[2] It is the summit of the island's inactive central shield volcano, Mount Waialeale.

[4] A rain gauge placed on the nearby Waialeale lake records daily rainfall[5] and regularly lands Kauai's peaks on the National Climatic Data Center's list of places averaging the highest annual rainfall.

The Alakai Wilderness Preserve is located to the west and its miles of dense, swampy forest limit access to the summit.

To the north, east, and south, Kawaikini is protected by steep, wet cliffs.

[7] Ka wai kini literally translates to "the multitudinous water" in the Hawaiian language, referring to the island's high rainfall.