The 12 Best Waterfall Hikes On Oahu For All Skill Levels

UPDATED MAR 2020. When you think of Hawaii you think of palm trees and golden sandy beaches, right? That’s what you see on the postcards but it’s certainly not all that Hawaii has to showcase. Not even close. All over the island, there are also plenty of amazing waterfalls. Here’s a guide to some of the best waterfall hikes on Oahu. I’ve linked full hiking guides to the ones I have written guides for so you have as much information as you can get to plan your own adventures.

The 12 Best Waterfall Hikes On Oahu For All Skill Levels

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Beginner waterfall hikes on Oahu

Manoa Falls

A short and sweet waterfall hike which is a great choice if you are new to hiking or not very confident. It’s a popular trail not far from Waikiki, so expect to see more of a crowd here.

You can’t swim in this waterfall due to safety restrictions. Instead, this is a waterfall hike where you can watch the falls from behind the fence.

The trail is well maintained and easy to follow and there’s lots of gorgeous scenery to admire along the way.

More information: Here’s my full hiking guide to Manoa Falls

Waimea Falls

Waimea Falls is a popular touristy waterfall on the North Shore and is more of a tourist attraction than a hike in the jungle. It costs $18USD per adult to enter.

While you are there you can see presentations on Hawaiian culture, walk to the waterfalls, and soak in the setting of the beautiful gardens.

The hike itself is very easy. You walk to the falls on the pathway through the Waimea Gardens.

After your visit, I recommend going for a swim at Waimea Bay.

Hamama Falls

This is a nice little waterfall trail on the Kaneohe side of the island. It’s a short and easy hike to do. The only tricky part is the incline section that can be a little slippery if it has been raining a lot.

It takes you through a Lost-style jungle then up a dirt incline to lead you to the hidden falls. There’s no area to swim at the falls. Instead, there’s just a tiny pond in the rocks below.

If you want to swim, there is a pond towards the start of the trail where you can swim in. In that pond, there is also jump spots from the trees.

Hamama Falls – one of the best waterfall hikes on Oahu

Kapena Falls

This is another waterfall hike located in Honolulu. It’s easy to get to, easy to hike to, and there’s also a cave with Petroglyphs you can see nearby.

The hike itself will be over quickly and won’t blow your mind, but the Jurassic Park like jungle setting might.

There is enough room to swim in and a few jump spots of different levels. Though, the water is not the nicest looking water to swim in so I’d recommend saving your swimming for some of the other trails.

Kapena Falls

Maunawili Falls

Maunawili Falls is one of the most popular and best waterfall hikes on Oahu and for good reason.

It is a beautiful trail, albeit a muddy one, with the views certainly making up for the mud factor.

Once you get to the waterfall itself, there is a gorgeous pond to swim in and even a couple of jumping spots, big and small so a jump for every adventurer.

More information: Here’s my full hiking guide to Maunawili Falls

Jackass Ginger Pool

Here’s another fairly easy trail waterfall hike on Oahu.

There’s a pool that is big enough to swim in at this one and some jump spots as well. It’s a nice area to explore because as you go further up, you can see other trickling falls.

The Jackass Ginger Pool is near Lulumahu Falls. You will get to this pool using the Judd Memorial Trail and can combine it with a hike to the Kings Ruins which are incredible to see.

Likeke Falls

A fun little trail that starts near the Pali Lookout, the Likeke Falls trail is known for the very artistic graffiti trail markings.

The trail is another gorgeous jungle trail that is fairly easy to navigate as you make your way to the falls. There is a small pond to swim in and two tiers of waterfalls to explore.

More information: Here’s my full hiking guide to Likeke Falls

Likeke Falls

Intermediate waterfall hikes on Oahu

Waimano Falls

The Waimano Falls trail can be a little more strenuous because it is steep in some areas. Rest assured though, even though it can be tiring on the legs at times, it is definitely worth it.

It’s fairly popular so the trail is well worn and there is enough room to slow down, move to the side, and take your time. Especially over the slippery sections.

These falls have tiered ponds like jungle jacuzzis. There’s enough room for a swim, as well as a jump spot and rope swing.

Lulumahu Falls

This is another really popular waterfall trail on Oahu. The trail to Lulumahu falls begin off the Pali Highway. You will follow trail ribbons that lead you through the muddy jungle to the beautiful falls.

There are a lot of good photo opportunities in the beautiful scenery from the bamboo forest to the jungle setting. The falls themselves always make for good photos too.

There’s a small spot to swim in, but it’s not very deep. It’s more like a place to cool off really.

Laie Falls

This is a steep and slippery trail that is longer than most others on the list. The pretty waterfall has a pond large enough to swim and it’s a nice place to pack a picnic to eat by the falls.

You need to get a permit for this hike. You can get the permit from Hawaii Reserves Inc. at the Laie Shopping Center.

Check out the Forgetting Sarah Marshall jump spot in Laie after your hike.

Advanced waterfall hike on Oahu

Ka’au Crater Trail

This is a more advanced waterfall trail on Oahu and takes between 5-7 hours, depending on your skill. It’s best for people with a good amount of fitness and hiking skills.

The trail is unmaintained so you need to pay close attention to the trail markers. After walking through a muddy trail you will arrive at three waterfalls. The loop trail continues on to the peak and then goes around the whole crater and has incredible views.

Safety tips for waterfall hikes on Oahu

Take insect repellent

With waterfall trails come mosquitoes. And lots of them.

Make sure you use insect repellent before you hike and you’ll need to take some with you to reapply during the trail.

Prepare for muddy trails

Don’t wear your favorite clothes on the waterfall hikes because there’s a good chance you’ll get muddy.

If you have anything that’s white or light colors, it might get stained.

Use good hiking shoes

A lot of the trails can be muddy and slippery. Make sure you have some good hiking shoes that will get you through the hikes. I use the New Balance Minimus and love them.

They’re lightweight and breathable but still have a good grip and help keep me stable while hiking.

Be aware of Leptospirosis

Avoid waterfall hikes if you have any open cuts or wounds because there is Leptospirosis in a lot of the water.

If you will be hiking with your dog, make sure they’re up to date with their vaccines.

Always check the weather prior

Flash flooding can occur on the island. Make sure you always check the weather and avoid the trails if it has been raining heavily or if heavy rains are forecasted.

Where to stay on Oahu

Waikiki is a fantastic base for any vacation to Oahu and my favorite place to stay there is the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

If you’d prefer to stay on the North Shore, I love Turtle Bay Resort. It gives you the same resort style “I’m on vacation in Hawaii” feeling but it’s nestled away from the hustle and bustle.

No matter where you chose to stay, I recommend browsing Booking.com. This is the site I use to book accommodation when I travel and I can always find a good deal there.

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