Welcome to Waimea Valley, nearly 2,000 acres of pristine rainforest, waterfalls and trails. The Valley is easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in Hawaii. Waimea means “The Valley of the Priests” and has been sacred ground to Native Hawaiians for almost 1,000 years. It was parceled out as ahupuaa, meaning a slice of coastal land chosen by the ruler of the island, to the priests. Now the Waimea property is maintained by several government institutions and a local non-profit and is open to the public, who are welcome to enjoy the rainforest biodiversity from trail loops, bridges and natural swimming ponds.
The valley preserves and protects many tropical species of plants that you might find in local Waimea real estate landscaping. Trails are dotted with White Bird-of-Paradise, Hibiscus hybrids, Ginseng and plants from other parts of the world, like Sri Lanka, Central America and the Bonin Islands.
Waimea Valley is located on the North Shore at 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy. across from Waimea Bay near many choice pieces of Waimea real estate. The park and gardens are open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tickets can be purchased individually or in groups, and annual passes are available. There’s also a golf cart shuttle available for visitors who need assistance getting around the park. For more information or to plan a trip, visit Waimea Valley or call (808) 638-7766.