Waimea Valley is a preserved nature park with a lot to offer visitors. This gorgeous stretch of land is rich in indigenous plants, wildlife, and historic sites. Throughout Waimea Valley’s nearly 2,000 acres you’ll find over 50 unique botanical gardens, numerous important cultural sites, and the magnificent Waimea Falls, a 45-foot waterfall. Waimea Valley is located on Oahu’s scenic North Shore, just south of popular Sunset Beach Park.
Waimea Valley History
The greater Waimea Valley area has a long history as a place of spiritual importance to the Hawaiian people. For hundreds of years, it’s believed that the most sacred temples of the local population were built and maintained in this area; when Kamehameha I conquered Oahu in 1795, he maintained a reverence for this special slice of land, granting control of Waimea Valley to his favorite spiritual guru. For the next 100 years, ownership of Waimea Valley would pass through the hands of multiple different members of the royal family, until it eventually ended up in the possession of a pineapple corporation that would one day merge with Dole.
During the final few decades of the twentieth century, efforts were made to plant, grow, and cultivate a botanical garden here even as the threat of modern development continued to encroach. Fortunately, through the efforts of concerned local citizens, Waimea Valley has thus far been preserved for all to enjoy today.
What’s at Waimea Valley
If you love a good botanical garden, you’re not going to want to miss Waimea Valley, as it’s home to an incredible 52 distinctive themed botanical gardens. Among these many unique gardens are some 5000 plant species; the majority of these are plants indigenous to Hawaii, but you’ll also find here a special selection of “globally endangered species.” Guided tours of the botanical gardens are offered each day at 12:30pm.
Waimea Valley is also home to a number of important cultural sites. These include Hale o Lono, a place of worship dedicated to the Hawaiian god Lono (considered the presiding god of the rainy season) that dates to the year 1470; a stone shrine to the Hawaiian god of fishing, Ku‘ula; a Kauhale Kahiko, which consists of a series of dwelling places for a chieftain or priest; and a Hale Iwi, arguably the most sacred space found within Waimea Valley: Hale Iwi means “house of bones” in Hawaii, and it’s believed this particular one was a burial temple for an important local resident who lived in the area sometime during the seventeenth century.
Of course, no visit to Waimea Valley is complete without hiking to majestic Waimea Falls. The walk itself is beautiful, as the way is lined by all manner of tropical plants, botanical gardens, educational signs, and more. Waimea Falls is a large waterfall that rages powerfully throughout the rainy (winter) months of the year—but has been known to dry up entirely from time to time during drier weather! Regardless, it’s a great photo opportunity.
There are several places to grab a bite to eat at Waimea Valley. Wahi Aina is a snack bar where you can snag fries, chips, ice cream, coffee, or even something more substantive like a salad or a Kalua pig plate. Hale Kope Coffee House is the attraction’s brand-new place to fulfill that caffeine fix, while the Wailele Snack Shop is located near the Waimea Falls turnaround point. If you’re feeling festive, the Kikoni Bar serves an assortment of wine, local beer, and refreshing cocktails.
Tips for Visiting Waimea Valley
*Hiking in Hawaii is subjective—a simple stroll for one person might be much more difficult for another—so always be mindful of what works best for you before venturing out. Having said that, many people consider the hike to Waimea Falls to be a pleasant walk. It’s only about three-quarters of a mile to the falls and even though there are some hills along the way, the entire thing is paved.
*If you’d like to stretch your legs even more—while making a point of seeing as many of the attraction’s dozens and dozens of gardens as possible—look for the gravel paths branching off the Waimea Falls trail at various points.
*If you’ve got a green thumb, consider visiting Waimea Valley on a Saturday morning. That’s because each Saturday between the hours of 8:00am and 12:00pm Waimea Valley hosts a plant sale. This is a rare opportunity to pick up an actual plant grown in Waimea Valley for yourself.
*Swimming is permitted at Waimea Valley on occasion, but you won’t know whether it’s an option until 9:00am on the day of your visit. This is because water conditions within the attraction are assessed daily by lifeguards.
*Birdwatchers should be on alert throughout their visit, as a wide variety of feathered friends—some rare or even endangered—call Waimea Valley home. In particular, keep an eye out for the striking ‘Alae ‘Ula. This endangered waterbird has long yellow legs, a gray body, white “racing stripes” on their sides, and an unforgettable red forehead.
