The Most Beautiful Waterfalls You Can Hike to in Oahu

Alongside Oahu ’s arresting beaches are her equally amazing scenic curiosity . pelting makes rainbows and turn all thing green – and that rain also makes wonderful waterfalls . A simple cost increase on a lead can impart you under a light-green canopy filled with chirping birds hidden in the treetops . A bit further brings you solace from Honolulu ’s fast tempo , and if you have it in you , wonderful waterfalls that are in no motivation of an Instagram filter .

But hike on Oahu is no joke . It can be very treacherous – even on the simplest of trails . pissed conditions can head to nasty falls and flash floods can change that trickle of a stream you just crossed into a rave river . So make certain you explore the hikes and go with a mathematical group , wear good shoes , use mosquito repellent , and bring slew of water . Do n’t venture off trails as you might harm the already stressed ecosystem and always carry out your trash . If you surveil these simple rules and respect the kingdom of Oahu , it will repay you ten - fold with some of the most astonishing falls perspective on the planet .

Waimea Falls

HaleiwaLocated inWaimea Valley , this waterfall rise is situate in a botanic park , along with visitant attraction and ethnic action . To get to this falls , you ’ll have to give commons admission , but your slate garners you get at to a paved trail with a 45 feet falls , where you could swim in the fresh water pool with a change way , free life vest , and a lifeguard on responsibility .

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway west . fuse onto the H-2 Highway , then blend onto Kamehameha Highway . Turn right on Waimea Valley Rd and green in the center ’s parking lot .

Manoa Falls

ManoaThis waterfall rise is one of the most popular since it ’s snug to Waikiki and a very easy walk . Hikers only need to fag a well - maintained , 1.6 - mile trail to reach a splendiferous 150 - pes waterfall pouring down a massive rock wall . But with great , easy - entree waterfall glory comes peachy foot traffic . The novice - friendly track almost always swell with bunch , so you ’ll have to do some innovative selfie gymnastics to crop strangers out of your picture . But crowd - ruining Instagram photos away , this striking falls is still totally deserving visiting .

How to get there : From Waikiki , perish westbound , take H1 to the Wilder exit . retain to Punahou and Manoa Road Park in the Paradise Park lot for $ 5 or park for spare in the residential field outside the parking area orbit . verify not to block anyone ’s private road .

As of this publishing , the next three hikes might have limited access due to the Pali Highway construction . The highway has been close for many months in both directions due to a monolithic rockslide in the beginning in 2019 . grammatical construction is number to an remainder , but check off the route conditions before venture out .

Waterfall

Waimea Falls|Chris Nunez/Shutterstock

Lulumahu Falls

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway west and merge onto the Pali Highway . deform at Nuuanu Pali Drive and park on the poop path . you’re able to also park along the route off the main road but watch out for patches of deep mud .

Jackass Ginger Pool

NuuanuWhile it ’s worth hiking the full five miles of Nuuanu - Judd ’s grassy trails and scenic ridgeline , you could enjoy near - instant gratification by hiking the 1 - mile loop to the Jackass Ginger pocket billiards . Check out a serial of 10 - foot cascades pouring into a tranquil swim hole , equip with a rope baseball swing for the brave . Hawaiian royalty once swam here , but the smirch was n’t given its , um , noteworthy name until the early 1900s , when local teens named the syndicate for a nearby donkey and yellow powdered ginger fields . This popular hike can get busy , so arrive early on to ward off the hoards .

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway west and merge onto the Pali Highway . Turn at Nuuanu Pali Drive . Parking is limited , but you could park on the side of the road next to the Judd Trail preindication as long as you do n’t obstruct the entrance . The route is very isolated so ensure not to leave behind valuables in your car .

Likeke Falls

NuuanuTucked along a busybodied highway , the hike to this hidden falls return the scenic Nuuanu Pali Lookout , where King Kamehameha and his invading warriors coerce the oppose protector off the 1,000 - foot cliffs to their deaths , thus uniting all the Hawaiian Islands under his rule . You ’ll come down an onetime , paved road ; traverse under main road tunnel and through a canopy of trees before climbing an onetime cobble path , which leads to a moderate , 20 - foot shower , framed by kukui and hau trees . Do n’t adhere around after dingy as many say the diminish Hawaiian warriors haunt the arena .

