Mount WaiʻaleʻaleAbout Mount Waiʻaleʻale
Mount Wai’ale’ale is a deeply eroded remnant of Kauai’s central shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, with a summit elevation of about 1,569 metres. It is widely known for exceptionally high rainfall and persistent cloud cover.
The mountain’s main attractions are its dramatic, rain-fed landscape and remote boggy plateau-hikers and naturalists visit the Alakai Swamp and nearby ridgelines for unique montane rainforest and native flora. The summit and surrounding areas offer limited vantage points and are often shrouded in clouds, producing waterfalls and steep-walled valleys.
Geologically, the peak is part of Kauai’s central volcanic massif and has been heavily eroded over millions of years, producing steep cliffs and deep valleys. The very high rainfall has shaped the island’s topography and maintained extensive wetland and rainforest habitats on the plateau.
Mount Wai’ale’ale sits near the center of Kauai island in the Hawaiian archipelago, on the island’s high central plateau and roughly 20 km west-northwest of the island’s main town of Lihue. The area is remote and largely within state-protected wildlands.
- Elevation: About 1,569 metres above sea level
- Rainfall: One of the wettest places on Earth, with average annual rainfall often cited around 450 inches (about 11,400 mm)
What to See#
- Alakai Swamp: An elevated bog and wetland system on the central plateau of Kauai that contributes to the mountain’s high rainfall and feeds rivers across the island.
- Summit and crater: The summit crater area and immediate ridgelines, often obscured by near-constant cloud and heavy rain and offering limited, often helicopter-dependent, access.
Nearby Attractions to Mount Waiʻaleʻale
Best Time to Visit Mount Waiʻaleʻale
Aim for the drier months (April-October) to avoid the island's intense wet season and the summit's frequent cloud and fog.
Weather & Climate near Mount Waiʻaleʻale
Mount Waiʻaleʻale's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 8°C to 19°C. Heavy rainfall (4146 mm/year), wettest in March.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 8° - 15° | 11° | 301 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 8° - 16° | 12° | 275 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 9° - 16° | 12° | 600 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 10° - 16° | 13° | 528 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 11° - 16° | 14° | 375 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 12° - 18° | 15° | 260 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 13° - 18° | 16° | 245 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 13° - 19° | 16° | 298 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 12° - 19° | 16° | 211 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 12° - 19° | 15° | 331 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 11° - 17° | 14° | 386 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 9° - 15° | 12° | 336 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Mount Waiʻaleʻale
Mount Waiʻaleʻale on Kauaʻi has no public paved road to the summit and is in a very wet, remote interior. Access is normally by helicopter tours from Lihue (the island’s main airport) for aerial views or by very strenuous, often muddy hikes through the Alakaʻi Swamp/ Kōkeʻe area from established trailheads; plan carefully and use guided operators for safe access.
Tips for Visiting Mount Waiʻaleʻale
- Go early in the morning on a dry day for the best chance of clear views - Mount Waiʻaleʻale is one of the wettest spots on Earth and cloud/fog often hides the summit later in the day.
- Rather than attempting the very wet, often impassable routes to the summit, visit Kōkeʻe State Park lookouts (for example the Puʻu o Kila viewpoint) and the Alakaʻi Swamp boardwalk for reliable vantage points and better-maintained trails.
- Check local signage and park conditions before setting out: many trails around the mountain are boggy or seasonally closed, and weather can cause rapid changes in accessibility.
- Consider a helicopter scenic flight if you want an unobstructed view of the summit and surrounding cliffs - aerial tours are the most dependable way to see Waiʻaleʻale in poor weather.