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Waimea Valley
Categories: Local Flavor Active Life Parks Local Flavor, Parks [Edit]
59-864 Kamehameha HwyHaleiwa, HI 96712
(808) 638-7766
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
74 reviews for Waimea Valley
74 reviews in English
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Review from Vira P.
10/20/2011 2 photos
Beautiful botanical gardens, and an awesome waterfall where you can swim up to it. There are lifeguards (that have a tip jar btw) that give you the run down, since there's a 30ft. drop in the pool.
I was reading Candy W.'s review about dead bodies and dirty water. I can agree with the dirty water, especially if there are a lot of people. When I first went there, the massive rains stopped, so it was nothing but cool, fresh water. And honestly, it made my hair soft. So I guess it's god to go early before the crowds come in. -
Review from Michellea D.
Ladera Ranch, CA
2/2/2012
Brrr cold water....really cold, like ice. Bring water shoes; the walk into the water is filled with little rocks (ouch). Once in the water I got used to the ice cold, but it took a few minutes. It was fun to swim out to the waterfall and get under it.
There are lifeguards with lifejackets and floats to use. Plus there are changing rooms near the fall. Unfortunately the changing rooms are really old with spiders, but they do the trick.
Tip: ride the golf cart to the waterfall from the front entrance; only $6 each round trip.
My hubby has a bad leg so we took the golf cart to the falls. We got a great tour guide that told us about the plants we passed. -
Review from Timothy C.
Washington, DC
1/18/2012
I forget how much we paid to get in, but I remember thinking "It's probably worth maybe half that" and then just paying it because we had already driven halfway across the island to get there. Then I remember walking about a half mile longer than I wanted to to get to a waterfall pool that was only about as half as enjoyable as I wanted it to be.
And that sums it up: half great. I would have rather found my own waterfall for free. Plus, it rained that warm island rain that day and there is only like one place indoors. But parts of it were enjoyable and so I would half recommend it and half not recommend it. -
Review from Matthew P.
Boston, MA
11/15/2011
I'm currently finishing up the seasons of Lost so obviously this was a must-see destination for me. Obviously, the waterfall was pretty cool. You are able to go swim out and snap a quick picture of yourself under it. If you're lucky there won't be that many people swimming in front of it.
The best part however is getting to the waterfall. The botanical garden is really gorgeous. There is this one area of trees that looks like it belongs in some fictional land on Pandora. I highly recommend taking your time walking through the areas and reading some of the plaques. I would give this place a 5 but it seemed little trail I wanted to venture into was closed. For $15 bucks, I wanted more.Listed in: Oahu Trip!
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Review from Shannon B.
Mililani, HI
1/22/2012
The waterfall wasn't as big as I thought it would be but it was still very beautiful. The walk to the waterfall has beautiful scenery also. Good thing the trail is paved the whole way because I wore flip flops. The water wasn't too cold like I read in other reviews. Or maybe everyone else is wuss lol. We got there before 10 am and had the whole waterfall to ourselves for almost an hour because everyone else was too scared to get in! I would def come back if I come with more friends. $10 a person for military is a lil too high
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Review from Angelie D.
Arcadia, CA
10/6/2011
Waimea Valley is a huge botanical park that leads to a waterfall!
We started off the park looking at beautiful trees, flowers, and varies plants. I felt like I was in the jungle.. but then I saw chickens! hahah Out in the flat greenery we saw chickens and peacocks! After about 30 minutes of walking towards the end, a waterfall!!!
You get a quick review from the lifeguards and then on you go into the water!!! The water is a bit cold, but the sun was beating so hard that a gush of cold water as you enter the water makes it worth it!
The scene is beautiful and once you get into the water.. the only thing left is to swim towards the waterfall itself and submerge yourself under it!!!! EPIC!!! -
Review from Kelly M.
10/30/2011
Gardens plus waterfall. If you are a fan of botanical gardens, this is a good place. If you are only going for the waterfall, I would recommend looking elsewhere. But it is easy to walk to and has toilets.... and a gift shop and a snack bar. I guess that makes it the Disneyland of waterfalls.
Kama`aina/Military admission is now up to $10 for an adult. A bit pricey. Just seach this list of reviews for "kama" to see how the prices have gone up. -
Review from Candy W.
Chino Hills, CA
10/5/2011
Price:
$10 for kids, $15 for adults; $4 one way trip up to Waimea Falls, $6 for round trip
It's beautiful here. About 3/4 mile hike. Lots of mosquitos, all natural, I suggest wearing nothing, can get pretty hot.
You can swim in the 30 feet deep water at the falls. There are lifeguards on duty and life jackets, boogie boards and noodles that you can use for free. They take donations, but you don't necessarily have to. It's just a little tip thing if you have a little extra cash on you.
