About Waimea Falls
Waimea Falls is a very popular and scenic waterfall nestled in the North Shore of O’ahu behind Waimea Bay.
When we were there, the falls resided in the Waimea Valley Audubon Center, which required paid admission into its botanical gardens. In the past few years since we visited this place in January 2007, I believe the owner of the lands have changed hands.
Anyways, the waterfall spills 45-55ft at the end of the paved walk (a little over a mile one-way), which I recalled was really more like a stroll as we passed through a variety of flora and interpretive signs. It was literally like walking through a combination of a botanical garden and park.
Once at the falls, the plunge pool was flanked by a change room as well as a lifeguard. We had seen numerous families partake in this walk, and we agree that it would probably be a great place to take the kids and teach them about Nature while having a fun and relaxing time in this serene place.
Interestingly, Waimea Falls has many names. “Waimea” means “reddish water” in Hawaiian, which is a reference to the underlying reddish volcanic soil. During times of heavy rain, the swollen Kamananui Stream scours the reddish volcanic soil from the stream banks and colors the falls red.
Waimea Falls is also known as Waihi Falls. Waihi means “trickling water” or “clinging water.” And I’m betting it got this name when the waterfall slows to a trickle during unusually dry Winters and towards the end of Summer. I also saw that Waimea Falls has also been called Waihe’e Falls. Waihe’e is Hawaiian for “water slide,” though this is certainly not a waterfall to be sliding down!
It’s hard to believe that prior to this being a botannical garden, this place used to be the Waimea Valley Adventure Park, which featured cliff diving exhibitions, kayaking, and even ATV touring! Needless to say, our visit was much more low key than in its past.
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Changed (Waimea Falls) August 18, 2015 12:36 pm - I would go here in the 90s and it was different all natural no fee to pay and no built path just a trail,more natural ...Read More Wonderful Experience (Waimea Falls) August 27, 2013 8:17 pm - Coming all the way from India, we were just mesmerized to see and swim in this wonderful site. Once you are in the water you don't feel like to come out of the pool. The only thing which bothered me was the slippery stone while entering in the pool. DK Agrawal ...Read More Oahu and Waimea Falls September 2, 2011 11:02 pm - I went to Oahu twice on the Navy's dime while attached to the U.S.S. Alabama submarine. The first time, I only had 4 hrs. to play. The second time, in 1987, I had nearly a whole day of "liberty" (off time), so I rented a Jeep and took some buddies on a tour of the… ...Read More At Least One Dive… (Waimea Falls) May 23, 2011 1:04 am - I was stationed at Schofield Barracks in 1964, and I met a local girl and we were married. She knew all the best waterfalls so we would travel around a lot. But my greatest time was when we went to Waimea Falls. She told me that she had once dove from the top, well it… ...Read MoreVisitor Reviews of this Waterfall:
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