3 Great Waterfall Hikes on Oʻahu

Hiking to a waterfall is a popular bucket-list item for many travelers to Hawaiʻi. On Oʻahu, a variety of trails lead to gorgeous falls. 

Ranging in skill level, from easy to challenging, these three trails offer a starting point for your next waterfall adventure.  

Note: Check weather conditions before visiting any waterfall in Hawaiʻi. Flash floods can happen suddenly, making conditions muddy and dangerous. 

Waimea Falls 

1.5-miles round trip, easy 

Once you arrive at Waimea Falls, you can take in its grandeur, and depending on conditions, even brave the cold water.
Photo: Grace Maeda

One of the easiest waterfall hikes on Oʻahu is along a paved path in Waimea Valley. Although it’s a simple stroll, the reward is witnessing the impressive 45-foot Waimea Falls. Nestled on 1,875 acres, Waimea Valley is a privately owned property that is managed by Hiʻipaka LLC, a nonprofit established to care for the area. Here, visitors are invited to explore the lush valley, which boasts a collection of more than 5,000 types of tropical and subtropical plants, including species native to Hawaiʻi. Along the short, paved path to the falls, cultural practitioners and artisans offer workshops about Hawaiian traditions and artforms. Once you arrive at the falls, you can take in its grandeur, and depending on conditions, even brave the cold water. Lifeguards are on duty, and you will need to wear a life jacket to swim. 

Admission to Waimea Valley is $25 for visiting adults, $20 for visiting seniors and students, and $15 for visiting children. It’s $10 for kamaʻāina and military adults, and $8 for kamaʻāina and military children. On Thursdays, kamaʻāina can enter for free after 12 p.m. 

READ MORE: The 5 Best Botanical Gardens on Oʻahu 

Mānoa Falls 

1.8 round trip, moderate 

The trail to Mānoa Falls is an easy-to-moderate trek.
Photo: Getty Images/segawa7

About 5 miles outside of Waikīkī, you can hike to a 150-foot falls. Tucked in Mānoa Valley, the popular Mānoa Falls Trail is an easy-to-moderate trek that weaves through a rainforest and bamboo grove. The trail can be muddy, so proper footwear is strongly recommended.  

READ MORE: Your Guide to Mānoa on Oʻahu 

Maunawili Falls via Maunawili Demonstration Trail 

7 miles round trip, challenging 

This 7-mile hike crosses diverse terrain, eventually leading to Maunawili Falls, which flows about 20 feet into a pond large enough to swim in.
Photo: Gary Saito

The trailhead for the Maunawili Demonstration Trail is located off the Pali Highway. As soon as you sliver through the break in trees, hikers are engulfed in a tropical forest. The 7-mile trail leads hikers through diverse terrain, including a boardwalk that gives way to slippery and muddy paths. Eventually, you’ll have to crisscross over a stream leading to the falls, which flows about 20 feet into a pond large enough to swim in. Snaking through the Koʻolau Mountains, the trail provides a window into the islands’ native ecosystems. 

READ MOER: Escape to Maunawili Falls with This Little-Known Trail