8 Best Oahu Waterfall Hikes for You to Tackle
Searching for the best Oahu waterfall hikes? You’ve found them! This guide from a Hawaii local tells you everything you need to know about the waterfall hikes on Oahu.
On Oahu, we don’t have the pull-up-and-take-a-picture waterfalls that many of the other Hawaiian Islands do. No, you have to go on a bit of a hike to reach any of our waterfalls on the island. That said, the Oahu waterfall hikes are definitely worth a little bit of extra exercise.
What Should I Bring to These Oahu Waterfall Hikes?
Before you get to any of the hikes, there are some items that you should bring with you (for waterfall hikes specifically).
Bug Repellent
Bug repellent is highly recommended. The still water in the rainforest-like environments around the Oahu waterfalls attracts a lot of bugs – especially mosquitos.
Sometimes I get lazy and don’t use bug repellent and I end up with bites on my arms and legs that don’t go away for a month. So you really do need to buy some bug repellent of some sort. Luckily, there are both traditional and natural options to help you ward off the little critters.
Athletic Shoes
A pair of athletic shoes that you can get VERY muddy would be ideal. Your shoes will never fully recover from these hikes. Sometimes they will not make it out. (I once was on one of these waterfall hikes and the literal soles of both of my shoes came off!)
However, intense, professional hiking boots are not at all necessary. Recently, I’ve been putting my Fila Women’s Day Hiker Shoes to good use, and they’ve held up quite well. And there’s also a men’s version.
A Washable Reusable Bag (Or A Plastic Bag)
After you’re done hiking, you’ll want a place to put your muddy athletic shoes. You don’t want to get that mud all over your car. While you can use a plastic bag, you can also try this reusable bag and give it a good wash when you get back to where you’re staying.
A Pair of Flip-Flops
A.k.a. slippers – here’s a post with more local lingo. You’ll need these to wear after you shove your muddy athletic shoes into that plastic bag.
If you want to support an amazing local Hawaii business, you can buy a pair of Olukai slippers (available for both men and women) for your waterfall adventure.
Swimwear
If possible, you want to swim at these waterfalls, don’t you? If you want to support a sustainable local business, I recommend purchasing one from Sundaze Bikinis. They make all of their products out of recycled ocean plastic!
Use the code BORDERS15 on the Sundaze Bikinis website to get 15% off your order!
And if you’d like more options, here are all of the best Hawaii swimwear brands.
Water Shoes
You’ll need water shoes to avoid sharp rocks (especially for the kiddos!)
A Towel
To use to dry off after your swim! Although, in all honesty, you can leave this in the car instead of adding the extra weight.
Water
You have to stay hydrated, especially if you’re doing any physical activity! Maybe put it in a nice reusable bottle to help the environment out just a tad.
A Snack
It’s always important to keep your energy levels up on these Oahu waterfall hikes. Consider packing something from either Part 1 or Part 2 of the Hawaii food bucket list as a snack.
A Waterproof Camera
The GoPro HERO9 is a great option! However, if that’s a little too much money, the AKASO EK7000 is a pretty good alternative.
We also have a more comprehensive Hawaii packing list just for you!
Sunscreen
While most Oahu waterfall hikes are shaded by trees, there are sections of certain trails where the Hawaii sun shines through. For some (like me), this is a pro. For others, like those who get sunburned easily, it’s a con.
Either way, be sure to slap on some sunscreen before you head out on your Oahu waterfall hike.
How Can I Get to The Oahu Waterfall Hikes?
The easiest way to get to the majority of Oahu waterfall hikes is by car. However, if a car isn’t an option, there are a couple of waterfalls on the list below that are accessible by The Bus, Hawaii’s public bus system. These bus-accessible Oahu waterfalls include Waimea Falls and Kapena Falls.
Oahu Waterfall Safety
Hawaii is pretty safe when it comes to hiking. There aren’t really any dangerous wild animals (there’s the occasional wild boar, but that’s about it), and the weather is usually favorable. That said, it’s always better to be informed about safety things, so here are a couple of things to keep in mind before heading out on your Oahu waterfall hike.
Leptospirosis
When you start these hikes on Oahu, you will probably come across a sign that’ll tell you that you’ll get infected by a strain of bacteria called “leptospirosis” if you so much as touch the water. After further research, this is not exactly the case.
Leptospirosis can only be harmful if it enters the body through an open cut (so if it’s scabbed over, you’re fine) or by drinking it. While some cases of leptospirosis may have bad flu-like symptoms, others have no symptoms at all.
