Waterfalls on Oahu Hawaii

Hawaii Waterfalls - Oahu

Hawaii Waterfalls are beautiful, powerful, and full of life. But only a few waterfalls on Oahu are accessible. Some Best of Oahu waterfalls only require a quick hike, while others take an hour or two to reach. If you are feeling a little adventurous & up for a bit of trekking, then there is an Oahu waterfall waiting for you! So the question should be which waterfalls in Oahu are worth hiking?

Most Oahu waterfalls are tucked deep inside the rainforest, & they cannot be viewed just from scenic lookout points. But after a good rainfall, there is one visible Oahu waterfall that can be seen from a distance as you drive up to the Pali Highway towards Kailua.

Of all the waterfalls on Oahu, this one has taken on the precarious name "The Upside Down Waterfall," as it seems that the water never hits the ground. The powerful Pali mountainside winds sweep up the cascading water back up into the air until it finally dissipates.

With nowhere to pull over to view these impressive 100 feet plus cascading Hawaii waterfall, or easy hike involved to get there, simply keep your eyes focused on the right-hand side of the highway (unless you're the driver) about a mile before you exit to the Pali Lookout. If you're lucky, you might get a glimpse of this mysterious Oahu waterfall wonder.

Oahu Waterfalls you can hike to
Although there are only a few accessible waterfalls in Oahu, each offers a unique setting worth exploring! If you are feeling adventurous & up for a bit of trekking, some fantastic Oahu waterfalls are waiting for you!

Whether you are a Hawaii waterfalls enthusiast or want to satisfy your craving for waterfall adventure & curiosity, the list below is an excellent sampling of Hawaii waterfalls on Oahu.

Click on each one to learn more about how to explore these incredible natural wonders.

Waimea Falls Park

Plan on a fun family stroll versus an adventurous hike to reach this stunning Oahu waterfall. Please don't get me wrong. You will be walking along with some beautiful botanical gardens as you make your way towards the Waimea Falls.

Located on the Waimea Valley grounds, this is the only waterfall in Oahu that you can swim at that also has a changing room, life jackets available, & lifeguards on duty. Also, plan on spending some extra time checking out the Hawaiian cultural activities that take place daily on the Waimea Valley estates before starting your journey to the Waimea Falls.

Manoa Falls

This waterfall on Oahu is the closest falls from Waikiki and one of the most stunning Oahu Waterfalls worth visiting on the island!
A quick 15 to 20-minute drive will take you from the Waikiki hotels to the lush Manoa Valley. Manoa is the wettest spot on Oahu that receives more rainfall than anywhere else on the island. Just imagine the impact this has on this Oahu waterfall! See Manoa Falls

The trek up to Manoa Falls is pretty much a flat trail but can get muddy at times, as you could imagine. Stay the course for about an hour, & you will find yourself staring up at one of the tallest Oahu waterfalls -150 feet tall!

Lulumahu Falls

Lulumahu Falls is 1 of 5 famous waterfalls in the Pali region! I like this waterfall a lot as it resides close to the Kaniakapupu Ruins, better known as King Kamehameha III's summer home. This waterfall has a great Indiana Jones adventure-like trail to get there. It will take you about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the 50 feet plus Lulumahu waterfall.
I promise you that you will not find yourself bored hiking into a dense bamboo forest, climbing up old waterwork structures, & wandering into the mystical Hawaiian jungle!

Caution: You will not find many hikers on the paths to this waterfall, so it is essential to travel with a buddy & use a map for this hike. Make sure you have drinking water, a fully charged cellphone.

Lili uokalani Falls

Just north of Foster Garden & located between North Kuakini & School Streets is Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden. Portions of this 7½ acre garden were once the property & favorite picnic grounds of Queen Lili'uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawai'i. She later bequeathed her land to the City & County of Honolulu for the public's enjoyment. This developing garden is devoted to native Hawaiian plants. The gardens are open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. They are closed on Christmas & New Year's days. See Lili uokalani Falls

Li'keke Falls

Most visitors journey up to the Pali Highway Lookout for the breathtaking views of the easterly Windward side of the island. Not many people hike down the old Pali Road located below to discover the Likeke Falls.

A wonderful adventurous hike down broken sections of the original Pali Highway & through a dense jungly forest will keep you entertained as the scenery continuously changes, traveling to the impressive 20 feet Oahu waterfalls.

Maunawili Falls Trail

Also located close to the Pali Highway on the Kailua side of the Ko'olau Mountains is another spectacular Oahu Waterfall. This one towers an impressive 25 feet!

It will take you about an hour or two to reach the Maunawili Falls, & it can get quite muddy, as it rains quite often in this region. The best part is that you can swim in these waters & even take a 30 feet rock plunge into it if you dare!

Kapena Falls

You can access Kapena Falls from the side of the southbound side of the Pali Highway. There is little to no hike involved, but you will need to carefully walk up about 50 yards alongside the Hwy before jumping over a tiny 3 feet wall & trekking down a few more feet to reach the action!

Laie Falls Trail

Step into the North Shore countryside near the Polynesian Cultural Center & hike the Laie trail that leads straight up to the Ko'olau mountain summit & to a beautiful 15 feet Oahu waterfall!

Laie Falls is a moderate 2.5-mile hike to reach the double-sided waterfall. The terrain combines open field dirt roads, winding ridge trails filled with guava trees & a Cook Pine Tree forest.

The backdrop view of Laie Point is not only beautiful, but a scene for what untouched Hawaii might have looked like a few centuries ago.
Laie Falls is an excellent nearby alternative to the closed Sacred Falls, located 5 minutes away.