Wish You Were Here!
Welcome to the Manoa Falls!
While tourists associate Hawaii most often with crystal blue ocean water and sandy beaches, there is also the “jungle element” which entices many. For seekers of this scenery, there are few places more quintessential than the Manoa Falls. The mountains of Oahu receive rain almost daily, and because of this, there us a near constant stream of water at the Manoa falls; and because of this, it is well known and well visited!
The trail leading to the falls is a easy to moderate trek, ascending some 600 ft over ¾ of a mile (it’s about a 1.5 mile round trip). While the waterfall is not usually a massive cascade, at 150ft in height, it is always a delight to experience, even when only clinging to its cliffs. The journey to the falls is equally charming however, with numerous spots on the trail to stop and observe tropical plants.
At the bottom of the falls there is a constat pool of water, which unfortunately people do swim in despite numerous signs saying not to as there is a substantial risk of Leptospirosis in the water. Again, this trail is well known and can get quite crowded, especially after a rain storm, so make sure to arrive early to beat the crowds. As well, for obvious reasons, it can be quite muddy, so be prepared for that as well.
Though the trail technically is free, parking at the trailhead is $7.00 per vehicle. The trailhead also hosts numerous concession stands, and also serves as the main parking for the adjacent Lyon Arboretum, which is owned by UH Manoa, and opened to the public as well (see link for details).
For more information including reviews, weather and hiking conditions, and more, check out AllTrails’ Manoa Falls Trail page.
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