Personally, I have not heard of anyone actually getting leptospirosis on any of these hikes. Once I got a small cut from a rock in a waterfall pool and did not have any signs of leptospirosis.
If you would like to read a bit more on the bacteria, here’s a page from the CDC.
Flash Floods
With Hawaii waterfalls dumping thousands of gallons of water comes the potential for flash floods. While most of the hikes prone to flash flooding have been closed to the public (including the infamous Sacred Falls), there’s still a chance for flash flooding at many Oahu waterfalls.
To stay safe, check the weather before you head out. Even simple weather apps are good at informing people about flash floods in the local area in a timely manner.
If this safety warning freaks you out a bit, that’s okay too. (Nature is a powerful force, after all.) That said, you don’t totally have to give up waterfalls on your Hawaii trip. Just hike on a sunny day instead! That’ll give you the added bonus of avoiding lots of mud too.
The Best Oahu Waterfall Hikes
Ready to see some Oahu waterfalls? Lace up your shoes, spray on some bug repellent, and get going!
Manoa Falls
If you’ve done one of the waterfall hikes on Oahu, odds are you’ve done Manoa Falls. After all, it’s one of the most popular things to do on the island. The path is nice and obvious, there is a ton of shade (as with all of Oahu’s waterfall hikes), and the falls themselves are absolutely stunning.
Basically, it’s an easy waterfall hike on Oahu, and it should take you around 45 minutes to reach the waterfall. The trail is less than a mile one-way, but there will be some pausing to let other hikers pass. Unfortunately, you cannot swim in the pool at the bottom of the Manoa Falls hike.
Manoa Falls gained a lot of recognition, because it’s been featured in a ton of films and TV shows. Jurassic Park, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, LOST, and Hawaii Five-0 have all featured Manoa Falls. Because of this, Manoa Falls is often advertised as “Jurassic Park Falls.”
There is parking available for this hike for $5. If you are military, be sure to ask for a military discount, which will make parking only $3.
P.S. Even though it was a fun experience at the time, I would not recommend hiking to Manoa Falls in the rain, like my friends and I did.
Waimea Falls
I’ll admit. Waimea Falls isn’t one of my favorite Oahu waterfall hikes, simply because it is not really a hike (and also because they charge you a good chunk of money to see something that nature made). So if you are looking for the least physically challenging and least confusing experience to see a waterfall on Oahu, Waimea Falls is the hike for you.
As a matter of fact, “hike” is a strong word for the path you take to see Waimea Falls. To put this in perspective, I, along with my entire kindergarten class at the time, did this so-called “hike” to see this waterfall on the North Shore. So not much danger or effort with this choice.
It should take about 30 minutes to reach the waterfall, as the trail is only around three-fourths of a mile. Depending on the weather, swimming may be allowed at Waimea Falls. If you do wish to swim under the waterfall, you are required to wear a life jacket.
Given that this hike is within the more accessible Waimea Valley area, there are changing areas, showering areas, and lifeguards. This means that the hike to Waimea Falls is one of the busiest waterfalls on Oahu as well.
There is parking available for this hike.
Do know that the hike to Waimea Falls does come with a pricey entrance fee. It is $25 per adult, $18 per senior or student, and $14 per child. There is also a military discount and a kamaaina discount for locals, but do know that they make you show an ID for every single person in the group. (So a local person can’t buy discounted entrance tickets for the entire group.)
*Pro Tip: Kamaaina and military get in for free on Thursdays from 12 pm to 3 pm!
Maunawili Falls – CLOSED
The 2.5-mile roundtrip hike to Maunawili Falls actually requires a couple of stream crossings, so be prepared to get your feet wet!
While the waterfall on this hike is not as large as some of the others on this list, Maunawili Falls is also known for being home to a few native plants, as well as the (non-native) beloved lilikoi (passion fruit) plant. If you’re lucky enough to be there while it’s in season, feel free to snag a couple of the bright yellow or purple spheres to munch on later.
Limited street parking is available for this hike. Be courteous to those who live in the area and do not block the driveways.
*Local Secret: if you scramble your way up over Maunawili Falls and hike a bit further, you’ll actually make your way to an abandoned wooden bridge, if that sort of adventure is up your alley.
*As of summer 2021, Maunawili Falls is closed to the public. Prior to that, hundreds of people were visiting this waterfall every day, so the State of Hawaii decided to give the land some time to heal. As of summer 2023, this hike still hasn’t reopened.
