Waimea Falls — Attraction in Oʻahu

Waimea Falls is an absolute gem and a must-visit destination on Oahu! Nestled within the lush Waimea Valley, the hike to the falls is an incredibly scenic and enjoyable experience. The well-maintained trail winds through beautiful botanical gardens, showcasing a stunning array of tropical plants and flowers. The walk is leisurely and suitable for all ages, making it perfect for families and nature lovers alike.

The highlight, of course, is the breathtaking Waimea Falls. The sight of the cascading waterfall surrounded by the verdant jungle is simply magical. The pool at the base of the falls is inviting and offers a refreshing swim – a perfect way to cool off after the walk. Life jackets are provided, ensuring a safe and fun experience for everyone.

The staff and guides at Waimea Valley are friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the overall positive experience. They provide fascinating insights into the history and culture of the area, enriching the visit with interesting facts and stories.

The facilities, including restrooms and picnic areas, are clean and well-maintained, making it easy to spend a whole day enjoying the natural beauty and tranquility of the valley. There are also cultural demonstrations and events that provide a deeper understanding of Hawaiian traditions and heritage.

In summary, Waimea Falls offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and outdoor adventure. It's a serene and stunning spot that captures the essence of Hawaii's lush landscapes. Highly recommend for anyone looking to experience the island's natural wonders and enjoy a day...

We took a few hours to see Waimea Valley Falls. Entrance fee was reasonable, less than $10 pp. (military discount) there was also student price and child price $6-$8 This gives you access to the pretty level and completely paved even walking paths. There are many trails that lead off the main that are not paved but fairly easy. Some stairs, some ramps, some slight elevation when visiting some areas in the park. The walk to the falls take about an hour but we stopped and read all the signage and looked at all the beautiful flowers, trees and shrubbery. They offer a shuttle to drive you to the falls. One way pp is $10. There is a vending machine closer to the falls $3.75 for a soda. When you get within a minute of the falls there are bathrooms, picnic tables, the shuttle drop off and pickup and a small concessions. It did not open until 11am and at that point we wanted shave ice but we were told it would take an hour for it to be ready. Disappointed. The falls are smaller than we expected. You can go into the water but you have to notify the lifeguards on duty and they will give you a life jacket to wear along with instructions, you cannot enter the water without a life jacket on. It’s free. We didn’t get in the water. The walk back is quit steep after leaving the concession stand but paved. When we arrived it was 5 mins after it had opened and we parked next to the building entrance in the upper parking lot. However when we left at 11:30ish it was so packed there was no...

I don’t know where to begin. First, I am an avid aroid collector - I like rare, rare plants. This place is like heaven to me, so many philodendrons, monstera and anthuriums to see. They also have Hoyas (which is my favorite), begonias, alocasias, and tropical trees such as Jackfruit and Star Apple. Oh, and mosses! Mosses! I love mosses!! I do collect them too! Rocks and boulders full of mosses. OMG.

The plants are common to the uncommon range; the rarest I’ve seen is the variegated banana; that size and variegation can quickly be sold for $1200 😂 Yes! I was appraising the plants.

This is a big place, though; we spent over three hours and still had no chance to finish touring the whole area.

What fascinated me most was the size of the plants and the leaves. I have an indoor greenhouse, but I know I’d never get my plants to grow those big.

So many mosquitoes, though! Bugs spray is needed.

Parking is okay, a little bit hard if you come late. We arrived at 8:45 am, and the lot was almost full already. Mind you; they open at 9 am. To give you an idea.

Some of the trails were closed during our visit. We never tried the waterfalls, though. But they offer free life jackets for your safety. Restrooms are decent, and we found two changing rooms.

Easy hike, more like a leisure walk. They also offer a free shuttle.

The staff is friendly, helpful and polite. The entrance fee is okay. I think parking was free.

Have fun and enjoy the botanical garden!! Stop and smell...