BUT BEWARE!! dead bodies might float up! there are a lot of tadpoles in the water near the rocks. the water's dirty, so don't pee in in or else the bacteria will swim up your pee hole. which is very infectious.
Worth the visit!! -
Review from Olivia W.
9/15/2011
My advice to you is GO EARLY. Within 2-3 hours after opening time the waterfall area is already packed with people even on a weekday.
The entrance fee is $15 per person and parking was free. Jonathan D. and I did not see any peacocks. I was a little disappointed because I really wanted to see peacocks. We did see birds and chickens... The scenery was beautiful. Beware of the flowers, there are a ton of bugs on them.
The waterfall area is lovely. They have lifeguards on duty and life jackets available for people to use free of charge. The water was really cold. We swam for around 30 minutes and left because it started to get really crowded and there were too many kids. Wear water shoes when you swim in the waterfall because there are a lot of rocks.
This was definitely a fun experience and this is one of the few waterfalls you can actually swim in. -
Review from Iris T.
10/2/2011
Bucket list: Swim under a waterfall... Check!
Sure there's an entrance fee but it's a nice botanical garden to walk through (I even saw a peacock!) and there's a waterfall at the end! I've always wanted to swim under one so this trip was extra special! The water is a weebits chilly and the pool at its deepest depth is 30 ft.. so I would definitely suggest using one of the boogie boards or noodles that the lifeguards have on hand.
Oh and don't forget to bring your (waterproof) camera! -
Review from Adeile A.
8/12/2011
This place is gorgeous!!! Definitely worth the $13 I spent. I probably could have gotten kama'aina if I used my cousins ID, but I didnt want to.
But anyways... I had a lot of fun here. I probably could have been there for HOURS on HOURS and swam/floated in the water. The hike up was nice and short!!! It was pretty hot so when we got to the water I was so excited... The life guards there are super sweet... local boy (filipino one) was super helpful and sweet. I had to use a life jacket bc my chunky butt doesn't really swim all that much and the 30ft deep waters had my heart racing a little too fast!!!
The waterfall is beautiful and I LOVED swimming in the fresh water. Or something different then SALT water. We got our picture from the waterfall... but it was a little blurry... but we still got it... I had fun here and definitely want to go find more waterfalls in Hawaii when I go back!!! -
Review from K A.
Huntington Beach, CA
9/26/2011
This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Parking is free and the cost to get in is $15 a person (expensive-ish, but is totally worth it). The hike to Waimea Falls is VERY easy and is much more like a stroll. Once you get to the waterfall, there is a lifeguard on duty and you are allowed to swim in the waterfall pool for as long as you want. Life jackets are provided free of charge and you can also use a boogie board or noodle for a "donation". We donated $12 (there were four of us) for the use of the boogie boards and noodles and I'm so happy that we did because the boogie board allowed me to swim up to the waterfall so we could take pictures with our waterproof camera.
I would highly recommend visiting Waimea Falls. The stroll to the waterfall was absolutely lovely and very relaxing. Swimming in the waterfall pool was a blast and something I'll certainly remember for years to come. :) -
Review from Jonathan F.
Honolulu, HI
7/9/2011
I was very pleasantly surprised with Waimea Valley, I've lived in Honolulu almost 10 years and today was my first visit. I didn't go before because I didn't want to pay the entrance fee, but it's well worth the money.
The hike, if you can call it a hike, is only 3/4 of a mile and is very shady and quite beautiful. You have the option of staying on a paved path, perfect for families with strollers.
The waterfall is the best I've seen in Oahu, but of course the quality of the waterfall is largely dependent on the amount of rain the area has received lately - so your experience may be different. The lifeguards were very friendly and helpful. -
Review from Becca C.
7/11/2011
Waimea Valley was BEAUTIFUL. Landscaped to look natural in its tropical settings, the paved pathways made access so much easier to enjoy the flora. We saw banana trees, plenty of hibiscus, bromliads and more. And....I ate my very first passion fruit, and man it was delicious! The admission fee is pretty steep, so I probably wouldn't go back, but for a first-timer, it's a must! Jumping into the cold waterfall was invigorating as well...
Here's a guideline to help you determine if you'd like it here: if you've ever visited a botanical garden or conservatory and enjoyed it, you would like Waimea.Listed in: Oahu, Hawaii...Let's Go!
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Review from Annie W.
7/17/2011
It's gorgeous and worth the entrance fee if you're planning to chill for a bit. Kama'aina and military still has to fork up $8, while tourists/visitors pay a whopping $13. I'm just glad they accept major credit cards.