Likeke Falls – ILLEGAL
Likeke Falls is one of my favorite Oahu waterfall hikes. It doesn’t take much effort to get a great reward, which makes it perfect for small children. Plus, it’s one of the rather secret waterfalls on Oahu – and that’s just an amazing added bonus.
Within twenty minutes, you can reach a relatively small, yet stunning waterfall. Please be careful while doing this hike though, because the path veers off from where you expect it to be at a couple crucial points. I previously wrote a post with a bit more detail on the directions. While the pool at the end is much too shallow for swimming, I’ve seen kids enjoy splashing around.
Parking for this hike is available at the Koolau Ballrooms.
Waimano Falls
The Waimano Falls hike is the most physically difficult hike that I’ve put on this list. (Granted, it’s not actually that difficult. I’m just not necessarily the best at hiking.) I did this nearly three-mile trail in about three hours, round trip. In contrast to the rest of the hikes on this list, you go downhill first and uphill on the way back. While this doesn’t seem like much, this was a real mental block for me. I mean, I already saw the waterfall (my reward), so why did I have to work so hard to get back to my car?
Nevertheless, Waimano Falls is still one of the best waterfall hikes on Oahu. First of all, the waterfall itself is stunning. Second of all, there are two rope swings! While both of them are fun, I’ll admit that the jump from the higher of the two rope swings can be a little painful. You can also jump without the rope, making it possible for you to have both an Oahu waterfall hike and cliff jumping experience at the same location! Just as a note, the pools at these falls are quite shallow (with the exception of the rope swing area), so they aren’t ideal for swimming around.
DO NOT FORGET: GO LEFT, not right. There will be a point in the trail with a clear fork in the road. (Not the one that says, “Manana Falls to the left, and Waimano Falls to the right.” It’s quite a bit after that.) Both paths will seem well-trodden. You MUST go to the left, not the right. The first time I did this hike, I went to the right and got very lost. So I don’t care how you remember this. Come up with some sort of acronym. Make up a song. Take a screenshot of this page. But be sure to go left. Then, you’ll be able to make it to the lovely waterfall and have a great time. If you end up in a small clearing, turn around, because you’ve gone the wrong way.
Limited street parking is available for this hike. Be courteous to those who live in the area and do not block the driveways.
Lulumahu Falls – ILLEGAL
The hike to Lulumahu Falls is approximately two miles long. It is on the property of the Hawaii Board of Water Supply, so it’s not quite legal (whoops – take your chances). That said, it is still quite a popular hike. But, in my opinion, it is probably the best waterfall on Oahu.
The falls themselves are absolutely stunning, as Lulumahu Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls on Oahu. However, the pool is not quite deep enough to swim in.
This hike does require a few river crossings, which can be difficult if you choose to tackle this adventure after a heavy rainfall. There is also a small section that could be described as “rock climbing,” although it’s more like big steps on large rocks (it doesn’t require any arm strength though). However, if you are deathly afraid of heights, this little obstacle might deter you right before you reach the falls.
If you happened to complete the hike to Lulumahu Falls in the past (2017 or earlier), the path has changed since then. Because it’s on the Hawaii Board of Water Supply property, they have implemented measures to deter hikers (a.k.a metal fences).
While it is clear that some hikers have simply chosen to hop the fences, there is an alternative path that does not require fence-hopping. Instead of immediately turning left according to the old path, continue to go straight for a bit. Once the path naturally veers to the right, keep your eye out for a path on the left. Take that path and you’ll be on your way!
Kapena Falls
Similarly to Waimea Falls, Kapena Falls should not even be classified as a “hike.” The very, very short walk to Kapena Falls takes a grand total of three minutes (and three minutes back, so I suppose six minutes).
Granted, the trail is muddy, so there is that aspect that makes this secret Oahu waterfall hike a little more hike-like. This is, however, easily the smallest waterfall on this list as well. Kapena Falls does have the added bonus of a nice-sized swimming hole to enjoy though. So if you’re looking for an Oahu waterfall you can swim in, Kapena Falls might be the Oahu waterfall for you!
To get to Kapena Falls, Google Maps is actually quite unhelpful. Instead of putting “Kapena Falls” as the search term, you’ll want to navigate yourself to “Nuuana Memorial Park and Mortuary.” (Yeah, it’s a cemetery – if that weirds you out, this hike isn’t for you.) Drive to the very end of the parking lot and park there. At the farthest point of the parking lot, you’ll see a small muddy path. That’s your start to this three-minute hike!
*Bonus: Kapena Falls is actually one of two places on Oahu where you can see petroglyphs – the writings/drawings of the ancient Native Hawaiian people. (The second place comes and goes depending on the tide. So this is really the only consistent place to see petroglyphs on Oahu). The little drawings are very close to the start of the hike, and they are barred off for their preservation.
