Umaumu Falls is a small resort with many activities including ziplining, hiking, and a beautiful three-tiered waterfall. There is a small cost to visit Umauma Falls in Hawaii, with additional fees for the zipline, but we found this a great place to spend a few hours with the family.
Hike to Umauma Falls
First of all, there is an uphill hike to see Umauma Falls. Though the distance wasn’t bad, and even our three-year-old handled it easily, it was steep enough that Grandma didn’t want to make the attempt. There are also no alternatives like carts or wheelchairs, though the trail is wide and could accommodate them, so she waited in the car. The hike up to Umauma Fall is 1.0 mile roundtrip.
Gardens
We paid the fee ($10/person) and collected a map because there are a few things to see along the way. In the offseason, when we visited (late November) we were told that the kids could pick a flower or any fruit that the saw along the way. They enjoyed the flower garden, and we allowed each of the girls to pick a flower to wear Hawaiian-style in their hair. Further up the trail, we came across one fruit, the strawberry-guava, which we did pick and eat. It was yellowish-green and about the size of a plum. The taste was sweet, and it was filled with soft seeds that elicited a variety of reactions from our group.
Waterfall
After a steady climb up the paved trail, we came to the first overlook for Umaumu Falls. There are three tiers to the waterfall, and we named each one. The top is Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear because there are three little humps standing together like a family of bears taking a photo. The middle section we dubbed The Twins because there are two similar cascades running side by side. The lowest section we decided was Jack Sprat and his wife, because one section was quite a bit larger than the other. We spent a good amount of time taking photos and enjoying Umauma Falls.
Other Viewpoints
There is the option to hike hire up to other viewpoints. We decided to do this, but honestly, it wasn’t really worth it, though we did find the strawberry-guavas and some breadfruit trees up there. The first overlook was entirely blocked by the thick vegetation. The second and highest overlook looked at the gorgeous twin falls from the side, but it was not much to see after seeing all three waterfalls from the front stacked on top of one another. Hiking to the main overlook is plenty far enough.
Though some might find the cost a bit of a deterrent, we don’t mind a splurge when we’re on vacation. We gladly spent the money to see a rare triple waterfall. Umauma Falls in Hawaii offers a lot of other things to do in this area including ziplining, ATV rides, and horseback riding. For more information about what they offer, visit their site here: Umauma Experience.