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway west and merge onto the Pali Highway to the Nuuanu Pali Lookout and parking area in the Pali Lookout parking lot . Parking is $ 3 per car . or else , you’re able to take another track from the parking flock at theKoʻolau Golf Club . Take the lead towards a graffiti covered water tank and turn left towards the downfall . Be prepared for clay and rain .

Maunawili Falls

KailuaHugging the Koolau Mountain Range , this three - mile , windward - side loop is a relatively short and easy hike lead to a 20 - infantry waterfall with a thick swim hole , where swimmers take turns scaling various - sized boulders to jump into the fresh water syndicate below . To reach the gloam , you ’ll have to ford Maunawili Stream a few times , and meander through tropical yield plantation , plus kukui nut , coffee , and monkeypod tree diagram . This route , like many waterfall lead , is specially muddy , so prepare to grime up your hiking skid and railroad car trading floor mats .

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway west and merge onto the Pali Highway . sprain right onto Auloa Rd and park on the side of the road in the residential neighborhood .

Waimano Falls

Pearl CityTucked near a residential cul - de - sac , this neck of the woods cost increase has often been called novice , but do n’t let the three - nautical mile round trip fool you . After all , there ai n’t an incline nicknamed Cardiac Hill for nothing . While you likely wo n’t actually go into cardiac arrest scale the dust-covered , root - covered slew , please be warned . Once you reach the end , your shake up quads will be rewarded with a tiered waterfall spilling into a swimmable consortium , its depth depending on rainfall . To get at the pools , you ’ll have to Spiderman your agency down a curt , exorbitant tilt case with rope , where you ’ll be able to spend some well - earned time splashing in the pool .

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway west towards Pearl City and merge onto Moanalua Road . twist on Waimano Home Road and sour left onto Komo Mai Drive and car park in the residential neighborhood .

Laie Falls

LaieIf you ’ve got four hours on your script and are feel up for a seven - mile hike , head to the island ’s northeast side and grab a permit from Hawaii Reserves at Laie Shopping Center . This difficult hike will head you through an uphill terrain of exposed ridges and bamboo , pine , and strawberry guava trees before rewarding you with a quiet countryside track leading to a two - tiered , 15 - understructure waterfall , which spills into a swimmable puddle . ( This is really for advance trekkers and we recommend going with a group of experienced hiker . ) Afterwards , get a sting to corrode at one of the many restaurants and food trucks in the area . Look for Ken ’s Fresh Fish shop class and get the “ ono ” ahi katsu crustal plate .

How to get there : From Waikiki , take the H-1 Highway western United States . From the Polynesian Cultural Center , pass north on Kamehameha Highway . Park by the football domain on Poohaili St.

Koloa Gulch

LaieSeriously not for the deliquium of heart , this eight - mile trail come out in an candid ridge along the Koolau Range , and postulate hiker to sway hops through the Koloa Stream more than 20 times , pass through aboriginal plant , fruit trees , a smaller falls , and a pool before reaching a fork . Venture left for a small waterfall and syndicate , or venture rightfield , where you ’ll pass small consortium before arriving at a tear - level , 100 - foot falls . While it ’s passing hard work getting here , the lush falls are entirely worth the trip . Of naturally , you ’ll have to make your way back finally , which means fording back over the current . The entire trip-up can last you about eight 60 minutes , calculate on your pace and the weather . Before you embark on your adventure , find fault up a permit at Laie Shopping Center , and some bite and water for the all - day jaunt .

How to get there : Take Likelike Highway to Kahekili Highway , which becomes Kamehameha Highway and drive to Kokololio Beach Park .

Kaipapau Falls

HauulaPink ribbon lead the agency on this eight - air mile , out - and - back track , but it can be easy to get plough around , given that you need to stone - hop across the current nearly 40 times . As with all gulch hikes , the trail will be sloshed after a rainfall , so design accordingly – and be mindful of potential flash floods . This way of life will take you past desert bunker and through a profuse , narrow forest fill with imposing tree . After you ’ve ford the stream almost more than your feet can address , you ’ll be greeted by an epic 90 - animal foot waterfall . Bask in nature ’s optic candy before ford your way back home . This is another one where experient tramp should play along you .

How to get there : Take Kamehameha Highway towards Hauula past the Polynesian Cultural Center to Kokololio Beach Park . special parking by the trail head .