in Hawaii?
No. Swimming is illegal and has drowned people. The pools hide undertows, and the Wailuku River can flash flood without warning. You view the pots from a fenced overlook, with no legal trail to the water. For a safe swim, drive to the private Kulaniapia Falls near Hilo.
Can you walk from Rainbow Falls to Boiling Pots?
Not safely. The riverbanks between them are steep, dangerous, and partly private, with no official trail. The two sites sit about two miles apart on the same road, so drive between them rather than trying to follow the river.
How do you get to Pe'epe'e Falls?
Pe'epe'e Falls shows from the same overlook as the Boiling Pots, off Peʻepeʻe Falls Street in Hilo. Look upstream from the railing and you see the broad fall dropping toward the pots. There is no separate trailhead or fee.
Why is it called Boiling Pots?
When the Wailuku River runs high, water surges up through channels between the round lava pools and churns the surface, so each pot looks like it is boiling. The water is not hot. On a dry day the pots sit calm, so visit after rain to catch the effect.