Waimea Valley
Waimea Valley things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Waimea Valley Park was simply amazingly breathtaking!!! So much to see and enjoy. The abundance of lush landscape and beautiful forna is tranquil and inviting. You can ride to the waterfall for a small fee or walk. We decided to walk the 3/4 mile distance to the waterfall and are so glad we did. It was amazing to stroll leisurely through the magical beauty of all that nature offers in this park. We were able to take in so much more by walking and really get up close and personal to the beautiful flowers and textures offered in this parks natural landscape. The waterfall was crowded, which is to be expected. It is mandatory to wear a life jacket and these are provided free of charge ( tips welcome ). They have provided a sheltered seating area to enjoy watching the waterfall if you decide not to swim. There are talented artist's creating their magical crafts at different locations throughout the park. Toilets are also located at different area's throughout the park as well as the ability to buy limited light refreshments. At the main entry there is a restaurant and tourist center selling trinkets etc. The admission to the park was fair. The parking is not a large area, though we had no issues finding one quickly. This is something that you should definitely visit and enjoy while in Waikiki!!
CoralineCoraline
20
The falls here are a must see. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the hike even though it was raining on us. It is a short easy height paved the entire way. Throughout the entire hike you're walking through the botanical gardens. They are very well maintained and leave you with a beautiful view. The pathway follows a river going up to the waterfall. There are also many animals and birds to see on your hike. We found the guides to be extremely helpful and very knowledgeable if you ask them questions. At the top near the falls they have several natives that will make you a basket or hat with palm reeds. They are beautiful and a nice keepsake to take home with you. At the end of the hike is a waterfall. It does have a place to swim. Make sure to take your swimming suit. The hike is only about a mile in . So the entire trip will only take around an hour and a 1/2 depending upon how much time you spend looking at the botanical gardens. It is definitely well worth a trip and is a very good time . You can take your snorkel gear just up the road from The Valley there and go to shark's cove and go snorkeling. There are many food trucks around for sharks cove and it is a great place to relax and enjoy the water.
Mike McDonaldMike McDonald
40
I usually love this place... was disappointed on our last visit though. The place to store your valuables while swimming was not open so we didn't get to enjoy it because there were so many people there it felt like a bad idea to leave our backpacks just sitting out. The bathrooms to change in were nasty, no sink in one of them. They were also pumping sewage out several times while we were there which created a smell. The food vendor was closed and the drink vending machines were empty and they only take ones. Someone was putting water in them but they weren't cold. It seems like some of these things should have been taken care of before the parked opened especially the sewage pumping where all the picnic tables were. The guys doing the life jackets were not friendly. Gift shop way over priced. Other than that it was a beautiful spot and is defintely something to do to check off your Oahu bucket list. I hope our next visit will be better. Make sure to bring sunscreen, water and snacks. Its a up and downhill walk with little paths to cut off on and check things out. So many beautiful flowers and plants to see and great views. Get there early for best parking.
Kelsey BurdenKelsey Burden
60
Came here on a Monday afternoon with my family (including 2 little kids). Parking was okay; there were lots of spots. There’s an admission fee to enter the valley. We “hiked” to the Falls for about 30 minutes. The trail is a little over 1 km and it’s paved with some elevation. We walked it while pushing 2 strollers and we were a little tired by the end of the trail but not exhausted. The scenery/botanical garden along the trail and the Falls itself is beautiful! Once we got to the Falls, we set our stuff down on the seating area, grabbed life jackets from staff (free of charge), and swam in the water. It was chilly at first but you get used to it. The water was super refreshing. There are life guards monitoring the area. It was pretty safe. There were lots of people but it wasn’t congested or overly busy. There was lots of room to swim in. When entering the water, it gets a little rocky/pebbly so you have to be careful. None of us got any injuries but I wish I brought water shoes just to avoid that discomfort. Otherwise, we all had a really wonderful time! This was one of my favorite activities during our Hawaii trip. Would definitely come back here!
Kris C AKris C A
00
We LOVED having our wedding at Waimea Valley. We worked with Kealohi and she was great throughout the entire process. Being born and raised in Hawaii, it was important to me to have our wedding at a place I called home. Not only is Waimea Valley breathtakingly beautiful, it serves as an important historical and cultural part of Hawaii. We decided to have our wedding at Waimea Valley in April 2023, and just had our wedding last week, March 2024. We had 2 options (in the valley) to choose from and decided to have our wedding on the main lawn and Pikake pavilion. We loved the main lawn since it had a large tree as its focal point. We loved all the plants and trees that surrounded the valley as well. Kealohi made the planning process a breeze. She was very informative and answered our questions promptly. We were able to take a tour of the venue in September 2023, where she gave us a personal tour and shared historical and cultural information about the valley. During the day of the wedding, Kealohi was present and available when needed. We would 10/10 recommend having an event or wedding here at Waimea Valley.
Gaylyn RespicioGaylyn Respicio
00
Highly recommended! You will need a few hours to explore Waimea Valley. Waterfall, botanical garden and Hawaiian cultural sites are the major attractions. We visited in February so it rained lightly on and off. Check their website for different entrance fee prices. We paid $25 for adults. Shuttle is $10 pp per one way. Scheduled guided daily activities for botanical garden and cultural sites are also available. The lifeguards make the daily swim call so call ahead on the day you’re going for swimming conditions. Arrive as early as possible. Important tip is if your goal is to swim in the waterfalls…with less crowd, I suggest you go straight to the falls first and then explore on your way back. We went around 10 a.m. but took our time hiking to the falls and by the time we arrived it was busy. Free life vests. You can store your valuables for a fee. There are coffee and snack bars and a gift shop by the entrance. There is also a bathroom and food stall halfway to the falls. Farmers market on Thursdays and it was the day we visited. A good day to sample and support the locals.
May EMay E
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Nearby Attractions Of Waimea Valley
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Toa Luau
Waimea Botanical Garden
Foodland Pupukea
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Three Tables
Waimea Bay
Waimea Falls
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BackPackers Hawaii
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Nearby Restaurants Of Waimea Valley
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Map
Phone
(808) 638-7766
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Website
waimeavalley.net
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(1.8K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
This large parkland offers a botanical garden, a waterfall area & info on Native Hawaiian history.
attractions: Waimea Bay Beach Park, Toa Luau, Waimea Botanical Garden, Foodland Pupukea, Waimea Bay Beach, Three Tables, Waimea Bay, Waimea Falls, Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site, BackPackers Hawaii, restaurants: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Pupukea, Open Kitchen, Hale Kope Coffee House
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