This beautiful walk in the park, more like a luscious valley is peaceful. It's hardly considered a hike and they'll offer cart rides for a small fee. The ride would defeat the purpose of enjoying the habitat that surrounds this valley. There are some signage that names the plants, flowers, and trees. I left with 2 mosquito bites, so try to bring some spray if you're sensitive to nature.
If you're lucky, you'll see the peacock and peahen with their little hatchlings tagging along and it is a beautiful sight to see. They are so used to people feeding them, they come right up to you. It's not recommended and I don't remember fries being good for them either, but people still feed them.
At the end of the paved road, you come to this beautiful waterfall. It's powerful and there are 2 lifeguards offering tubes and life jackets to make everyone's visit that much more pleasant.
We came on a day where the water is more clear than others. We just had some rain and the downpour of the waterfall was so strong, it was a challenge to even get close to it. The water is as deep as 30 feet and a bit cool, but it feels so good on a hot day. I would definitely recommend it, because it was so much fun.
There's a first time for everything and swimming in a natural, fresh water pool created by mother nature is 2 thumbs up in my books.Listed in: Popular must-try for tourists…
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Review from Jessica M.
San Francisco, CA
9/5/2011
Entrance is $15. The walk is 3/4 mile long. A lot of pretty flowers and trees. At the end of the hike(more like walk) was a beautiful waterfall!
They have lifeguards on duty with life vests for those that cannot swim.... Hence me. o_O
It is 30 ft deep.
For those fans of LOST, the waterfall scene where kate and Sawyer find the halliburton case was shot at this location. Pretty neat to see the film location in person. :-) -
Review from Tiffany O.
Carson, CA
8/2/2011 3 photos
Definitely worth a visit, despite the rather pricey $13 admission (compared to other visiting sites on the North Shore).
The hike to the waterfall is super easy. I say save your money and walk instead of ride the shuttle. It's nice to take in the air.
The waterfall itself is beautiful and the water is clean and fresh. You have to speak to lifeguards before you go in just so that you get run through with the safety procedures. But yes, definitely bring cameras and such. -
Review from A C.
San Leandro, CA
5/4/2011
BRING BUG REPELLANT. Wear a swimsuit if you want to go waterfall swimming! Lots of photo opportunities for the plant lover.
I got about 15 bug bites on my legs! I should've checked Yelp beforehand, but it would have been nice if the staff gave me a heads-up about bugs. I guess all the water, foliage, humidity, etc. makes for bug-friendly conditions.
In a nutshell, Waimea Valley is a gathering of various tropical plants, flowers, and landscapes. It is centered around a river, with bridges criss-crossing it a various points. If you just make a beeline for the top (where the waterfall is located), it's about a 25 minute walk. Along the path there is information about what species you're looking at, the history behind it, etc. There are also a few exhibits on the native culture - animal pens made of rock, restored huts, etc. Interesting stuff if you're into archaeology or natural history. It's certainly not as comprehensive as say, the Polynesian Cultural Center, or something like that. Imagine a zoo, but replace the animals with plants!
We were told that there was a "hula dance" at the waterfall at 2:30, so we rushed to the top, making very few stops. We should've known that they were running on "island time", so the dancer showed up 15 minutes late + set up time. She was OK - an elderly woman who tried to get volunteers to join her but was unsuccessful. She was accompanied by an un-amped ukulele player, who of course was 99% inaudible due to the waterfall. Maybe it's just because my girlfriend does competitive dancing, or because I was watching the Merry Monarch on TV, but I was expecting something more.
The waterfall itself is beautiful, however. It empties into a pool, which seemed to be very clean and constantly draining into a nearby stream. It's a neat place for "Lost" fans to visit, as the episode "Whatever the Case May Be (1.12)" was filmed at the waterfall! The water falls onto a rockwall, so you can get right under it without getting pounded or anything. -
Review from Kevin G.
10/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Waimea Valley is a very cool botanical garden with a mile or so hike to a waterfall and little pool to wade around in. Lots and lots of pretty plants and nice spots to take pictures, plus they have floaties you can use for free to save your feet from the razor blade rocks in the pool. And please don't get a ride on the golf cart, don't be lazy, walk and enjoy the scenery and all of the critters. This is a fun place to spend a couple of hours, just remember the bug spray.
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Review from Aimee P.
Irvine, CA
6/20/2011
If you pick up one of those Kauai guidebooks from your hotel, it tells you that Waimea Falls is 1.7 miles from the trail head. Well, this may be true - if the 1.7 miles was measured as a straight line, instead of along the actual trail. I felt the actual hike to the waterfall was closer to 2.5+ miles (this estimate is partially based on the location where we saw the 1 mile marker).
