Manoa Falls Trail Tips
The Manoa Falls Trail is different from most hikes I’ve taken, in that it wasn’t very steep, nor was there a lookout at the “top”. Though, what you do get at the end of your hike is a beautiful waterfall! Hiking to Manoa Falls makes you feel like you’re in a land that is a cross between Avatar and Jurassic Park. With bright green foliage everywhere and a beautiful waterfall at the end, hiking Manoa Falls is a must!
Come Early
With all hikes, they are usually easier if you arrive in the morning. Generally there will be less of a crowd and the weather won’t be as hot or humid. Parking will also generally be easier in the morning; we arrived at 7am and there was plenty of space!
Parking and Cost
The most accurate Manoa Falls address is to put in the address for the Manoa Falls Trail Parking: 3739 Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822. You will park here and take a short walk to the trail entrance.
This small parking lot costs $5. When we arrived there was a sign that says to wait for the attendant to pay, but no one ever showed up. I would bring cash and expect to pay the $5!
If you park in this lot, walk up the paved road for a few minutes and you will see a sign for the beginning of the Manoa Falls Trail. There is no fee to walk on the trail itself.
Muddy Terrain
We didn’t experience any rain on our trip, but it seems that the Manoa Falls Trail and the surrounding area gets rain more often than other areas of the island! When we were walking through the trail we felt a few drops of water on our heads and the ground was muddy/wet.
Make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty in case the Manoa Falls weather and terrain is the same when you visit! Also keep in mind that there are a lot of rocks you have to step on as you walk along the trail, many of which are slippery due to the rain and mud.
Other Helpful Tips
It took us an hour to walk up the Manoa Falls trail, take photos, and walk back down. We saw people of all ages walking the trail, including families with small children. We even saw two guys running up and down the trail for exercise!
I know it would make the perfect photo-op to swim in the pool of water below the waterfall, but I suggest not doing so. The water is known to have harmful bacteria, and this area is also at risk for rockslides; the most recent rockslide happened in 2018. I don’t see how any picture is worth risking your safety!
If you’re looking for a longer, tougher trail after seeing the waterfall, there’s a trail named Aihualama Trail that connects to the Manoa Falls Trail. I would research the length and difficulty of this hike beforehand, but I hear it has a great view!
I really suggest taking the short drive from Honolulu to visit Manoa Falls. There’s greenery as far as the eye can see, and it’s a pretty easy hike if it’s not wet and muddy. Even with the mud, we saw entire families with their small children along the hike too! I still can’t believe this beautiful area was only a short drive from our hotel in Waikiki!
