O’ahu, the most populous and most visited of the Hawaiian Islands, offers a unique tourism experience compared to the others. Here you will find a big-city experience in Honolulu—the State of Hawaii’s capital and by far its biggest urban area, not to mention one of the most geographically isolated large cities in the world—combined with the kind of stunning tropical mountains-to-beach scenery for which this Polynesian archipelago is so renowned.
The high-relief jungle terrain of the Ko’olau and Wai’anae ranges are the eroded remnants of the two dead shield volcanoes that dominate O’ahu’s landscape. The prodigious trade-wind rainfall of the mountains (especially the more windward Ko’olau Range) makes for many steep-falling streams on the island. This sets the stage for the many waterfalls that the region is known for.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the very best O’ahu waterfalls: from easy-to-reach hotspots to remote plunges you’ve got to hike for hours to enjoy.
Getty Images / Jose Antonio Maciel
Manoa Falls
Location: Above the Manoa Valley in the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve
Difficulty: Fairly easy & family-friendly
A mighty pour-off on the Waihi Stream, Manoa Falls is one of the iconic waterfalls near Honolulu, with its trailhead lying just a short drive from Waikiki. The approximately 1.7-mile-long trail to access its lovely, 150-foot jungle chute plays out on a broad, well-graded path of minimal difficulty. Bear in mind that the tread can get a bit muddy during and after rainy stretches.
Give yourself an hour or two to make the journey, allowing time to soak up the lush ambience of the banyan and bamboo-scattered forest, which is famous for film and TV productions such as Jurassic Park and Lost. Given how close it is to Honolulu, expect plenty of company on this trail. Another plus is that the trailhead in the Manoa Valley sets you right on the doorstep of the fantastic Lyon Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
Getty Images / David Schwartz
Li’keke Falls
Location: Below the popular Nuuani Pali Lookout, windward Oahu
Difficulty: Moderate
The tiered tumble of Li’keke Falls is yet another popular scenic waterfall in the region. It’s a double drop along a short tributary of the Kamo’oalii Stream, one of the many draining the grand escarpment of the Nuuanu Pali: the windward cliffs of the Ko’olau Range that form some of Oahu’s most spectacular vistas.
You can reach Li’keke Falls via two main trails: a longer, tougher route that drops down from the popular (and windy!) viewpoint of the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, or a shorter, easier one uphill from the vicinity of the Ko’olau Golf Course/First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko’olau. It’s also possible to weave a visit to Li’keke Falls into a challenging but rewarding hike linking the golf-course trailhead with the Nuuani Pali Lookout. Regardless of the access you use, be prepared for muddy conditions, given the jungle setting.
Wikimedia Commons / Jason Jacobs / CC BY 2.0
Waimano Falls
Location: Ewa Forest Reserve, Waimano Section
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Another of the most popular Oahu waterfalls, Waimano Falls encompasses a few plunges that feed the paradisal Waimano Pools in the west-central Ko’olau Range. It’s about a 45-minute hike from the trailhead, beginning along the Manana Trail and then descending a forested slope to reach the streamway. The toughest part of the trek is the return, an uphill trek back to the ridgetop.
You’re likely to see folks here swimming and cliff-jumping in the plunge pool and taking advantage of a rope swing. As with any outdoor recreation in Hawaii, use your own discretion and practice common-sense safety. (Keep in mind that logs and other debris deposited by flash floods and other high flows may lie hidden in the pools!) Also, if you’re visiting during a dry stretch, don’t be disappointed if the cascades of Waimano Falls are on the meager side.
Getty Images / Shawn Lustig
Kapena Falls
Location: Honolulu, near the Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary
Difficulty: Easy
The 15-foot drop of Kapena Falls is may not be regarded as the most impressive waterfall on the “Gathering Place” isle, but it warrants inclusion on this list on account of its popularity and incredible convenience. This waterfall, located near Honolulu, is easily accessible. Despite being within the city limits, the lush vegetation along the way creates an illusion of being in a remote jungle.
The half-mile-long access path also offers a look at some Native Hawaiian petroglyphs: another reason to spare a half-hour or so during your Honolulu stay to visit Kapena Falls.
Difficulty: Moderate-challenging (depending on access route)
The steep cascades of Maunawili Falls are another of the best waterfalls in Oahu, a whitewater gem tucked into the Ko’loau Range headwater steeps of the Maunawili Valley. The main approach is from a residential trailhead in a Maunawili Valley neighborhood and takes a well-marked but rigorous footpath that involves root scrambling, rock-hopping stream crossings and no shortage of mud. Some of the stunning views of the Ko’olau ramparts and pali on this hike are as much a highlight as the waterfall itself.
An alternative approach is via the Maunawili (Demonstration) Trail off the Pali Highway; being roughly a seven mile long round-trip.
The flume of Maunawili Falls into its plunge pool, edged by hapu’u tree ferns and other lush vegetation, makes a magical scene. As with so many Oahu waterfalls, many visitors end up jumping and swimming in the pool but it is important to remember the risks inherent in such activities. Injuries and even deaths from unwary cliff-jumping aren’t uncommon, and Oahu’s freshwater can sicken you with the bacterial infection called leptospirosis.
Getty Images / Daniela Duncan
Waimea Falls
Location: Waimea Valley, Oahu North Shore
Difficulty: Easy
Among the best Oahu waterfalls for families, Waimea Falls is one of the defining landmarks of the Waimea Valley on Oahu’s North Shore. Waimea Valley holds great cultural significance as a Native Hawaiian cultural site and ahupua'a, representing a traditional land division from the mountains to the ocean. It is partly managed as a botanical garden and is overseen by the non-profit organization Hi'ipaka LLC. Access to the valley and its waterfall requires an admission fee.
Handsome Waimea Falls is a ledged horsetail waterfall pouring into a pool that is open for swimming—and lifeguarded—during the Waimea Valley attraction’s visitor hours. The easy ¾-mile path to Waimea Falls is level and paved, with offshoot gravel spurs exploring other corners of the botanical garden.
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