Waimea River (Oahu) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waimea River
Waimea Falls on the Kamananui stream a tributary of the Waimea
Location of the mouth within Oahu
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
County	Honolulu County
Physical characteristics
Main source	Waimea Valley
River mouth	Waimea Bay 21°38′27″N 158°03′48″W / 21.64074°N 158.06324°W / 21.64074; -158.06324
Length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Basin features
Basin size	13.6 sq mi (35 km2)

The Waimea River is a river in Honolulu County on the island of Oʻahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The river's main channel is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long (complete length is 64.4 miles including all tributaries), and has a watershed spanning 13.6 square miles. It is formed by the confluence of the Kamananui stream and the Kaiwikoʻele stream northeast of Haleiwa and flows northwest through the Waimea Valley to the Pacific Ocean at Waimea Bay. The name Waimea translates to "red water."

The mouth of the river has become famous for its waves that are created when residents dredge the beach, creating a channel that allows the watercourse to drain when it is cut off by the beach.