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Waimea Waterfall
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Waimea Waterfall

See all things to do
See all things to do
Waimea Waterfall
4
About
Have a refreshing swim in the pool under these scenic falls in north Oahu. You can get there via an easy 1.5-mile hike through a beautifully landscaped path along the Waimea River. While the park is beautiful year-round, you may encounter a dry waterfall during periods with little rainfall. Tickets are required to enter the Waimea Waterfall and include the rental of a life jacket, which you must wear to take a dip in the pool. Beware of the slippery rocks. If you need a refreshment—and to complete the experience—have a quintessential shave ice on your way back. – Tripadvisor
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
17 within 5 kms
Waimea Falls Grill
48
1.9 km$ • Quick Bites • American • Fast food
Foodland
286
2.7 km$ • Hawaiian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Aji Limo Truck
100
2.8 km$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • International
Pupukea Grill
106
2.9 km$ • Quick Bites • Fast food • Hawaiian
North Shore Shrimp Truck
215
2.8 km$ • Quick Bites • American • Seafood
North Shore Tacos
172
2.8 km$ • Quick Bites • Mexican • Seafood
Aloha Plate Food Truck
7
2.7 km$ • Seafood
Sunrise Shack- Shark's Cove
3
2.7 kmQuick Bites
Sandy's Sandwiches
61
3 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • American • Vegetarian Friendly
Impossibles Pizza
54
3 km$ • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
51 within 10 kms
Waimea Bay
1,298
2.2 kmBodies of Water
Waimea Valley
2,566
1.9 kmHistoric Sites • Valleys
Shark's Cove
796
2.9 kmBeaches
Shark's Cove
148
2.7 kmBeaches
Banzai Pipeline
412
3.9 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Reefs
Pupukea Beach Park
193
2.7 kmBeaches • Parks
Sunset Beach Park
919
4.7 kmBeaches
Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden
98
1.9 kmGardens
North Shore
1,284
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Laniakea Beach
1,269
4.4 kmBeaches
See all
See what travellers are saying
  • kiwiflyer10
    192 contributions
    Picturesque
    We hired a car and went to the north shore. The waterfall is about a 20-25 minute walk. You can hire boxes there to store your belongings and there are toilets and changing rooms. The life guards give you life jackets. It is rocky getting into the water but not unmanageable.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 13, 2023
  • downtime48
    Ronan, Montana44 contributions
    Visiting the falls
    Nice paved walkway so even tho uphill to the falls it wasn’t difficult. Lots of places to rest on the 3/4 mile walk. Lots of beautiful foliage and flowering plants to see along the way.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written March 6, 2023
  • Ashley C
    Houston, Texas3 contributions
    Beautiful Sight to see!
    The hike to Waimea Falls is stunning. I think I took 100 photos of the scenery because the vegetation and flowers are a sight to see. The waterfall was refreshingly cold after the hike and the water was completely clear. Definitely a must when visting Oahu!
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written July 17, 2023
  • PJ J
    1 contribution
    Fun for older children and adults
    We went here not knowing much and were pleased by our choice. Definitely bring your swimsuit and towels so you can have fun swimming to waterfall! Even though they provide the required life jackets, not recommended for toddlers or children easily scared.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written July 29, 2023
  • Runjode
    Kelleys Island, Ohio10 contributions
    Culture and beauty
    Thé valley walk up to the falls is a beautiful botanical garden, well maintained and marked. The trail is paved and easily walked. Cultural displays along the way add to the ambiance and to the experience. Thé falls had many people enjoying the float in the pool, complete with life guards and required life jackets given out at the site of the falls.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written September 6, 2023
  • Discover523171
    3 contributions
    Waterfall & Garden amazing experience
    Go, you will not regret it. It's amazing. The Garden is beautiful!!! The waterfall is inside the garden. You need at least 2 hours to take your time to explore the garden fully. Once inside the garden its a 30 minute uphill walk to the garden. It may a bit challenging for some. However you can pay and ride the golf cart instead of walking. However if you can walk, walk it so you can take your time. Take your bathing suit just in case you are able to swim in the waterfall. You will get lots of great pictures. Nice spots in the garden for a picnic. I will definitely go back.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written October 18, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
199 reviews
Excellent
107
Very good
47
Average
26
Poor
8
Terrible
11
Yufei L
1 contribution
Terrible
Nov. 2023 • Family
Website had no indication of closure, yet we drove 1 hour only to find it's closed. Ironically there is another sign next to the closure sign saying open 7 days a week. Staff was super rude, you would think with staff onsite they could have opened to tourists, yet the staff was there to only to teach you 'a lesson about showing respect to the island'. Sure, shutting nature down as if it's personal property is very respectful. Next time show some respect to people by letting them know when you close on your website
Written November 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
julian p
4 contributions
No water
Nov. 2023 • Family
Unfortunately the falls were non-existent due to the lack of recent rainfall and there was no swimming in the pool due to low water level.. Still a nice stroll through beautiful scenery...but need the waterfall to have water coming down to make it really worthwhile.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billy Mac M
Markham, Canada6 contributions
Careful when it's dry - there will be no waterfall and no swimming in the pool at the base.
