Your TL;DR Guide to Hiking on Oahu, Hawai’i
TL;DR: Manoa Falls is a beautiful destination in Oahu’s mountains. With gorgeous hiking trails and close proximity to Lyon Arboretum, Manoa Falls makes for a great outdoor adventure in the charming Honolulu. Bring plenty of water and bug repellent as you’ll definitely need both in this incredibly humid atmosphere. While the trail itself is labeled as “moderate” good shoes and steady footing are required for the slippery mud and loose rocks on the trail.
- What Makes Manoa Falls Special?
- The Logistics
- Other Things to Do at Manoa Falls: Amenities, Dining, and More
- From the blog
Oahu – and all the Islands of Hawai’i for that matter – has some of the most beautiful outdoor destinations. With miles of coastal landscape, acres of farmland, and an expanse of tropical rainforest, Oahu will surely remind you to be in awe of the wild and natural environment. And there is only so much you can see from your car or lounging at the beach – although we do love a good beach day!
If you’re looking to explore the great outdoors on Oahu, read on for some information to help you plan your trip!
What Makes Manoa Falls Special?
On my last trip to Oahu, we woke up early one morning and headed out for Manoa Falls. Although Manoa Falls is technically located in Honolulu, it doesn’t look anything like the rest of the city.
Greeted by gorgeous greenery seemingly straight out of a Hollywood Film (hello, Jurassic World and Catching Fire), Manoa Falls is a part of the Honolulu Makau Trail System. The Manoa Falls trail is a little over 1.5 miles or 2.5 kilometers, leading travelers through a muddy and rocky trail in the rainforest. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the trail’s namesake Manoa Falls – the towering 150 ft waterfall.
The Logistics
At a Glance
Address: 3737 Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822 (address for Paradise Park; Trail head is at the end of Manoa Rd)
Hours: Not stated; roughly 8am-6pm (although some have reported arriving at 7am to beat the crowds)
Parking: $7 per car (military and local discount available)
Total Time: 45 minutes +
The Best Time to Visit Manoa Falls
Manoa Falls is a fairly short hike, with some travelers making the full trek in about 30 minutes.
However, if you prefer to take your time or like to stop for photos, plan for at least 45 minutes (if not an hour) for your hike. While the mileage may seem small, keep in mind that the rainforest is incredibly humid, which makes the overall hike a little more difficult.
To avoid some of the heat, it’s generally recommended that you make the hike earlier in the day. This will give you plenty of daylight, help you avoid crowds on the trail, and keep you away from that intense afternoon sun.
That being said, this is a popular hiking destination and people will be out on the trail no matter when you go (it’s still worth it though!).
Entrance Fee & Parking for Manoa Falls
When you first enter the park, you’ll be greeted by a park employee who will collect your car fee. They usually have a selection of essentials for purchase (at a premium – so save money and plan ahead!).
To your right is the visitor center where you’ll find a restroom, gift shop, mini museum, and small eatery.
It costs a few dollars to park (walking in by foot is free) – but the price can change. I believe it’s currently $7 (for tourists), but bring some extra change just in case. And the fee is paid in cash.
Parking is fairly simple – just follow the posted signs and you’ll be directed to the correct lot. From there, the trail head is just a short stroll away!
What to Bring with you to Manoa Falls
Like I mentioned above, you can buy a few essentials at the start of Manoa Falls trail. BUT those items will be priced up – a convenience fee, if you will. Instead, consider packing the below (in addition to any special items you may personally need) ahead of time to save you some time and money.
- Sunscreen
- Water (bring plenty!)
- Bug repellent
- Shoes with good tread (THEY WILL GET MUDDY) – I wore HOKA’s, but traditional hiking shoes would be ideal given the mud
- Protein Bar/Granola Bar – to help fight any humidity exhaustion and fatigue
- Optional: hat/walking stick – I normally love a good hat, but much of the trail is out of the direct sunlight, and the humidity was bothering me. Hiking sticks can be helpful.
