This Sacred Hawaiian Mountain Weeps Endless “Tears” from the Wettest Spot on Earth

Mount Waialeale, Hawaii

Deep in Kauai’s interior, Mount Waialeale’s crater catches so much rain it created its own ecosystem. The Weeping Wall stretches nearly a mile wide, with thousands of waterfalls streaming down its green face. Here’s why it’s one of the most stunning places in the US.

Kauai’s Second Highest Peak Has a Fitting Name

Mount Waialeale stands as Kauai’s second-highest peak at 5,148 feet. Its Hawaiian name means “rippling water” or “overflowing water,” which perfectly fits its soggy nature. This old shield volcano formed millions of years ago through countless lava flows and now serves as one of Earth’s most remarkable water features.

The mountain’s cone shape plays a key role in its current weather patterns. Located in Kauai’s center, Waialeale works as the island’s main watershed, feeding streams and rivers that bring life to the surrounding area.

Rain Falls Here More Than Almost Anywhere on Earth

Mount Waialeale gets an average of 450 inches of rain yearly – that’s over 37 feet of water. The mountain set its all-time record in 1982 with 683 inches. For comparison, Seattle only gets around 39.3 inches per year.

Waialeale sees rain on about 335 to 360 days annually, so catching a fully dry day is rare. This constant downpour has earned it recognition as one of the wettest spots on Earth, though it sometimes competes with India’s Cherrapunji for the top spot.

Why This Mountain Gets So Much Rain

What makes Waialeale so incredibly wet comes down to a perfect mix of geography and weather. The mountain sits right in the path of rainfall-laden trade winds blowing across the Pacific. These winds hit Waialeale’s round summit and steep cliffs, forcing the humid air upward.

As this air rises, it cools quickly and drops its moisture as rain. Unlike taller mountains that poke through the trade wind inversion layer, Waialeale stays just below this boundary. This position, plus Kauai being the northernmost major Hawaiian island and the mountain’s circular shape, creates ideal conditions for non-stop rainfall.

Hundreds of Waterfalls Form the Weeping Wall

You might never see anything quite like the “Weeping Wall” anywhere else. This stunning feature consists of a number of waterfalls flowing down the steep inner walls of Waialeale’s crater. The constant rain at the summit feeds these falls, creating what looks like endless tears on the mountain’s face.

During heavy downpours, many individual falls merge into one continuous water curtain. Some falls are delicate ribbons just a few feet tall while others drop hundreds of feet. The constant mist from these falls adds to the magical feel of the crater, often creating rainbows when sunlight breaks through the clouds.

The Blue Hole Collects Water from All the Falls

At the bottom of the Weeping Wall sits a place of otherworldly beauty called the Blue Hole. This basin, also known as the Wailua Headwaters, collects all those waterfalls flowing down from above. The Blue Hole got its name from the bright blue color that appears when sunlight hits the water on rare clear days.

Ancient Hawaiians Made Pilgrimages to the Summit

Before tourism existed, Mount Waialeale held deep spiritual meaning for native Hawaiians. The summit features a heiau (temple) where priests performed important religious ceremonies such as the Kaʻawako.

Historians think that ancient Hawaiians undertook a difficult, water-drenched ascent to the summit to present offerings to Kane, the highest of Hawaii’s four principal gods, who is honored as the creator of life. Many Hawaiian legends describe Waialeale as a meeting place for gods.

The Summit Has Minimal Plant Life Despite the Rain

Strangely, despite all that rain, Waialeale’s summit has very little plant life. Instead of lush jungle, you’ll find mostly moss-covered rock.

The plants keep drowning in all that water, making it hard for roots to take hold. Frequent cloud cover also blocks sunlight needed for growth. The thin soil, constantly washed away by rain, provides little support or nutrients for larger plants to establish themselves

Only specialized mosses, small ferns, and tough native plants can survive these harsh conditions, such as the Astelia Waialeale, Melicope waialealae, and the endemic Dubautia.

It Created the Alakai Wilderness Preserve

The Alakai Wilderness Preserve, fed by Waialeale’s massive rainfall, is the world’s highest swamp and one of the most unique places on Earth. This high-altitude wetland covers about 9,000 acres. Here you’ll find dozens of plant and animal species that exist nowhere else.

Rare native birds like the ‘akeke’e and ‘akikiki live alongside unique plants such as the critically endangered Kauai geranium (nohoanu, Geranium kauaiense), with an estimated population of only 140 plants in 2010, and the Astelia waialealae (painiu), a herbaceous species in the Asteliaceae family, which is now down to just around 26 remaining plants.

The Trail to the Blue Hole Is Extremely Dangerous

If you try the trail to the Blue Hole and Weeping Wall, you’re in for one of Hawaii’s toughest hikes. This unmarked route follows the Wailua River upstream through thick jungle, with dozens of river crossings and scrambling through dense vegetation. Flash floods are a serious danger, as water can rise suddenly without warning.

The remote location makes rescues very difficult and the time to hike this trail would vary with some being able to complete it in 1.5 hours each way and with others taking about 3 hours each way. T

hose who make it are rewarded with views few humans ever see – standing at the base of the Weeping Wall with 3,000-foot cliffs and hundreds of waterfalls all around.

Waialeale and the Hawaiian God Kane

Hawaiian mythology tells many stories about Mount Waialeale and Kane, one of the four major Hawaiian gods. According to legend, Kane stuck his spear into Waialeale’s summit, creating a never-ending source of fresh water to nourish the island forever.

Another tale describes how Kane and his brother Kanaloa competed to bring water to people, with Kane striking Waialeale to create its streams and waterfalls. Some stories say the mountain was Kane’s home, where he sent rain clouds across the islands.

Old chants tell how priests collected the mountain’s “tears” (rain) in sacred rituals, believing the water had healing powers and could help crops grow.

The Ka’awako Heiau

The Ka’awako heiau near Waialeale’s summit remains one of Hawaii’s most remote ancient temples. This stone platform dedicated to Kane was built using rocks carried up the mountain by hand, an amazing feat given the rough terrain.

The temple was mainly used for water and farming rituals, with offerings made to ensure continued rainfall for crops. You can still see the remains today, though getting there is extremely difficult.

The Best Ways to See Mount Waialeale Today

Helicopter tours offer the easiest way to view the crater and Weeping Wall up close. These tours leave from Lihue Airport and last about 50-80 minutes depending on the package you choose.

If you prefer hiking, try the Alakai Swamp Trail instead of the dangerous Blue Hole trek. This established path has boardwalks leading to Kilohana Lookout, which offers distant views of Waialeale when skies are clear.

You can also check out the Puu O Kila lookout across the Alakai Swamp which has directional sign pointing towards Wai’aleale. Summer (May-September) brings slightly less rain, making it the better viewing season.