Waimea Valley

Visited Waimea Valley for a short day trip to explore the botanical gardens and hike up to the waterfall. There is SO MUCH to see and explore within the gardens we had to restrict ourselves from wandering off the main path as we didn't have time. The main walk up to the waterfall was very easy and paved the whole way. Lots of side adventures you could go on that seemed to be higher difficulty. We saw lots of really cool plants and plenty of wildlife as well... and SO MANY SNAILS. The waterfall had been dry for a few weeks when we went but finally was pushing through water for the first time the day we went so we were lucky to actually see the waterfall but because it had been dry for a while the waterfall was very brown with sediment. The journey up to the waterfall was definitely more exciting than the fall itself. It rained the day we went but of course the gift shop had ponchos ready to go for us. Great day trip and definitely would come back and leave even more time to explore.

Beautiful as always! This was our second time visiting and this time it didn't rain. Overcast but it was perfect for walking around. Appreciate that all tickets are online but it would be nice if they could have one line for people purchasing tickets and another for those who have already purchased tickets. We did not go in the waterfall this time and the water was not flowing super strong but plenty of people were in the water. They do require life jackets that are provided and there is a sitting area for those who don't go in. The whole place is well maintained but when we went there were not a lot of flowers in bloom. Definitely recommend taking the 12:30 pm tour that is led by one of the staff! It makes it so much more enjoyable and educational. We've come before and wandered the lovely grounds but having a knowledgeable guide makes it better. The entry price is a bit high at $25/pp but knowing it is for a non-profit that seeks to preserve flora and fauna of Hawaii definitelymakes it worth it.

Sadly rained the day we went to Waimea, but beautiful with foliage and exotic flowers just as you would expect from Hawaii. The falls are a highlight. We attended the luau which, fortunately, was undercover. While the entertainment was excellent, the food was not. The only disappointing meal I had in Hawaii. Note all the posters of the many movies filmed in the Valley. Still, glad we went, for the nature.13

Really lovely falls, well maintained grounds and garden. Nicely paved paths. Honestly you can spend at least 4 hours inside the valley just wandering around and looking at all the gardens. The waterfall really depends on the amount of rainfall, so don't expect a lot of water if there hasn't been a lot of rain! You can swim in the waterfall, and they offer/require life vests. The map is not very well done. Even though there is good signage marking the different gardens, the map itself does not tell you where you are, and not all paths lead back to the main paved path, you might have to wander a bit. There are no physical maps, they ask you to take a photo of your map. Make a reservation before you go!

It was a beautiful spot with plenty of vegetation to explore. The day we went it was very dry and the falls was just a trickle. The hike was all paved, however you could explore small paths off the trail.

I love waterfalls! When i heard there is a botanical garden with a pretty accessible fall i was excited... well did not expect that the fall would have a lifeguard and life vests in it lol i have traveled the world and have never really seen anything like that. Making a waterfall as a swimming pool especially that the Waimea Valley is supposed to be a sacred place for Hawaiian culture and history. I am actually not sure how i feel about it. Apart from that the Botanical Garden is just stunning and majestic. I really enjoyed walking around! Warning the price to visit is $25 per adult ( they do have discounts for residents and military)

(9/2023): The gorgeous Waimea Valley: I was in awe the moment we entered. So much diversity, paths to explore, and cultural history. Also, at the time when we went, they were setting up some kind of event. Can definitely imagine having a wedding here.The waterfall is a thirty-minute walk on a paved path. There is a a shuttle service available, but at an additional cost. I just wish we had more time to explore, but we had to scurry back to catch our luau. If I lived in the area, I would buy a pass/membership in a heartbeat!

Beautiful park with lots of parking. Entry is reasonable for Kamaaina on Thursdays and the have a freat farmers market. The falls environment is awful with all the loud malihini, life vests, etc.... I miss the days of old when we could just jump in and swim. Food is expensive but yummy. Id go back.

Such a beautiful place ! My husband and I wanted to come here because this was a site where they filmed some scenes from the TV show LOST. It's about a 30 minute leisurely walk from the entrance to the waterfall, which is where my husband and I wanted to see and swim. However, since we arrived at 3:00 and the garden/valley closes at 4:00, we did a speed walk to the falls maybe in about 12 ish minutes.The waterfall itself was not super big, but still very beautiful to see. They provided lifejackets for everyone which I was glad about because the waterfall area is actually 30 feet deep to swim in. I wish they had taken time to try and dry the lifejackets in between users because it was kind of gross and cold to wear recently worn, wet ones - but that is the germaphobe in me. They also had storage for $10 there. There are also bathrooms and a snack shop right outside of the waterfall as well.Though the valley closes at 4pm, the gift shop closes at 5pm, so we had the chance to look at the shop as well. Overall, the valley was a very pretty place and I wish our time was not so rushed there, we could have gone earlier to spend more time there !

Went to Waimea valley with the fam over fall break. We love to take the little 30 minute paved walk back to the falls and explore all of the areas and learn about the Hawaiian history. There is also a little tram you can take as well if you are unable to do the trek. There are changing rooms and a shower by the falls so you can change in or out of your swimsuit. Keep in mind, there are only two stalls. Once you arrive at the falls, you put your things down and grab a life jacket. They are required for all swimmers. If you go on a Thursday, kamaʻāina and military are free, and they also have a cute little farmers market as well.