Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu
Adventure Destination

Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu

Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu8.6/10Moderate
Photo Gallery

Category

Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu

Typical Duration

2-4 hours

Difficulty

Moderate

About This Adventure Destination

Introductory Overview

The Mānoa Falls Trail is one of Oahu’s most accessible and rewarding hikes, leading to a 150-foot waterfall surrounded by lush rainforest. Just a short drive from Honolulu, this trail offers a serene escape into a tropical paradise, making it a favorite among both locals and visitors. The path winds through a dense bamboo forest and past towering tropical trees, providing a picturesque experience. Due to the region's frequent rainfall, the trail can be muddy and slippery, so proper footwear is recommended.

Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu

Adventure Guide to Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu

1

#

  • Highlights:

2

Trailhead and Route Description

  • Details:

    Location: Mānoa Valley, approximately 15 minutes from Waikiki.

  • Details:

    Distance & Difficulty: 1.6 miles round trip, easy-to-moderate difficulty. The elevation gain is about 800 feet, making it a relatively gentle hike.

  • Details:

    Key Features: Walk through a lush rainforest featuring banyan, eucalyptus, and kukui trees. The towering bamboo groves create an enchanting atmosphere, while the sound of flowing water enhances the experience.

3

Mānoa Falls – The Highlight

  • Details:

    Height: 150 feet, often cascading with water, especially after rainfall.

  • Details:

    Swimming? Swimming is not recommended due to the risk of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection found in Hawaiian freshwater.

  • Details:

    Best Viewing Spot: A designated viewing area prevents erosion and allows for excellent photography opportunities.

4

Flora and Fauna Encounter

  • Details:

    Wildlife: Keep an eye out for colorful birds such as the Hawaiian honeycreeper.

  • Details:

    Plant Life: The trail passes by giant ferns, ti plants, and ʻōhiʻa lehua trees, which hold cultural significance in Hawaiian mythology.

5

Local Insights

  • Details:

    Cultural Significance: The Mānoa Valley is steeped in Hawaiian folklore, believed to be home to the Menehune, mythical little people said to have built ancient structures across Hawaii.

  • Details:

    Filming Location: The surrounding rainforest has appeared in films like Jurassic Park and the TV show Lost, adding to its mystique.

6

Visitor Tips

  • Details:

    Best Time to Visit: Morning hours (before 10 AM) offer cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Afternoons can bring heavy rain, making conditions muddier.

  • Details:

    What to Bring:

  • Details:

    Sturdy hiking shoes for muddy terrain.

  • Details:

    Bug spray to ward off mosquitoes.

  • Details:

    Light rain jacket in case of sudden showers.

  • Details:

    Driving Directions: From Waikiki, take Mānoa Road to the parking lot at Paradise Park ($7 parking fee). Additional free parking is available further down if you don’t mind walking.

Reviews

N
Northstar Glassin the last week

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

C
Cristina Casperin the last week

Such a lovely and rewarding hike!

O
otosan 86522 weeks ago

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

M
Meg Sa week ago

I had a lot of fun in a jungle that I had never experienced before. It was January, when there was little rain, so the waterfall was a bit slow, but we were able to fully enjoy the great outdoors. I like this hike more than the Diamond Head hike because it's more extraordinary. However, even when I was wearing long pants, I was still getting a lot of mosquito bites, which developed into hives all over my body. Be sure to bring insect repellent spray. Sneakers are required as the ground is muddy. I'm not used to hiking, so it took me about 90 minutes. We were staying at the Hyatt Regency, but we didn't know much about buses, so we took Lyft and it cost about $15. There is a clean restroom at the entrance to the hike.

E
Erin Howein the last week

Your mileage may vary- when we visited it wasn’t really a waterfall. It’s more of a trickle. So for us it was a bit of a let down to get to the ”falls” and not really see any. Still a nice hike through a pretty area. A little crowded and the trails could use some upkeep. We might have been able to overlook these a bit more easily had we been treated with amazing waterfall views. Alas, luck was not on our side and thus the honest review of what we found.