- Bonus: not essential, but a small cloth or wipe would be GOLDEN. There are hoses to rinse off your shoes, but I somehow ended up with mud everywhere – it’s a special talent, I suppose – so if you’re like me, you may want to prepare for a little clean-up before getting in your car.
Safety on the Trail
Creatures & Critters
I have spent a decent amount of time hiking in places where there are large predators out and about – and one of the first things that occurred to me is how peaceful this trail is. There are no large predators (aside from the other humans on the trail) – but there are a TON OF MOSQUITOES.
And maybe I’m bitter because I was bitten so many times, but mosquitoes may be on par with stepping on a Lego for me, emotionally speaking. So don’t be like me and prepare better for the bugs with copious amounts of bug spray or clothing to keep the little buggers at bay.
There are also a lot of chickens in the parking lot – which is true for a lot of Hawai’i. I’ve been told the chickens at Manoa Falls in particular can be a little…aggressive… but we mutually left each other alone and I had no issues. So take that as you will.
Stick to the Path
Like many hiking trails, there is a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure feel to it. Some people are determined to hike to the end and back as quickly as possible. Many people are more inclined to leisurely stroll. And some people want to get off the beaten path a little – but please, don’t do this.
Whether you walk quickly or slowly, just stick to the trails. Don’t go in the water – there are plenty of signs posted warning against this because of pathogens – and don’t try to scale the mountain sides (the dirt is much looser and more dangerous). And, in general, keep an eye out for your fellow hikers – yield when you need to in order to accommodate those passing you.
Also, leave no trace and help preserve the beautiful scenery by picking up your trash. And leave any leaves, flowers, rocks, or sticks behind!
Accessibility on the Trail
Manoa Falls Trail is NOT an accessible trail – it consists of tightly packed dirt, slippery mud, and loose rocks. There are no steep inclines or significantly narrow portions to the trail, which makes the path easier to walk on.
There are a few noteworthy places along the hike to stop and take photos, should anyone decide they don’t want to make the full journey to the waterfall. In fact, the first portion of the hike, which takes you to this beautiful scene (pictured next) and shipping containers (pictured above), is mostly paved and flat, making it ideal for most novice hikers.
Before you reach the waterfall, you’ll also find another designated photo stop of a small tree stump throne that people love to visit and get photos. From there, the hike (although still accurately labeled as “moderate”) will get a little more difficult as the air is more humid and the trail becomes a bit slicker closer to the waterfall.
All in all, this is a fairly straightforward hiking trail. The reason it’s labeled “moderate” as opposed to “easy” will be the unsteady/slick terrain and high humidity which makes the air thicker.
That being said, you will find that people of varying physical abilities/hiking levels enjoy their time on the trail every day – hopefully, with these helpful hints, you’ll be able to enjoy your time a little bit more!
Other Things to Do at Manoa Falls: Amenities, Dining, and More
Museum & Gift Shop
Before you head out on the trail (and your clothes get muddy), stop in to the visitor center where you can peruse through some local art, photographs, and more in the area. There is also a small gift shop (Na Makaha at Paradise Park) – but the shop’s hours do vary depending on the shopkeeper’s availability.
Dining and Other Amenities
Indoor restrooms and hoses to wash off the mud are available at the visitor center.
At the start of the trail, you’ll also find a brush so you can wipe off any dirt before and after you hike.
Near-by Attractions
Manoa Falls and the Manoa Valley are full of fun things to explore. Aside from hiking other trails in the Makau Trail System, you can also visit the Lyon Arboretum nearby for more hiking and plant life (a TL;DR Guide on this is coming soon!).
Oahu’s Manoa Falls is a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure-seekers. With picturesque scenery that has caught the eye of Hollywood filmmakers and a stunning 150 ft waterfall, Manoa Falls will surely delight.
What other hiking spots in Hawai’i do you enjoy visiting?
TL;DR Travels 
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