Waimea Valley
Waimea Valley
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Also known as the Valley of the Priests, this lush region is home to various historical structures en route to a 45-foot-tall waterfall.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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19 within 5 kms
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See what travellers are saying
- Trelis73014 contributionsEasy hike to eaterfallWe stopped here as part of a north shore island tour. Walk through the Beautiful botanical garden to get it the waterfall with swimming hole. Kids loved it. Easy hike. BUT the waterfall area was overcrowded!! We were there over spring break so lots of families. But i would do it again for sureVisited March 2023Written 20 March 2023
- dg2014jgMagnolia, Texas920 contributionsOptional cart to waterfall should be considered by some with walking issuesThis was a pleasant stop. I would not recommend for anyone with walking issues unless you are prepared to take your time and to take a break here and there. There was some grumbling about how much farther the waterfall is from middle age and seniors. Plenty of seating when you finally get there. The cart is certainly an option.Visited March 2023Written 26 March 2023
- May_EXLWinnipeg, Canada561 contributionsSurrounded by NatureYou will need a few hours to explore Waimea Valley. 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 to the falls is available, cost is $10 pp for one way. There’s also a daily scheduled guided activities for botanical garden and cultural sites. The lifeguards make the daily swim call so call ahead on the day you’re going for swimming conditions. Arrive as early as you can. 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 were among the first batch at 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.Visited February 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 March 2023
- Ashley DProvidence, Rhode Island31 contributionsMust see/swimBeautiful walk up to the waterfall (just over 3/4 mi). The waterfall was a beautiful site and our children were amazed. Getting into the water is a bit challenging- rocky and slippery- especially for kids and older individuals. Definitely worth it!Visited April 2023Written 20 April 2023
- Katherine WraggeVictoria, Minnesota25 contributionsAmazing Experience!Absolutely beautiful! One of our favorite stops of our entire trip. The walk to the waterfall is so beautiful and filled with so many things to see. They have free life jackets to use once you get to the waterfall. Very relaxing to float in the water and take in the sights. It was nice to have waterproof sandals as the rocks are a little slippery on the way in. Worth spending the money to go in without a doubt!Aloha Katherine, Mahalo for visiting Waimea Valley and taking the time to leave us a review. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit. A hui hou!Written 1 May 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 April 2023
- acabbyAtlanta, Georgia3 contributionsBeautiful Garden with Many Cultural Engagement Opportunitiesour only disappointment was that we didn't allocate enough time here. this is a must visit if you have time on the north shore. could easily spend 4-6 hours in the botanical gardens alone, particularly when they have the cultural engagement opportunities.Visited May 2023Written 29 May 2023
- Sarah BBoston, Massachusetts152 contributionsA beautiful walk for all abilitiesMagical place, such a great paved walk through lush gardens and historical reconstructions. Beautiful waterfall you can swim in at the end. The garden is the showstopper though. If you go to the Toa Luau, admission to the falls is included.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 June 2023
- Jessica E1 contributionWaimea Falls June 15, 2023What a beautiful trail of Botanical garden and waterfall. This waterfall is great for all ages, especially kids. It’s a shorter walking distance to the waterfall compared to others. We enjoyed learning the local history and artesian who are set up throughout the trail. The traditional games were a hit for my kids and the 2staff members that were working the games on June 15th were so awesome. I’m so sorry I forgot their names but they taught us so much, because I had so many questions. Those two were amazing, thank you and thank you for an incredible experience.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 15 June 2023
- TravelBoomerangKendall, Florida1,940 contributionsPeaceful and beautiful hikeEasy hike through a great botanical garden fusing history and nature. The Polynesian village and life reenactments were unobtrusive and offered a glimpse into the lives of those who lived on the islands in the past. The waterfall at the end of the trail is swimmable with life vests that are provided. Arrive early - at opening - to beat the crush of tourists.Visited January 2023Written 24 June 2023
- Cassandra M9 contributionsFamily of six, Enjoyed by AllWaimea Valley was one of the best parts of our family trip to Oahu! The gardens were amazing and so beautiful. We visited when it was raining and didn't mind because we were in our swimsuits to swim at the falls. It was a very gentle and enjoyable walk along the paved roads and the off-shoot garden paths. We loved the amazing array of flowers and all the fun little critters we spotted along the way. Our swim at the falls was so much fun and felt comfortable and safe. If you want to experience the rainforests, the flowers, the animals of Hawaii plus swim at a waterfall, this is the place to do it.Visited June 2023Written 24 June 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
2,574 reviews
Excellent
1,435
Very good
790
Average
233
Poor
72
Terrible
44
Tommy B
Finger Lakes, NY594 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
My wife and I decided today was the day to visit Waimea Valley. After a few days of rain, we thought the waterfall would be running hard. It was! The stream after the waterfall was running hard as well, so beautiful rapids. The natural flora alongside the wide paved trail was absolute gorgeous. Additionally we saw a number of birds. Really quite nice. The walk is fairly easy. A long uphill to the waterfall. But downhill virtually the entire way back. A little touristy at the visitor center, but to be expected. Overall a very nice experience.