The terrain is fairly rough, particularly if it's been raining (which of course it has, because c'mon, it's Kauai). Just before the waterfall, you arrive at a plateau offering a breathtaking view overlooking the canyon. The very end of the hike before the falls is off the trail, requiring one brave enough to crawl over logs and rocks. This was definitely a muddy hike. Decent hiking shoes and insect repellent recommended.
My group had a great time, but not as great as we would have, had we been better prepared with attire and hydration (but the guidebook made 1.7 miles sound EASY!). Oh, and it probably would have helped had we not made a stop at Waimea Brewing Company on the way to the trail - cause dehydrating oneself before braving nature is always a great idea, right?! -
Review from Jowin C.
6/14/2011 4 photos
The flowers endemic to the island are so beautiful! I think it's a wonderful place to view the type of species that still exist. Who knows if these species will persist with pollution and climate change? Better go view this botanical garden! There is also a peacock and roosters on site. Other birds that you might see including 'Alae 'ula, shama thrush, koloa, muscovy duck, kolea, auk'u, junglefowl, java finch, japanese white-eye, pikake, red-whiskered bulbul, red-vented bulbul, common waxbill, common myna, red-billed leiothrix, cattle egrets, zebra doves, spotted turtle doves, red-crested cardinals, and norther cardinals. If you go into areas around the creek, you may be exposed to more bugs.
The hike to the waterfall isn't two bad..I think it's roughly two miles. Remember to bring water and a hat!Listed in: Hawaii Spots
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Review from Daisy K.
5/23/2011 5 photos
This place is gorgeous. If you're in California, it reminds me a bit of The Huntington Gardens since you can see a lot of different types of plant and animal life. The woman I spoke to at the entrance told me that you can spend the entire day wandering the garden area / waterfalls and I believe it!
Entry's a little steep at $13/person, but it's for the national park and it was definitely worth it!
Note that there are peacocks that run around openly. If you're like me and deathly afraid of birds, be wary of what you'll find here. They're pretty harmless, but can give you a good scare or two! Boyfriend was lucky enough to see one open his feathers... but was a little too slow with the camera (Boo!).
Like others have said, the hike is 3/4s of a mile and will take you roughly 30 minutes depending on how fast you're walking. The place opens at 9am and I arrived right when it opened. The great thing about coming early? There aren't a ton of other tourists crawling around.
We hiked up to the waterfall first and was pleasantly surprised to find out that nobody else was there. They do have life guards on duty and have lifejackets, noodles and other toys for you to use for free. We swam around for an hour with just a few other tourists hopping in the water with us. Pretty peaceful!
We tipped the lifeguards and hiked back down the mountain to check out the cool plant life. If you're a photographer, you'll find some beautiful and colorful plants (and birds) to take pictures of!
We also noted that around 10:00-10:30am tons of tourists were climbing up to the waterfall. If you want to feel like you're in a waterpark with kids everywhere... go later. If not, go early! =)Listed in: Oahu Fun
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Review from Kyle C.
Ewa Beach, HI
7/22/2011
It was sad for a local person to actually to take a stroll in Waimea Valley,
To see the prices to actually go into the valley was OUTRAGEOUS AND OVERPRICED! For local people it is $8 each and for tourist a whopping $13 each! just to see a valley and swim. Don't get me wrong the walk was good i guess not really interesting. But what really got me was the Waterfall and how you can swim their.
For a local person that lived on the island for 16 years it was my first time. But what was really HILARIOUS was that Me and my friend where the only locals for 1 hour and everybody else was tourist. We made some new friends with the tourist though. Sadly for a local i didn't even know that you could even swim in the waterfall :[ -
Review from Denise M.
1/14/2011
A beautiful place! Nice 30 minute trek to the waterfall. Beautiful trees all along the trail. Not very many flowers, but it could be because of the time of year - I am no flower expert. Everything is labeled, so if you like knowing your trees and plants, then you'll like that.
The fall is beautiful - only the day we were there, a film crew was there. Nope, not for Hawaii 5-0 or any other kind of tropical based show. They were filming Alvin and the Chipmonks 3. Oh brother.
Aside from that, it's a beautiful place to spend the day. -
Review from Linda T.
4/16/2011
This place was cool. If you're a tourist, find a buy one, get one 50% off coupon from one of those tourist books at the airport and such.
It is an easy hike to the top where the waterfall is. Pack a swimming suit so that you can swim in the waterfall. I'd recommend you go early so you won't have to share the waterfall with others! har har!
We also saw peacocks here! The gardens along the paved path made the environment relaxing and mellow. -
Review from Darcie C.
Honolulu, HI
2/8/2011
Loved it! If you are coming here for the garden..it is beautiful! 30 minutes to get to the falls but everything is paved. No "Off the beaten track" type of place. If you want to swim, call to make sure its open...without life guards the falls are closed. Theres a changing room, body boards, and life vests.