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Adventure Destinations

View All Destinations →
Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu8.00 miEasy
3978-3960 Manoa Rd

Hiking the Mānoa Falls Trail, Oahu

Explore the 1.6-mile Mānoa Falls Trail near Honolulu, Hawaii. This easy hike through lush rainforest leads to a stunning 150-foot waterfall. Ideal for families and nature lovers, enjoy birding and photography, but watch for muddy terrain.

View Details →
Hiking to Mānoa Falls8.50.00 mi
Mānoa Falls Trail

Hiking to Mānoa Falls

Explore the 1.6-mile Mānoa Falls Trail near Honolulu, HI. This route leads to a stunning 150-foot waterfall and is a favorite for hiking and photography. The trail is accessible year-round but can get busy during peak times. No permit required.

View Details →
Waterfall Wonder: Luaalaea Waterfall Trail in Honolulu6.80.01 miEasy
Luaalaea waterfall trail

Waterfall Wonder: Luaalaea Waterfall Trail in Honolulu

Explore the Luaalaea Waterfall Trail in Honolulu for an easy, peaceful hike through tropical vegetation leading to a gentle waterfall. Enjoy photography, bird watching, and nature observation in a quiet setting ideal for most visitors year-round.

View Details →
Nearby Adventures

Bookable Experiences

Along Footbridges and Streams: Hiking Honolulu’s Aihualama Trail to a Rainforest Waterfall0.39 mi
Honolulu, Hawaii

Along Footbridges and Streams: Hiking Honolulu’s Aihualama Trail to a Rainforest Waterfall

A 3.5-hour operator-run hike that threads Honolulu’s rainforest along footbridges and stream crossings to a waterfall viewing area—this guide helps you set expectations for terrain, timing and safety.

0.39 miView Trips & Details →
Manoa Falls by Ebike and Foot: A 10-Mile Glide into a 2-Mile Waterfall Hike0.59 mi
Honolulu, Hawaii

Manoa Falls by Ebike and Foot: A 10-Mile Glide into a 2-Mile Waterfall Hike

A guided combination ebike ride and short hike that pairs narrated rides through Honolulu with a trek to Manoa Falls and a healthy local café meal—essential intel for planning the afternoon adventure.

0.59 miView Trips & Details →
Rainforest Rhythm: Hiking Manoa Valley to the 150‑foot Manoa Falls1.16 mi
Honolulu, Hawaii

Rainforest Rhythm: Hiking Manoa Valley to the 150‑foot Manoa Falls

A 5-hour guided hike from Waikiki into Manoa Valley's rainforest to visit the 150-foot Manoa Falls and finish with a healthy lunch — this guide outlines the route, what to bring, and what to expect.

1.16 miView Trips & Details →
Manoa Falls to Puu Ohia: Six Hours of Rainforest Hike and Downhill Bike in Honolulu1.18 mi
Honolulu, Hawaii

Manoa Falls to Puu Ohia: Six Hours of Rainforest Hike and Downhill Bike in Honolulu

A guided Oʻahu combo tour that pairs a moderate 2-mile guided hike to the 150-foot Manoa Falls with an easy 5-mile downhill bike ride through the island’s Puu Ohia rainforest—this guide lays out what to expect and who it suits.

1.18 miView Trips & Details →
Waikiki Escape: Electric Ride and Rainforest Hike to Manoa Falls1.20 mi
Honolulu, Hawaii

Waikiki Escape: Electric Ride and Rainforest Hike to Manoa Falls

A four-hour outing that combines a short electric-bike ride out of Waikiki with a walk through lush rainforest to the cascade at Manoa Falls—this guide distills what to expect and how to plan.

1.20 miView Trips & Details →
Inside Ossipoff’s Hawaiian Modern Masterpiece: A Private Viewing of the Liljestrand House2.06 mi
Honolulu, Hawaii

Inside Ossipoff’s Hawaiian Modern Masterpiece: A Private Viewing of the Liljestrand House

A focused, 90-minute private tour of the Liljestrand House that traces Vladimir Ossipoff’s mid‑twentieth‑century Hawaiian modern architecture and the home’s history—this guide explains what to expect and how to book.

2.06 miView Trips & Details →