Hiking the Waimea Valley Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
The Waimea Valley Trail, commonly called the Waimea Falls Trail, is an easy and beautiful day hike on the North Shore of Oʻahu that follows an entirely paved path through the sprawling 0.9-mile (1.4 km) Waimea Botanical Garden, ultimately ending at the 45-ft. (13.7 m) Waimea Falls!
That said, the Waimea Valley Trail is one of the easiest hikes on Oʻahu, even easier than Mānoa Falls, Diamond Head (Lēʻahi), and the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail. On top of this, Waimea Valley is not only known for the beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail, but the valley is home to a number of historic cultural sites, including true native Hawaiian burial sites that have been beautifully preserved and protected by the valley’s care takers.
For these reasons, I highly recommend branching off the main Waimea Valley Trail shown below, as the side trails are without a doubt the best way to explore the valley and all there is to see off the main path!
Waimea Valley Parking
Parking for the Waimea Falls Trail is located in one of two parking areas in Waimea Valley, about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) off Kamehameha Highway near Waimea Bay.
Before arriving, know that parking in Waimea Valley is free, but entering the botanical garden/ trail is not, which you can read about in more detail below.
Google Maps Directions: Waimea Valley
Hiking the Waimea Falls Trail
The Waimea Valley Trail and Botanical Garden begins just past the visitor center and restaurant.
Waimea Valley Entrance Fee
There is a fee to enter Waimea Valley and hike the trail, but know that discounts are available for senior citizens, students, military personnel, and kamaʻāina, among other categories, so be sure to bring your ID if you fall into one of these categories.
Waimea Valley Trail
After paying the entrance fee, the Waimea Valley Trail enters the Waimea Botanical Garden, where the trail splits immediately after entering.
That said, the trail to the right passes through Hale Hōʻike, shown below, while the trail to the left simply navigates around the Hale on the other side.
Hale Hōʻike
Hale Hōʻike translates to 'House of Display,' and it’s a place where visitors can not only buy gifts but also see the eight monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi before Hawaiʻi ever became part of the United States.
After Hale Hōʻike, the Waimea Valley Trail begins to split into countless different side trails that all parallel the main paved trail on the way to Waimea Falls.
This is to say, I highly recommend branching off the main trail—both on the way there and back—as there are a number of place for visitors to enjoy in the Waimea Botanical Garden, most notably the Hawaiian Flora sections, Kauhale, and the Hawaiian Games (Kahua Pāʻani).
This is the state flower of Hawaiʻi, also known as Maʻo hau hele.
Following the second main bridge, the Hibiscus Collection is the next best side trail to explore, which, in my opinion, it is a much more impressive collection compared to the Koko Crater Botanical Garden on the other side of Oʻahu.
Kauhale
At roughly 0.4 miles (0.6 km), the Waimea Valley Trail reaches Kauhale, a historic Hawaiian living site that consists of both reconstructed 'houses,' built using traditional materials and techniques, and authentic burial sites known as Hale Iwi or House of Bones, which can be found further up the trail in the second Hawaiian floral section.
For those interested, visitors are encouraged to spend some time, talk to the staff, and learn about what living in Waimea Valley looked like more than a 1,000 years ago!
Shorly after Kauhale, some more native Hawaiian Hibiscus species can be found growing along the main Waimea Valley Trail.
As you approach the Hawaiian Games, don’t forget to check out the stunning Jade Vines in Aunty Coco’s Lei Garden, just off the main Waimea Valley Trail.
Kahua Pāʻani (Hawaiian Games)
Kahua Pāʻani translates to "playground," and it’s a place where visitors can not only learn about a number of traditional Hawaiian games but also play along, as the staff and the posted rules for each game help guide those interested in learning how to play!
After Kahua Pāʻani, there are only about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) remaining on the Waimea Valley Trail to reach Waimea Falls!
Just past the second-to-last bridge, the Waimea Valley Trail comes to a small snack shop and restroom, which can be one of the best places to take a break on the entire hike.
With just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) left, hikers can finally see Waimea Falls from the fourth and final bridge before the end!
Waimea Falls
After roughly 0.9 miles (1.4 km), the Waimea Valley Trail ends at the 45-ft. (13.7 m) Waimea Falls.
Here, hikers are allowed to swim in the pool at the base of Waimea Falls, but be aware that the lifeguard staff enforces a number of strict rules, including mandatory life jackets for all visitors.
That being said, I personally recommend other Oʻahu waterfalls for those looking to swim. I say this because other trails, such as the long Kōloa Gulch Trail on the North Shore, or even shorter adventures like Maunawili Falls and Lulumahu Falls, are all great waterfall hikes to consider if you want to enjoy Hawaiʻi waterfalls for what they truly are!
Native Hawaiian Plants in Waimea Valley
The Waimea Botanical Garden is, without a doubt, one of the best and easiest places on Oʻahu to see a variety of native Hawaiian plants, which is one of the main reasons I recommend branching off the main path as you hike through Waimea Valley.
Now, I could truly go on and on about all the different Hawaiian plants along the trail, but that’s really the whole point of taking your time as you make your way to Waimea Falls. However, a few of the more notable Hawaiian plants that visitors should try to find include Maʻo hau hele (the state flower), the beautiful Abutilon flowers and Hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus distans), as both are quite rare outside of botanical gardens, along with ʻŌhiʻa lehua, a common native tree that is truly the staple of all native Hawaiian forests.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