FALLS: Its a 30 ft drop when you get into the water. There's a outdoor restaurant called Na Mea. Hours are 10-3pm.
Best part: is seeing the ancient hawaiian sites. -
Review from Rebecca C.
San Diego, CA
8/18/2011 6 photos
This place made my whole trip!
My girlfriend and I found this place while driving around the North Shore. We pulled up to the front and asked the security guard what this place was all about. Previously, I had heard about there being a botanical garden here doing some research online, but I thought that it was just a small enclosure with some pretty flowers and such. He told us about the botanical garden, but also mentioned there was a waterfall at the end. I was in like skin after he said waterfall. So, when we first got in I had to use the restroom. Right in front of the restroom there was a peacock just chillin' on the staircase. This was the coolest thing ever (see facial expression in attached photo for emphasis)! They were walking around everywhere. We continued to walk down the path and all around us were lush, green mountains & trees and beautiful flowers. This place was MASSIVE!! There was nothing small about it. There are also little side paths to take if you're feeling adventurous. There's a little stream that goes all the way down to the waterfall and a lot of birds all over the place. So we walked about 20 minutes until we got to the waterfall. It wasn't very big, but it was gorgeous. There's a lifeguard there too with life vests and noodles if you are a scaredy cat like me. haha! I had a blast swimming around and up to the waterfall. This is an awesome place to take some really cool photos and see something you wouldn't see everyday. I am so glad we stumbled upon this place. Like I said before, this adventure made my trip! Don't miss out on this! -
Review from Dyana W.
Folsom, CA
2/28/2011
I visited Waimea Falls in Jan '11. When we arrived, we were greeted by two beautiful peacocks. We were prewarned about potential mosquitos, so were covered in that area. It is 3/4 mile or about 30 minutes walk to the falls. The pathways are wide and paved. The walk to the falls was breathtaking. The trees were enormous and surreal. Many different species of flowers illuminated the way. This is the place to become one with nature and to really take all of nature in. My only disappointment was that alot of the flowers weren't yet in bloom (time of year). Upon reaching the falls, there are benches so that you may sit and enjoy the beautiful waterfall. (Of course, you can swim under the waterfall too.)
I'm happy that I vacationed here on the off season because it wasn't overly crowded. If you are handicapped or have trouble walking don't be discouraged. There are multiple benches along the way to stop and rest. They also have staff who drives golfcart type vehicles around, and will be happy to escort you to the falls. -
Review from Billy P.
Orange County, CA
7/29/2010
Absolutely great for the whole family.
I went in July and it was amazing. The walk is easy enough for the whole family, and it was beautiful. The plants and trees were amazing.
The actually waterfall isnt a huge one as some may imagine, but nice nonetheless. I went for a swim it and it was perfect! A little advice, bring maybe some water shoes. I went barefoot and the walk to get into the actual smimming area was filled with little sharp rocks and it hurt like hell! but if you dont have any, dont go out of ur way, just deal with it.
enjoy yourself at this waterfall, and enjoy the walk, and when your donw, theres a cool beach across the street. -
Review from Robert T.
Irving, TX
11/15/2010 2 photos
Candy to my lens! Plenty of great landscape shots as you take a leisurely stroll to the falls. I got to use my zoom lens to capture me sitting under the waterfall.
Wear your swim trunks even if you don't plan to get in. There's a good chance you'll change your mind. -
Review from Shay F.
I loved this "hike". Ok...so it's really not a hike...it's more like a stroll. Too bad I didn't have my swim suit / towel...I would've totally jumped in at the fall.
There are life vests you can borrow too since it's 30 feet deep! -
Review from Jonathan S.
Manorville, NY
4/4/2010 1 photo
Although we went here primarily to see the waterfall scene from a few episodes of LOST (this is where Kate finds the briefcase in season 1 as well as other scenes I won't mention since they could be spoilers), Waimea falls was a beautiful place to visit in its own right. It's a very easy walk to the waterfall with plenty of plants and peacocks to see on the way. You are able to swim at the waterfall when you reach it, but it is a smaller waterfall than I would have imagined. If it hasn't rained recently, it can be completely dry.
What was particularly nice about the location was that there weren't a lot of other people there on a Sunday at 10am. I think they normally open up at 9, but on Sundays it's different. That wasn't much of a problem though since the famous Waimea bay is just a short walk away and we were able to get some lovely pictures there also.
