Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is a slender 80-foot waterfall tucked into a dense jungle alcove just off the Road to Hana on Maui's east coast, where the combination of tropical foliage, cascading water, and moss-covered rocks makes for a naturally framed shot. The falls drop into a shallow pool surrounded by bright green ferns and overhanging banana leaves, so you have plenty of foreground interest to work with. Position yourself slightly to the left of center at the base viewpoint to capture the full drop while including the lush vegetation on either side; a wide angle lens in the 16 to 24mm range works well here. Overcast days are ideal since the thick canopy can create harsh shadows in direct sun, and soft diffused light keeps the greens vivid and the water silky. The pullout on Hana Highway is easy to spot and the viewpoint is just a short walk from the road. (Hana, Maui, Hawaii, United States)