Oct. 2023 • Family
No water. I wish their website would share if there was a flowing waterfall. We travelled from Waikiki to see this beautiful site and were disappointed to find it not flowing. I understand that it's due to lack of rainfall, but this could be shared online to allow people to reschedule later in their vacation. Thank goodness I didn't purchase the entry online prior to my visit!! We did not enter and instead went swimming in the waves across the road.
Written October 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Discover523171
3 contributions
Waterfall & Garden amazing experience
Sep. 2023 • Family
Go, you will not regret it. It's amazing. The Garden is beautiful!!! The waterfall is inside the garden. You need at least 2 hours to take your time to explore the garden fully. Once inside the garden its a 30 minute uphill walk to the garden. It may a bit challenging for some. However you can pay and ride the golf cart instead of walking. However if you can walk, walk it so you can take your time. Take your bathing suit just in case you are able to swim in the waterfall. You will get lots of great pictures. Nice spots in the garden for a picnic. I will definitely go back.
Written October 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl0000
Port Macquarie, Australia3 contributions
No Water makes for a bad day.
Oct. 2023 • Friends
We went to the Falls today. We are a group of 5 all over 65 years. They charge $25 usd to get in. Another $10 each way in a cart. So we elected to go on our own up the winding path 3/4 there we were told there is no water in the falls. WHY WERE WE NOT INFORMED ABOUT THAT ON PAYING AND BEFORE I nearly passed out with heat . NOT HAPPY AT ALL.....
Written October 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BigDawg W
2 contributions
Evening hike
Jul. 2023 • Family
Beautiful scenery while doing an easy comfortable hike. Great for just getting out the house. Bring bug spray, the mosquitos are really disrespectful.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Runjode
Kelleys Island, OH10 contributions
Culture and beauty
Sep. 2023 • Friends
Thé valley walk up to the falls is a beautiful botanical garden, well maintained and marked. The trail is paved and easily walked. Cultural displays along the way add to the ambiance and to the experience.
Thé falls had many people enjoying the float in the pool, complete with life guards and required life jackets given out at the site of the falls.
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PJ J
1 contribution
Fun for older children and adults
Jul. 2023 • Family
We went here not knowing much and were pleased by our choice. Definitely bring your swimsuit and towels so you can have fun swimming to waterfall!

Even though they provide the required life jackets, not recommended for toddlers or children easily scared.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle P
Aliso Viejo, CA100 contributions
A fun excursion with an easy hike and memorable swim
Jul. 2023 • Family
This is a fun hike and swim experience. Go before 11am to beat the crowds. We took the 3/4 mile each way on a paved road. It has some moderate inclines in some areas but we found it quite manageable. The botanical gardens and some cultural exhibits made the walk really pleasant. The waterfall is well managed with life vest attendants and life guards warning of the less safe areas. The water was refreshing and a great spot for photos. Bring your GoPro. The food at the main visitors center was surprisingly good. There were turtles on the nearby beach on our way back to Waikiki which was a fun surprise too.
Written July 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashley C
Houston, TX3 contributions
Beautiful Sight to see!
Jun. 2023 • Couples
The hike to Waimea Falls is stunning. I think I took 100 photos of the scenery because the vegetation and flowers are a sight to see. The waterfall was refreshingly cold after the hike and the water was completely clear. Definitely a must when visting Oahu!
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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WAIMEA WATERFALL - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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