Hawaiian Waters: Hawaii's Only Real Waterpark

Once you've lived here for a while, you figure it out: there are great beaches on Oahu, a few good children's museums, and year-round warm weather to encourage sports and an outdoor lifestyle. But your kids will get bored in Hawaii because of the scarcity of kid-oriented activities for families on a budget. This makes Hawaiian Waters, Hawaii's single waterpark, a lifesaver for our family.

Hawaiian Waters is open year-round, unlike waterparks on the mainland, and caters primarily to kama'aina, people who live in Hawaii. Admission for a single day is a little high for a small waterpark, over $30 for most people, but a season pass can be found for as cheap as $70, making it a great choice for natives and military families. With reasonably-priced food concessions, this means families can come and spend the day without spending all of their entertainment budget.

Hawaiian Waters' Attractions

Hawaiian Waters tries to cater to everyone, from families with small children to young adults looking for something a little different. I divide the park attractions into three main categories: families with small children, families with older children, and adult attractions.

On the small-child side, there are two miniparks. Keiki Cove is designed for the littlest children, with gentle mushroom waterfalls and tiny sloping waterslides ending in shallow water. Little ones from less than a year up to about five years old have a great time playing throughout this area, and an abundance of lifeguards helps ensure their safety. Waterworld is for somewhat older children, and has several more challenging waterslides that, by themselves, would fill out a decent neighborhood waterpark. You'll find watercannons here as well as floating obstacle courses and water deep enough to swim in.