Waimea Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Waimea Falls is a waterfall in Honolulu County, Hawaii, about 2.0 miles southeast of Pupukea. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Honolulu County, HI

Nearest town

Pupukea (2.0 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★☆ 4.3 from 520 reviews

Crowds

Popular

Access

Short hike likely

Coordinates

21.63077, -158.04383

USGS topo

Waimea quad

Getting there

Waimea Falls sits about 2.0 miles southeast of Pupukea in Honolulu County. Google lists the address as North Shore, HI 96712. Visitors reach it on foot by trail. Check the current trail map for distance and elevation before you go.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Waimea Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Many of Hawaii's best-known falls are in state parks or national parks, while others sit on private land, in watershed areas or in botanical gardens that charge admission. Several popular sites, including Haena State Park at the start of Kauai's Kalalau Trail, use reservation or entry systems for out-of-state visitors, so checking current requirements is wise. Parking is tight along the Hana Highway, and stopping on narrow shoulders is dangerous and often restricted. The biggest hazard is flash flooding: streams can rise within minutes from rain falling far upslope, stranding hikers at crossings. Rockfall beneath falls is common, freshwater can carry leptospirosis, and trails turn very slick with red mud. Respect closures and no-trespassing signs, which are frequently posted at informal access points.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Waimea Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Hawaii. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 21.63077, -158.04383 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Camera and a small tripod. Visitors have shared 2,615 photos of it; a tripod lets you shoot silky water in low light.
• Rain gear and insect repellent. Hawaiian waterfall trails are often muddy, and stream levels can rise quickly after upstream rain.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Hawaii has falls year-round, but flow depends on recent rain far more than on season. The wetter months generally run from about October through April, when winter storms add to trade-wind showers and falls along the Hana Highway, the Hamakua Coast and Kauai's interior run strongest. Summer trades still bring regular windward showers, so many falls keep flowing, though some smaller ones shrink to a trickle during dry spells. Morning visits tend to be clearer, calmer and less crowded, and they are best for rainbows at Rainbow Falls in Hilo. Heavy rain can arrive suddenly in any month, and north-shore winter surf affects coastal trailheads on Kauai and Oahu. 520 Google reviews make it a well-known stop. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Waimea Falls holds a 4.3-star average across 520 Google reviews, and 67% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 2 waterfall by review count in Honolulu County. Visitors have shared 2,615 photos.

A 45-ft.-tall waterfall accessed via a paved path or shuttle through scenic botanical gardens.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Older maps and records also list it as Waihee Falls.

Waimea Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on February 6, 1981, and it appears on the USGS Waimea 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Kamananui Stream (stream, 0.2 mi), Kaiwikoʻele Stream (stream, 0.2 mi), Kauwalu Gulch (valley, 0.6 mi), and ʻElehāhā Stream (stream, 0.8 mi).

Maui and Oahu. Maui's 30 named falls cluster along the windward flanks of Haleakala, where the Hana Highway crosses stream after stream, and in the deep valleys of the West Maui Mountains. At the far end of the Hana road, Waimoku Falls is reached by a trail up the Pipiwai Stream in the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. Oahu has fewer named falls but some of the most visited. Manoa Falls lies in a rainforest valley just above Honolulu, Maunawili Falls lies on the windward side below the Koolau Range, and Waimea Falls on the North Shore sits within a botanical garden reached by a paved path.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Waimea Falls about 2.0 miles southeast of Pupukea is rated 4.3 out of 5 by 520 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Waimea Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.