Peachy267

Getting ready for our trip in a few weeks and have just a few questions. I just read on Hawaii.com that Waimea Falls Park will be closing indefinitely on June 26. Does anyone know anything about this? Also, we will be on Oahu for 1 week in the end of July. I know summer is busy, but is it necessary to book excursions in advance or can we wait till we get there? Since it is our first time in Hawaii with our kids, we want to do a luau, specifically the one at the Royal Hawaiian. I can get an internet dicount of 20% off if I book ahead and since they only do it on Mondays and Thursdays, I thought this would be one thing to book ahead. We will have a car for the entire week so we will be able to get places like Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor on our own, but are there any things we should do or see while there that would be easier/better done with a tour or guide? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

vivi

Waimea Falls Park has been "for sale" for a long time. Maybe it sold? I heard it just wasn't profitable any more.

jette

The park itself has gone way down hill anyway. I first visited the park 15 years ago and was really impressed. Beautiful grounds and spectacular flower beds! I revisited last year and thought it just looked old and not well kept up. It was certainly not worth the hefty admission price. The beach, however, is still one of the most beautiful anywhere in the world and is still on my "must-do" list.

DB

We drove up to the park, saw the prices, and high-tailed it out of there. If they're closing it's probably because they chase people away with those prices, especially families.

Too many beaches to visit, too little time.

stevecat

There's a new owner coming on June 26, the National Audubon society. They will revamp the park to eliminate the amusement-park like setting and switch it back to its original days -- focusing on growing native plants with low admission fees. No idea on when it actually reopens to the public.

islandmom

That place was a rip-off, glad it will be changing. Haven't heard about it though.

Do not go on any paid guide tours. Those are rip-offs too!

Sarah

This park has changed hands many times. It is expensive but it is expensive to maintain this park. It use to be a great place for authentic hula, ancient Hawaiian huts/games, threatened plants and flowers but you have to be interested in that stuff to enjoy. I was last there in 96 I enjoyed it but I think it has changed hands twice since then.

So great to hear that the Audibon Society has taken it over.

Trojanboy

Waimea Falls has reopened. I don't think it ever actually closed except for a few hours over the weekend when they had local volunteers come in and spruce the place up before starting to accept paying visitors again.

The good news is the price for admission is now only 8bucks! (down from $26 just a week ago.) The bad news is the lowering of the price has caused them to get rid of nearly all the interesting things they had.

No more native dancers, no more waterfall diving guys, no more horse rides, etc. Now they are just a park again, and for better or worse at least they are more accessible to more people.

Nature as theme park ride is not exactly the best idea, especially in a place as beautiful as Hawaii, which should be shared by everyone! I'm sure the Audubon Society will do a better job than most other people. Go see for yourself and offer them support!

Sarah

the native exhibits were really the best on the island, too bad.