Waimea Falls Park - Island of Oahu
Written: Jun 03 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Flowers, waterfalls, more flowers....
Cons: Expensive
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| hikini's Full Review: North Shore |
On the North Shore of the Island of Oahu is a beautiful park called Waimea Falls Park. Named for the falls at the far end of the park. But the falls are only one portion of the beauty to be found here.
This area on the island is full of lush, green, tropical vegetation. More so than any other place on the island in my opinion. This park is chock full of every kind of tropical plant, flower, tree, etc. Including fruit trees, coffee, coconut palms, etc.
To begin your tour, after buying your ticket (roughly $25.00 per person) you can either walk, or take an open-air tram ride to the falls. If you plan to walk, make sure to wear good, comfortable walking shoes because it is about a mile to the falls. The trail is easy, some uphill some down, but not strenuous.
All along the trail you can learn about the flora and fauna from all over the world. There are little signs that tell you what you are looking at and a brief history about each species. There are also signs telling you which direction to go towards the falls or back towards the main entrance.
I love flowers and this is the place to see them! You've never seen bigger Heliconias anywhere. The fragrant Plumerias, the brightest blooming red gingers! Aaaah, it's bee-oo-ti-full! Also, the air feels so soft. It's humid and clean and smells wonderful.
There are performances throughout the park at different times during the day. You can see a hula show in which there are "hula girls" who perform native Hawaiian dances as well as other dances from some of the Polynesian Islands. There are guys who dance too, of course! And they have music to accompany their performance, with 2 or 3 people playing ukuleles or guitars and bongo-type drums.
You can visit an ancient Hawaiian village and see how they lived, ate, slept, cooked, etc. There is also an area where you can learn some of the Hawaiian games.
Of course the biggest attraction at the park is the cliff diving. Before the diving begins, you are treated to 2 or 3 musicians who sing and play Hawaiian songs and 'teach' the audience how to do the hula. It's quite funny to see some of the people really getting into their hula-ing. I was taking pictures and one older lady to my left kept bumping into me while doing the hula and then apologizing. Only to bump into me again a few seconds later!
There are several performances per day in which 2 divers dive from the rock ledges high above the water. The falls are approximately 45 feet high, and the divers plunge into a natural pool that is usually quite deep. However, if there has been a draught, the pool gets more shallow and the diving becomes more dangerous. They perform their dives one at a time, and again as a tandem. Then as the grand finale, one of the divers climbs to a ledge about 60 feet above the water. All the while, they are wearing these skimpy little loin cloths, that appeared to me as if they could come off at any time. (I suppose that would thrill some of the ladies in the crowd!)
Throughout the park you will hear wild birds making their different calls. You will also see Peacocks here and there. We came across one who had its tail feathers fully fanned and I got some close-up pictures that turned out very nicely.
This is a place you could spend a whole day if you desired. It doesn't require a full day here, but it depends on your love for flowers and palms and that kind of thing.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hikini
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Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 218
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About Me:
Taking a long sabbatical.
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