Written 29 February 2024
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.
Stay00789934087
4 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
The gardens are impeccable and well kept, lovely friendly staff and the waterfall is wonderful. Short hike (walking slowly, looking at the gardens along the way took about 45 min) up some incline but paved & easy. We swam at the waterfall... it rained on us & we got a rainbow 🌈 it was perfection! You can't miss this on your trip to Oahu! The Toa Luau here is a must as well. We spent the afternoon (about 2.5 hrs) in the Gardens & then did the 5pm Luau, it worked out great.
Written 27 February 2024
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.
Mack2424
Huntington, WV276 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
this place is so beautiful . It's about a mile walk but it's paved . There is a shuttle if you want to pay to take it but it's breathtaking to see
Written 27 February 2024
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.
Cynthia A
5 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This is a peaceful and pretty area. There is a paved road to the falls, with side paths through different types of plants and trees. There are also some sacred Hawaiian areas and some examples of the type of original houses there. There are bathrooms and changing areas near the falls. It didn't appeal to me as a place to swim, but it is allowed, and they require that you wear a flotation device if you do. There were some pretty flowers in bloom, but not as many as there probably are in summer. We arrived early and enjoyed the relative solitude but it was getting crowded as we left. It's a pleasant way to send a few hours.
Written 21 February 2024
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.
Catherine M
Toronto, Canada51 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Definitely worth it, my husband and I spent about 4 hours wandering the beautiful trails, admiring the over 5,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants, and some birds. The size of the palms and monsters was jaw-dropping. We stopped and had a delicious hotdogs ($7 each) and continued to the falls. We had decided not to bring bathing suits and were very happy not to swim. It looked difficult, if not dangerous, to get in and out of the water as oeople had to climb over and around large rocks to get in. Everyone must wear a life jacket, which is great, though the guards were not guarding. The waterfall isn't as big as we expected but is still beautiful. On the way back we took the elevated road. Staff were very friendly and informative. If you love plants you'll love this place!
Written 11 January 2024
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.
Yun C
Buffalo Grove, IL48 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We saw many reviews to call this place a hidden gem which is worth a multiple-hour visit. We might have thus set a high expectation and felt it much smaller than anticipated especially we did not take the longer trail to the opposite direction of the falls. Even that, it is still a beautiful garden that's worth visiting. The landscaping is obviously in good hands and the paths are well maintained. There are couple small cultural sites along the way too that can take about 10 minutes each to look at and learn. There are also plenty of rest areas and little hills or creekside spots to explore. We spent about 1.5 hours there.
Written 5 January 2024
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.
kevan j
Norman, OK1,437 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
I do NOT recommend this place at all. It is a tourist trap!
Basically it's a long stroll to an unspectacular waterfall with a dozen opportunities to give them your money along the way. The cultural exhibit are not well kept and some are missing. They charge to get in, to eat, to take the shuttle to the waterfall, to rent gear at the waterfall, to store your stuff, and even to take the shuttle back to the visitor center if you're tired.
Basically it's a long stroll to an unspectacular waterfall with a dozen opportunities to give them your money along the way. The cultural exhibit are not well kept and some are missing. They charge to get in, to eat, to take the shuttle to the waterfall, to rent gear at the waterfall, to store your stuff, and even to take the shuttle back to the visitor center if you're tired.
Written 11 December 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.
LANDY31
Brisbane, Australia442 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Very serene hidden treasure on the North shore. Beautiful fauna and flora. Restaurant is very reasonable and now even has a coffee shop and bar
Written 11 December 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.
whiskeysix
Honolulu, HI362 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Loved it here! We made a reservation and arrived just after opening. I highly recommend getting there at opening time or just before so you can get a parking spot. We just about had the waterfall to ourselves and when we were done swimming, tour buses and crowds started showing up.
Gorgeous grounds, easy walk to the falls. Even though it rained, we had patches of sun throughout. We swam in the falls- a life jacket is required which is provided and there is a place to store your items. There are also two changing rooms and a trailer of bathrooms before you get to the falls.
The fall was in full flow when we visited four days ago. The current was pretty strong and the water was deep.
People were arguing with the life guards about wearing a life jacket. My husband and son are very strong swimmers and they had to use all their force to swim near the waterfall because it was pouring out so forcefully. So, if you think you don’t need a life jacket, you just might. Put it on and enjoy safely!
There are also a couple of places to eat and a gift shop.
Absolutely beautiful place and we will be returning!
Gorgeous grounds, easy walk to the falls. Even though it rained, we had patches of sun throughout. We swam in the falls- a life jacket is required which is provided and there is a place to store your items. There are also two changing rooms and a trailer of bathrooms before you get to the falls.