Hamama Falls – ILLEGAL
Hamama Falls is another secret waterfall on Oahu, because it is once again on private property. This hike is a little over three miles long, but it is not too strenuous. There is one short section that is rather steep, but the rest is very doable.
Keep your eye out throughout this Oahu waterfall hike for little swimming holes along the way, as the pool at Hamama Falls is not quite deep enough to swim in.
Hamama Falls itself is about 30 feet and you likely won’t encounter anyone else on your hike, making it one of the best waterfalls on Oahu.
*Bonus: if you’re up for a little bit more adventure, there is another waterfall just a bit off of the path to Hamama Falls: Waihee Falls. Do your research before you head off to find this secret Oahu waterfall!
BONUS: H-3 Drive!
Out of all of these Oahu waterfalls I’ve listed, easily the most breathtaking are actually the ones that can be viewed from H-3, one of Oahu’s highways. I know what you’re probably thinking. The best waterfalls on Oahu can be seen from a highway?! And the answer is still unquestionably yes.
Let me paint a picture for you. H-3 is a highway that winds through the luscious, plant-laden Koolau Mountain Range. Even when it’s a drier time of year, the mountains are still bright green. Then, imagine during rainy season, when the water is pouring out of the sky and into each and every crevice of the Koolau Mountain Range. This creates dozens, if not hundreds, of Oahu waterfalls. Can you imagine a more spectacular Oahu waterfall experience than that?
To get the full experience of this H-3 scenic drive on Oahu, you’ll want to set you GPS from Kailua to Aiea (or vice versa). Try to time your drive on the rainiest day of your trip. Check the weather for Kaneohe before you head out. If its supposed to rain there most of the day, you may be in luck!
Are There Oahu Waterfall Hike Tours?
If tackling these Oahu waterfall hikes on your own sounds a little bit daunting, don’t worry! It is possible to find companies that do Oahu waterfall hike tours.
I will say that you should do research into what you’re getting beforehand. Many Oahu waterfall hike tours simply take you to Manoa Falls, the most frequently visited waterfall hike on the island, one that certainly doesn’t need a guide. And, what makes this confusing is that many of these tour companies will sneakily advertise it as a special “Jurassic Park waterfall!” It’s the same waterfall. It’s still the same Manoa Falls with a nice, clear, easy path.
To help you avoid this, I’ve only included waterfall tours that may actually need a guide (a.k.a. not Waimea Falls or Manoa Falls).
Adventure Tours Hawaii
Adventure Tours Hawaii is an interesting tour group, as they don’t specify which waterfall they’ll be taking you to. As a matter of fact, after clicking through quite a few photos from reviews of Adventure Tours Hawaii, I’ve gathered that they’ve taken guests to Likeke Falls, Lulumahu Falls, Waimano Falls, and perhaps even a couple more! So if you’re down for whatever adventure your tour guide has in store, Adventure Tours Hawaii may be the tour for you.
Unfortunately, the website doesn’t specify which tour will take you to these Oahu waterfall hikes, so you may have to contact them.
Adventure in Hawaii
While not as highly recommended as Adventure Tours Hawaii, Adventure in Hawaii does take you to one of the waterfalls above: Likeke Falls. While Likeke Falls is a short, easy hike, there are a couple of very important turns to take. By taking the Koolau Waterfall hike tour with Adventure in Hawaii, you’ll be sure not to miss it. This Oahu waterfall hike tour costs $62.08 per adult and $42.98 per child for a four-hour tour.
While I try my best to update this list whenever I become aware of a change, please check to see if these trails are still legally open before you do them. The statuses of trails in Oahu do change. Any of these trails could become illegal, either temporarily or permanently, at any time.
Interested in some other Oahu hikes? Here is a list of 15 of the best!
What are your favorite Oahu waterfall hikes? Tell me about your experiences in the comments! (I promise I’ll respond!)
Planning on hiking to some Oahu waterfalls? Or maybe you simply enjoyed the post? If so, pin it for later!
I love waterfalls, but I’m not sure I’m the hiking type. However, for waterfalls I might do it ? Needless to say, if I had to choose I would pick Waimea falls, not only beacuse it’s not really a hike, but mostly beacuse I love swimming and this one felt like the best swimming option. However, would be my typical bad luck that the weather would change and turn bad. Hopefully not.
I love waterfalls too!! And lol trust me, these hikes aren’t too bad (with the exception of Waimano Falls). You could definitely do them :).
