Waimea Canyon State Park

Hawaii · canyons · geology · nature

Carved by a river. The Waimea River cut deep into the landscape over millions of years, creating a canyon about 10 miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep. It's so impressive that people call it the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Born from rain. Mount Waialeale, the mountain at the top of the canyon, is one of the wettest places on Earth. All that rain feeds the Waimea River, which keeps carving the canyon deeper and deeper.

Red rock beauty. The canyon's soil is a striking red color from iron in the rocks. In fact, Waimea means reddish water in Hawaiian, named for how the soil colors the river flowing through it.

On Kauai island. Waimea Canyon sits on the western side of Kauai, one of Hawaii's main islands. The island's volcanic past created the geology that makes this canyon so special.