Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 1.7 miles / 2.7 km
Surrounded by a backdrop of tropical mountains deep in Mānoa Valley, the Mānoa Falls Trail is one of Oʻahu’s most popular day hikes near Waikīkī.
I not only say this because the beautiful 150-ft. (46 m) Mānoa Falls is one of the closest and most accessible hikes for those staying Waikīkī, but also, Mānoa Falls is a favorite among families because it’s easily Oʻahu’s best kid-friendly hike near Waikīkī.
That being said, I encourage you to learn more about fun adventures within a short drive of Waikīkī using the link below.
Read My Separate Post: Best Hikes Near Waikīkī
Mānoa Falls Guided Hiking Tour
If you don’t have transportation or would like to learn about the hike from a guide, I highly recommend booking one of the tours below. They are not only some of the cheapest options to hike Mānoa Falls, but both options provide roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Waikīkī.
Furthermore, one of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Mānoa Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mānoa Falls Trail is located at the very end of Mānoa Road in a small parking lot just prior to the trailhead.
Before arriving, be aware that there is a small fee to park, and know that parking is illegal along the side of the short road just prior to the paid parking area, as shown below.
Google Maps Directions: Mānoa Falls Trail
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail
From the parking lot, the Mānoa Falls Trail begins a short distance up the road that leads to Lyon Arboretum and the ʻAihualama Falls Trail.
Following the 2021 reopening of the Mānoa Falls Trail, the hike became a bit easier to navigate, as the reconstruction took a once very muddy and heavily-trafficked trail and transformed nearly every muddy and eroded section with a hardened, more stable surface to walk.
However, even with the reconstruction, the trail still presents its own challenges, as the Mānoa Falls hike is almost entirely uphill, from the trailhead to the waterfall at the end.
That being said, most visitors should be able to hike the less-than-one-mile Mānoa Falls Trail with relative ease, granted that you are in good shape for the hike.
When you come to the split in the photo below, go left to stay on the Mānoa Falls Trail, as the area to the right is more of a viewing/ relaxing area.
Mānoa Falls
After about 0.9 miles (1.4 km), the Mānoa Falls Trail ends at a viewing area near the base of Mānoa Falls.
In addition, the end of the trail also serves as the lower trailhead for the ʻAihualama Trail, which you can read more about in the section below.
Warning
It is illegal to proceed to the pool at the base of the falls, and hikers have been cited here before for hiking past the warning signs.
From personal experience, I’ve been told that individuals have been fined for disregarding instructions from an enforcement officer.
By this, I mean that despite being told not to proceed, they continued when they thought the officer had left, only to be caught when the officer reappeared.
What is the ʻAihualama Trail?
Just before Mānoa Falls, the trail passes by a junction for the ʻAihualama Trail.
Essentially, ʻAihualama is more or less a connector trail to the much larger network of trails located up on Tantalus.
For this reason, I suspect that it wouldn’t make sense for most Mānoa Falls hikers to hike the ʻAihualama Trail if you were interested in exploring the trails on Tantalus. I say this because it’s much more practical to drive to one of the many trailheads on Tantalus to start your hike, rather than ascend by way of Mānoa Falls.
In any case, the ʻAihualama Trail makes for a great workout to get to the beautiful Pauoa Flats Bench on Tantalus. To learn more about some of the other trails from the map in the photo below, I recommend reading through my separate article titled the Tantalus Loop Trail, as there are a variety of easier trailheads that you can begin at to reach the same viewpoint.
Read My Separate Post: ʻAihualama Trail / Tantalus Loop Trail
What is Lyon Arboretum & ʻAihualama Falls?
Yes, the ʻAihualama Trail, mentioned above, and ʻAihualama Falls are completely different adventures.
In short, Lyon Arboretum is both a beautiful tropical botanical garden, and a trail to ʻAihualama Falls.
To learn more about visiting Lyon Arboretum, the required reservations, and the trail to ʻAihualama Falls, I recommend reading all the details in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: ʻAihualama Falls Trail
Native Plants on the Mānoa Falls Trail
It is unfortunate that the vast majority of plants that you will see along the Mānoa Falls Trail are non-native/ invasive species.
However, there are a few natives to look out for, such as Hau trees that line part of the trail, Māmaki, and if you look up some of the trees, you may even see the native ʻĒkaha ferns.
If you are curious about trying the native Hawaiian Māmaki tea, I kindly ask that you don’t harvest Māmaki from our native forests but, instead, buy from one of the local reputable vendors, such as those listed below.
All being said, if you’d like to know more about these and tons of other native plants from across the islands, including many others found within Lyon Arboretum, I encourage you to learn more using the link below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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