Good to hear that. Feeling quite motivated!
Yay!!
Thanks for the informative post. I have wanted to go to Hawaii for so long, but have yet to make it. You can be guaranteed that when I do I will definitely visit some of the waterfalls that you have listed here for us!
Yay! You’ll make it over one day (Likeke is my favorite one on this list, just by the way).
So wonderful! I am a big fan of waterfalls. I have been to Oahu and booked a tour to hike to a secret waterfall. Guess what? There was no waterfall when we arrived. Supposedly, it had not rained in four days. That is a rarity but it happened during my visit. Hope to go back to the island and do a proper waterfall hike.
WHAT?! NO. THAT’S AWFUL! I’m curious which waterfall they were trying to take you to, because four days without rain is like nothing. Unless they were trying to take you to a random, unnamed one that only pops up during the rainy season? I’m a little baffled by your situation lol. Hopefully you’ll have a better experience next time!
These sound like some great hikes! I’m not much of a hiker, but I’ll give it a little more effort if there is a waterfall reward at the end!
That’s my thought process too!
Great post as we’re planning on doing Oahu and a bit of the Big Island next year – we were actually looking at some of the wayerfakl hikes you had mentioned.
Ooh I’ve got a bunch more recommendations on my site if you feel like having a snoop around :).
Fantastic tips! So useful to know the difficulty etc especially if you might have kids in tow. I would LOVE to go to Hawaii, one day!
So glad this post helped! You can definitely do most of these with kids (with the exception of Waimano Falls).
Such beautiful waterfalls! I wish I had thought more about hiking during my trip out there! This would def be worth the trip to see.
Aw man! Hiking is one of the three things I do when I’m home in Hawaii (along with go to the beach and eat good food lol). Maybe next time!
This is so helpful! I’m planning a trip to Hawaii next year and visiting waterfalls is top on my list. They all look incredible.
Ooh so this was perfect for you! Feel free to search around my site if you’re looking for any more Hawaii-related tips :).
Hawaii is a dream destination, I’ve been years ago but can’t remember too much. I do love exploring waterfalls too, and these are some great tips to ensure you’re prepared for the day.
Sounds like its time for another trip!
Oh waterfalls! It’s 37 C in Corvallis, OR today and all I want is a waterfall and a clear blue pool. All your Hawaii tips are helpful; I’ll sure come back to your site when I plan a trip there.
Yay! So glad I could be helpful!
Your pictures make me want to go back to Hawaii asap! <3
Make it happen!
Manoa falls looks absolutely magical! So many beauties on this list ?
Thank you!
Loved this list! I’ve seen Waimea Falls, but unfortunately didn’t make it to Manoa Falls because it was raining REALLY hard last time we were in Hawaii. But yay after reading this post, I have more waterfalls to add to the list!
Yay for more waterfalls!!
If the bugs are in Hawaii are anything like the ones in Colombia then I know what you mean about how bad the bites can be! But totally worth it to get to some of these pretty, pretty waterfalls!
Totally agree!
This post puts together two things that I love. Waterfalls and hiking. Enjoyed reading your posts and inspired to visit Hawaii. Thanks for sharing helpful tips. Bookmarked. x
Same! Those are two of my favorite things!
These look amazing! It has been ages since I have seen a good waterfall, I think I need to book a trip to Hawaii finally – looks so beautiful and picturesque. I shall start saving and getting in shape for the hikes 😉
Yay!! See you soon!
I’ve never been to Hawaii, but this looks gorgeous! Thanks for this.
Of course!
ahh I love waterfalls so much! Saving this for my upcoming trip to Hawaii.
Me too!!
This is making me want to go back to Hawaii! I just love hiking to find waterfalls (and everything else about the islands).
Lol me too! There’s just so much to do on this tiny lil piece of land!
Who doesn’t love a good waterfall! Something I always seek out when travelling… Even better if getting there requires a nice hike!
Totally agree!!
I would love this as I love both hiking and waterfalls. So rewarding to jump into a pond after a good hike. Plus all the fab pictures that you get to take along the way. So far, Kanchanaburi in Thailand has been my favourite. Would love to visit Oahu one day!
Ooh looks like a trip to Thailand needs to be planned soon :).
Lulumahu falls hike is illegal? But you can buy a permit from the Hawaii government website to go there. That’s confusing. Can you clarify this at all?
To my knowledge, the permits are to camp and hunt, not to hike. In addition, the vast majority of hikers, campers, and hunters near Lulumahu Falls do not have a permit.