Waterfall Swimming on the North Shore of O’ahu

Call it a bucket list item but one of Katelyn’s goals during her visit to Hawaii was to swim at the base of a waterfall. The problem was that the trip was short and the majority of the trip was spent in Honolulu where Katelyn and her coauthor where attending a conference. But if there’s a will there’s a way!

Welcome to Waimea Valley!

Located in the the northern part of O’ahu, you will find Waimea Valley Botanical Gardens. Admission into the gardens costs $25 per person and is worth every penny.

At first the gardens was a means to an end—getting to swim at a waterfall—but the true jewel of this trip was getting to take in the beauty along the way!

Walking to Waimea Falls

In order to reach the Waimea Falls, you will need to walk through the entire botanical gardens—less than a mile each way. It is absolutely breathtaking to walk through this preserve.

The walk along a paved trail will take you through a variety of natural flora. There are even Hawaiian cultural sites mixed in with interpretive hosts that will share more about the history of the area and the native people. There are even a few crafts and activities that resident artisans will share for you to partake in along the way.

Everything Waimea Falls has to Offer

Once you get to the end of the park, you’ll arrive at the waterfall area. In the waterfall area you’ll find a snack bar area as well as some changing rooms and a nicely shaded seating area.

Swimming in the falls does require all swimmers to wear life jackets upon entering the pool at the base of the waterfall. Thankfully, the park provides life jacket rentals at no cost and there is also a life guard on duty.

There are some rules to swimming at the falls, but it doesn’t take away from the experience. The lifeguards will remind you not to swim towards the left side as the current is a bit stronger and they’ll keep people from climbing on the rocks themselves. Other than that, it’s a great and refreshing way to spend the afternoon.