The fall was in full flow when we visited four days ago. The current was pretty strong and the water was deep.
People were arguing with the life guards about wearing a life jacket. My husband and son are very strong swimmers and they had to use all their force to swim near the waterfall because it was pouring out so forcefully. So, if you think you don’t need a life jacket, you just might. Put it on and enjoy safely!
There are also a couple of places to eat and a gift shop.
Absolutely beautiful place and we will be returning!
Written 30 November 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.
Eddy
36 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Waimea Fall was dry, only a small pond of dead water. May be not the best time to visit. Take bus#52(Ala Moana Centre)to Haleiwa and transfer #60 to Waimea Valley.
Written 22 November 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.
Sue C.
Pittsburgh, PA3,739 contributions
Is there still a farmers market here & what day of the week and time is the farmers market.
maitaimike2015
Laguna Hills, CA261 contributions
The happy t,
According to there website, every Thursday from 2:00-6:00 for August. Check before you go.
Mahlo,
Mai-tai Mike2015
What kind of shoes should I wear for the hike to the falls?
kanicon
Los Angeles, CA719 contributions
It’s a casual hike on paved roads so even sandals work if you’re planning on going into the water.
What is the cost to go to Waimea falls?
waimeavalley
Haleiwa, HI
Admission Fees:
General Admission to the Valley:
Visiting Adult $20
Visiting Senior $16 (age 62+)
Visiting Student $16 (college student must present I.D.)
Visiting Child $12 (ages 4-12)
Visiting Group Rate $16 (per person - group of over 10 Adults)
Starting June 1st
General Admission to the Valley:
Visiting Adult $25
Visiting Senior $18 (age 62+)
Visiting Student $18 (college student must present I.D.)
Visiting Child $14 (ages 4-12)
Visiting Group Rate $20 (per person - group of over 10 Adults)
Maureen M
Houston, TX9 contributions
Do tickets typically sell out in advance or can we buy upon arrival? We are working on our plan for our visit but are not sure what day we will be there yet.
kellyfdavis
Ocala, FL20 contributions
We bought our tickets upon arrival with no problem. It wasn’t very crowded. We probably got there around 10am. As a side note, Google maps takes you past the entrance up a huge hill to a neighborhood. You actually will pass the entrance to the park on your way. The entrance is clearly marked but I had so much faith in Google maps I ignored it 😂.
kasaWisconsin
Madison, WI238 contributions
I see visitors are allowed to bring in food. Is there a size restriction for coolers? Thank you!
carmichael12
Gympie221 contributions
I would think you can bring whatever you want within reason. There are plenty of open spaces to spread out and have a picnic. I don’t think it would be practical to haul a big cooler up to the falls themselves though as it’s all up hill. It’s a lovely day out, hope you enjoy it.
Hannah L
2 contributions
What would be the best way to enjoy Waimea Valley, Bay, and Falls all in one trip/go?
Theresa C
Allendale, NJ782 contributions
The park is actually a botanical garden, so you want to do the walk to the falls...don't take the tram. We visited as part of a North Shore tour, so I'd estimate we did everything there, including swimming in the falls, in under two hours. If all you are doing in that day is the beach and the falls, you can spend more time in the park.
By the way, the pool by the falls is not shallow once you get out beyond the rocks, people have drowned there, that's why the life preservers.
774brynw
El Dorado Hills, CA
When is the best time to avoid mosquitos?
AirshowBrittany
Bradenton, FL39 contributions
We visited in February and went early afternoon and didn’t have any issues!
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Claim your listingWAIMEA VALLEY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Waimea Valley
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Waimea Valley:
- Circle Island North Shore Adventure Tour + Snorkeling (From $206.24)
- Go City: Oahu All-Inclusive Pass with 45+ Attractions and Tours (From $302.02)
- Majestic Circle Island Eco Tour from Waikiki (From $267.55)
- Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour (From $32.81)
- Personalized Private Tour of O'ahu (From $1,065.27)
- Hotels near Waimea Valley:
- (0.40 km) walking distance to 5 beaches, serene experience for 30 day or greater stay
- (1.71 km) Ke Iki Beach Bungalows
- (0.74 km) *PERFECT GETAWAY IN PARADISE! - TROPICAL ISLAND LIVING IN PARADISE IS YOURS
- (0.76 km) Waimea Bay Luxury Estate: Unforgettable Views and Tranquil Island Living
- (0.77 km) Backpackers Vacation Inn and Hostel
- Restaurants near Waimea Valley:
- (0.00 km) Waimea Falls Grill
- (0.03 km) Wahi Aina Open Kitchen
- (0.97 km) Foodland
- (1.08 km) Aji Limo Truck
- (1.23 km) Pupukea Grill
- Attractions near Waimea Valley:
- (0.00 km) Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden
- (0.17 km) Oahu Private Tours
- (0.35 km) Waimea Bay
- (0.73 km) Toa Luau
- (0.90 km) Happy Trails Hawaii