Bring the Kids: Waimea Valley & Waterfall

What is it?

For $16 per adult ($12 for Military) and $8 per child over 4 - You can visit the beautiful Waimea Valley. Waimea Valley is a place of conservation of the natural resources that the lush valley has to offer, and of ancient Hawaiian culture. The botanical garden is well stocked and beautiful, and the walk to the waterfall is an easy and peaceful one! It is well worth a visit!

- Basically, if you want to see the gorgeous flowers and plants of Hawaii while taking a leisurely stroll along a paved path, over rocky streams, to get to a beautiful waterfall that you can swim in - This is the place to go.

Our experience:

We got in for free. This was totally a one time deal though - we won tickets the weekend before at an event (insert shocked face here), so we decided to use them on my husband's birthday that week since he had the day off. We decided to go in the morning (as usual) on a gorgeous, overcast Wednesday.

We got there about an hour after it opened, and the parking lot was about half full already - so if you are going on a weekend, I would definitely suggest getting there EARLY.

Everything is stroller/wheelchair/wagon accessible, so we loaded the kids up in the wagon, and went into the visitor center. We were immediately greeted by an extremely nice and informative woman who told us exactly where to go, what we would see, and the best way to access it with our wagon. She even made sure we knew that the only bathrooms were right there at the visitor center.

The visitor center is lovely, open air, with a few little display cases of ancient Hawaiian artifacts and a gift shop. There is also a place to eat, and peacocks and chickens just wander around you aimlessly.

We walked in the direction of the "Green roofed hut" that the woman had pointed us to, and went through the gate with barely a glance at our tickets.

Once inside, we followed the path to a tent, where a TV was playing a video loop of information about the park, and local artisans were giving demonstrations on how to create certain things. We didn't feel like watching the whole video, so we moved on.

The entire path is paved, unless you want to branch off into the little side paths. Although a little rough, they were still doable with our wagon. Along the path are hundreds of different, gorgeous tropical flowers and plants. You pass under curtains of ivy, viney, twisting trees, and bushes full of vibrant flowers.  Definitely take the side paths to see all of the plants and flowers!

Also, be on the lookout for the Hawaiian Moorhen (a black, wetland bird with a red beak). Native to Hawaii, these birds are now endangered, and many make their home here!

Along the path, there are stairs that lead up to cultural sites, but if you go past them, you will come to a path without stairs that you can follow up in order to see them when you have wheels. There are numerous shrines dedicated to different Hawaiian gods along the way, as stones stacked in a certain way - which is why they ask you to be respectful and not displace any rocks during your visit.

Up at the cultural sites, you will find the Hale (homes), which are reconstructions of the ancient living sites, made in the traditional way with traditional techniques and all natural materials. My three year old LOVED going into the big hut with the old dug out canoe, and peeking inside the ones she couldn't go in.

After following the path over bridges with beautiful, rocky streams surrounded by lush jungle, you finally come to Waimea Falls. This is what we've been most excited about seeing here in the valley!

The day we went, it hadn't rained too much, so the falls weren't as powerful as normal - but they were still beautiful! The lady at the visitor center tells you whether the falls are safe for swimming that day or not before you enter, and we were good to go!

Before you can get in, you have to grab a mandatory life jacket from the lifeguards. It's 30 feet deep, and there are no exceptions! They have jackets for every shape and size. I didn't get to go in this time, since we had our wagon and a sleeping baby inside it - but I definitely will next time! My husband took our three year old daughter in, and then couldn't get her to leave. It is cool, quiet, refreshing and relaxing. You can swim right up to the cascading water and touch it.

But don't climb on the rocks unless you want someone to yell at you through a megaphone.

TIPS:

• Walking shoes are probably better than flip-flops, but flip-flops are totally doable. 
• Sunscreen and bug spray! 
• Don't touch the chickens. They are pestilence with wings. Don't feed Peacocks. They are jerks.
• You can spend anywhere from an hour to all day at this place, so bring snacks and water. 
• There are changing rooms at the waterfall, but its easier to just wear your suit since they are limited, and it tends to get crowded.
• Wagons are extremely loud on their pavement, and it sort of takes away from the beauty and peacefulness. We will take a stroller next time, or just carry/walk.