The snack bar at the beginning of the walk had a very good pork sandwich, and the staff at the gift shop was very helpful in helping us find some natural bug spray since there are a few mosquitoes on the way up. We actually strongly recommend the natural bug spray that they sell. It may seem small for 8 dollars, but it worked incredibly well. My wife, who normally gets bitten frequently, did not get a single bite after using it at Waimea and also did not get bitten later on hiking a mountain trail. -
Review from Lydia W.
8/17/2010
As a lover of LOST, I was really excited to see the waterfall. I'm also an avid fan of botanical gardens, so this was like two birds with one stone!
However, I don't think this experience is worth the $13 it cost to get in. Yes you can swim at the waterfall amongst tadpoles, but I'd rather take that $13 to a shrimp truck and get my grub on. The plants are great, but the paved road didn't give me a great incentive to learn about the various native Hawaiian plants at the park.
Also bring insect repellent. I got two nasty mosquito bites :( -
Review from Anna C.
4/23/2010 6 photos
Absolutely gorgeous!
This place is actually a botanical garden. It's a completely paved walk through the garden to get to the waterfall. There's a slight uphill slope, but certainly not enough to get much of a workout. If you're really lazy, you can pay a couple bucks to take the little go-carts up and down. But the walk is only about 20-30 minutes depending on your pace. I wish we came earlier in the day so that we could've taken our time to look at all the plants, but we got there an hour before closing and were eager to get to the waterfall. They have lifeguards up there who give you some brief instructions before you walk into the small lake that eventually gets about 30 feet deep. Water temperature is warm and you can swim up to the waterfall. Nice! -
Review from JayChan H.
Beverly Hills, CA
4/10/2007 5 photos
This is a great place for a shutter bug, amateur ornithologist or horticulturist in training.
Back in the 60's and 70's the park stewards collected and fostered a botanical collection to rival any in the world. The plants and flowers were amazing.
Sometime in the late 80-90's the 1875-acre site changed hands a few times and evolved into a tourist trap and theme park. Most of the landscaping was redesigned to look pretty and manicured in order to impress the bus loads of tourists. The exotics that were not ripped out or tilled under were left to survive on their own. Now some 30 plus years later the Audubon Society is in the care of this magnificent valley.
On my last visit to Waimea I noticed many of the introduced and endemic plants growing wild and was reminded of a Jeff Goldblum quote form Jurassic Park.
"If there's one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free. It expands to new territories. It crashes through barriers. Painfully, maybe even... dangerously, but, and... well, there it is." ~Dr. Ian Malcolm
The most depressing part of the visit for me was seeing the remains of the theme park era. Tram stations, decaying sets where shows were performed and vacant concession stands were all falling apart from neglect. Quite a bit of the landscape design had run amok but if you look carefully you can find some amazing survivors from a long time ago.
Slowly the valley is coming back to life. Operating on a shoestring budget and capitalizing on volunteer labor, the Audubon Society and park staff have been busily transforming the place.
Volunteers have put in more than 8,000 hours of work, building trails and helping to maintain endangered plant and animal habitat. Those who contribute 20 hours of volunteer labor get into the park free for a year. For the rest of us it's only $8 to enjoy the day. I'd encourage you to donate to this worthwhile conservation effort and/or buy the $25 annual pass.
I highly recommend setting aside a full day to explore the park.
Bring:
A camera with lots of batteries and memory (film).
Mosquito repellent. The all natural stuff sold in the gift shop works amazingly well.
A hat.
Bottled water.
Comfortable walking/hiking shoes.
Loose comfortable clothing.
Bathing suit and towel.
Snacks.
The hike from the parking lot to the water fall is about 3.5 miles. There is a slight grade up the valley. Most of the year you will experience warm muggy days with random rain showers. Be prepared to rough it. Take you time and look all around. Many of the 6000 species of plants are still labeled you just need to look carefully in the brush for the sign cards.
When you reach the falls you will see the remains of the cliff diving show in the form of a dilapidated amphitheater and and platform. With the cliff divers gone the public is free again to cool off in the pools and cascading waters. There are several warning signs about bacteria content and the lack of a life guard so read them and enter at your own risk. I dove right in and swam for the falls! The water is cold at first but is sure feels refreshing after a long hike up the valley.
Sometimes local Hawaiians can be found milling about the park. The valley has historic and religious significance to the Hawaiian people and it should be respected. Part of respect is to allow the elders to pass their knowledge on. Feel free to engage them in conversation. We met a sweet older lady who shared with us some unexpected uses for some of the local plant life. She showed us how extract from a ginger flower was used as shampoo and soap. The stories keep coming as long as you are patient and look interested.
Sometimes the best trips are when you let go and let nature be your guide. There are plenty of opportunities in Waimea's valley.
For you LOST fans the "Whatever the Case May Be" episode was filmed here. Jurassic Park WAS NOT but I still like the quote,
"...ummmm life will find a way..."Listed in: Be there, Aloha...
