Why These Hawaiian Pools Are Actually Quite Dangerous
By Kristin Conard
VACATIONS
Wailuku River State Park near Hilo has some beautiful natural features, but one can be deadly: The Boiling Pots, where the waters move like a heated cauldron.
The Boiling Pots near the Wailuku River are a series of large holes, about 50 feet around, that formed as the lava from the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea cooled.
When the river gets high due to heavy rain upstream, the water level rises so quickly that it gets stuck in the pools and starts to churn and swirl with wild eddies and currents.
If you are swimming in The Boiling Pots as the water hits high levels, you could get pulled beneath the surface and get stuck. Multiple people have drowned in the Wailuku River.
There are no lifeguards, and the waters can rise unexpectedly. However, it’s still beautiful to look at, and the nearby parking lot has water fountains, restrooms, and an overlook.