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Review from Marco d.
Los Angeles, CA
3/12/2008
It was their honeymoon. A great couple, I might add.
They were to engage in procreation acts the entire time they're on the island. I think it's just more conducive there, you know? It's closer to the call of the wild. The birds chirping, the frogs croaking. The warmth, the humidity, the sound of the waves lapping the shore, the breeze as it hits those coconut trees, and the white-sand beaches.
The couple wanted to do it like their forefathers before them. Like their island brethren.
In the wild.
In the open.
The time has come. The moment was right.
The couple started kissing, making out. Each passing minute, it was getting intense. Feeling each other's warm body.
Then, the woman stopped. Gazing into his man's eyes, thinking that she has everything. A perfect man.
Good-looking.
Well-built.
Financially-stable.
Secure.
Loving and caring.
She can't believe her luck.
She continued kissing him. Slowly but surely, she started to undress him, looking into his eyes, lusting over his body, seeing him with great approval of what she was doing. She smiled.
First his shirt, then his pants...
It was getting too much for her. She can't take it any longer.
Small beads of sweat forming on her forehead, slowly dripping to her cheeks and reaching her lips, tasting it.
The man just laid there on the bed..
Then, with one pull, she ripped her man's underwear.
She froze.
Eyes wide open.
Mouth gaping.
She can't believe what she's seeing.
Finally, she let out a shriek and said:
"WTF, THAT'S IT?!"
Yeah, that what I told myself, too, when I saw the falls.
It was puny, small. Such an anti-climax. After the build-up, that's what you get at the end... one tiny waterfall? Worse, you have to walk 3mi each way and you can't even swim.
Lucky for me, I only paid $10 to get in.
Sorry for my friend, I don't know how much she's spending on her pending divorce.
3inches, I mean, stars. -
Review from Kevin S.
Silverdale, WA
11/28/2008 7 photos
Whenever friends ask me what they should see while they're in Oahu, this is one of the handful of places I tell them they MUST go.
I'm sorry it took us so long living on Oahu before we went to Waimea Falls for the first time. I guess I thought it would be a tourist trap, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a really easy hike through some really pretty botanical gardens. It wasn't overly crowded or overpriced, either. In fact, we decided to buy the annual membership. We figured we only need to go 3 times in order to get our money's worth, and we thought this was a nice enough place to visit and uniquely Hawaiian that we were sure to come back a few more times with visiting family and friends. (Follow-up: Yes, we went back many times and totally got our money's worth on the annual pass.)
A couple of other reviewers commented that there are more spectacular waterfalls to see that don't charge for admission. I don't disagree with that statement. HOWEVER (comma) I don't know of any other waterfall hikes on the island that have such an easy, paved path - good for strollers or grandmothers with weak knees, and have clean restroom facilities and a good cafe. This is a VERY EASY walk, and the price of admission here (it's like $10) is totally worth the beauty of the botanical gardens.
From the welcome center out to the falls and back, it's a 2 mile walk with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain at a very gentle slope (that's directly off my handheld GPS - I'm not sure why some other people claimed it was 3.5 miles in their reviews). The trail is an entirely paved path, all the way out to the falls and back. There are several little side-trails with dirt paths and stairs, but you could easily take a stroller or a wheelchair all the way to the falls and back on the main path. We took my mother-in-law after she had recent knee-surgery, and she did fine on the walk.
Time-wise, it took us 50 minutes walking up-slope (I hesitate to say "uphill" because it wasn't steep) to the falls, and it took us 35 minutes walking back down-slope back to the car. (How long you spend admiring the falls or going for a swim is up to you). Our walking times are probably a little long due to stopping to admire and take photos of the flowers along the way.
Facilities: The bathrooms at the visitor center were old, but clean and in good repair. There is a diaper-changing station there, too. There were port-a-potties periodically along the path. Out at the falls, there are "changing booths" to change into your bathing suits if you wish. These were really just wooden shacks with concrete floors - no bench, no lights, nothing. In fact, if you close the door, you won't be able to see ANYTHING because it's PITCH BLACK inside. So I stood guard at the door with the door open for light while my boys changed into their bathing suits. If I were you, I'd just put my bathing suit on in the welcome center restrooms.
Swimming: Note that they will close the pool for swimming when it has been raining a lot due to branches and debris coming over the waterfall. There will be a sign right as you enter the welcome center telling you whether the pool is open for swimming or not, so you don't have to hike all the way out there to find out.
Even if they are not allowing swimming, I still recommend the walk through the beautiful flowers in the botanical gardens along the way and just get to see the falls.
When the pool at the bottom of the falls is open for swimming, they have a lifeguard posted there. Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a life jacket, and they provide the life jackets for free. The lifeguards are really friendly and will take pictures for you - bring a few bucks to drop in their tip jar.
After swimming in the 70 degree water under the waterfall, my six year old son offered this assessment: "Awesome" and "I don't ever want to leave here" and "I want to come back here EVERY DAY." Later, during the car ride home, he said this was better than playing Lego Star Wars. (That is the highest of compliments from my six year old.)
For refreshments, there is a small snack bar out along the path not far from the falls with shaved ice, snacks, and drinks.
Back at the Welcome Center, you will find a small place to eat called the Waimea Valley Grill. Although the prices may seem a little high for lunch ($7 sandwiches / $10 plates), it was NOT your standard grease-pit hamburgers, hotdogs, and chicken nuggets. They had a variety of Hawaiian-type things like kalua pork and ahi, etc. The food ingredients were very fresh and delicious. I had the ahi sandwich, some fries, and a smoothie, and they were all excellent. My boys enjoyed their hot dogs. I was very pleased and would happily go back there to eat again.Listed in: Oahu Must-See
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Review from Nicole B.
Washington, DC
Family visiting from the mainland? Want to treat them to a PERFECT afternoon? Head to Waimea Valley.
This stunningly picturesque botanical garden is almost too beautiful to be believed. The trail is very easy - so it's perfect for all ages. You can either walk through the gardens on your own, or take one of the guided walking tours on offer. Either way, you'll love the amazing native and non-native plants, trees and flowers - and most days, you'll also be able to see traditional Hawaiian crafts demonstrations like basket weaving and lei making.
The Valley is steeped in Hawaiian tradition, culture and folklore - once called the Valley of Priests, the descendants of high priests lived here until the late 1800s. Volunteers recently restored the Hale O Lono, a heiau dedicated to the god of agriculture, fertility, peace and music.
Keep your eyes peeled for Waimea Valley's peacocks. They roam the grounds freely and when we were there we saw several male peacocks, and even a female with 4 little chicks. One of the Waimea Valley staff members told us that these beautiful birds were the favorite of Hawaii's Crown Princess Ka'iulani. It is said that when she died at age 23, the peacocks screamed in mourning. If you think you hear small children being tortured, don't worry, it's probably just the peacocks. They are LOUD!
Be sure to take a dip in the waterfall at the end of the trail - the lifeguards there have (free) kickboards and body boards to paddle around on.
Hungry? Head to the Waimea Valley Grill. My family ordered an Acai Berry Bowl, the kalua pork sandwich, the fresh mahi mahi sandwich and the hot dog. All were finger lickin' good.
There's a nice gift shop on site as well - jewelry, wood carvings, books, artwork and other keepsakes.
The staff at Waimea Valley is super friendly and love to talk story...so feel free to ask lots of questions!
Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under. Kama`aina tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for kids. They offer military discounts, too. Parking is free.Listed in: North Shore Hot Spots
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Review from JeFF T.
Fremont, CA
12/10/2007
Before coming here, I had no idea that this was a haven for birds and plants. I always thought the tourist drawl was for the falls itself. This is a lush preserve of exotic plants and birds. It was kinda weird seeing the many variety of plants and trees in one area, when you're expecting to see just see palm trees. We saw a few types of birds that we'd not seen before, but they weren't in abundance. The mosquitoes however, were. Wear insect repellent.
The hike to the falls was actually fairly short. I was expecting something longer, with rougher terrain. With the groomed paths, it made the hike easy. While the falls looked spectacular, the pool at the bottom didn't look that great. I think it had rained a few days before, thus the murkiness of the water. Anyone can still swim around...just check in with the lifeguard on duty first. We opted to head to Waimea Beach instead. -
Review from Aimee G.
8/20/2008
I've been to Waimea Valley Audubon Center a few times now and I love it. Waimea is a beautiful place to walk around, especially if you have kids/strollers. The park is lush, beautiful, well-maintained, and has quite a few peacocks running around. The waterfall is nothing special, but it's still nice to sit on the nearby steps and enjoy the scenery or take a dip. Yeah, so sometimes the waterfall doesn't flow, but I guess that happens from time to time. And yes, you do have to pay to walk to the waterfall. Mother Nature tends to be a high-maintenance chick. But, I don't mind at all. You also have to pay to visit other beautiful parks, like Yosemite or Muir Woods.
Waimea also hosts cultural and live music events. I traveled here specifically for a show almost 2 years ago and it was a wonderful place to see live music. If you're looking for a serene and beautiful place to visit on the North Shore, don't pass up Waimea.Listed in: Go See Live Music!!!, Aloha and Mahalo
