Manoa Falls has to be one of the most fascinating waterfalls on Oahu! Cascading 150 feet down the mountainside, it will seem more like 1,000 feet as you stare up at the endless water falling down the rocks.

Not many Oahu waterfalls are easy to travel to, that can also deliver such an impressive show! If you have some time before or after Gay Bowl XXII and want a quick jaunt, try Manoa Falls.

HIKE DETAILS

Elevation     600 Feet

Length         1.7 Miles Round Trip

Duration       60 to 90 Minutes

Terrain           Gradual Climb, Muddy, Rocky

Difficulty        Easy to Medium

Disclaimer – all Oahu hikes have different challenges and hazards that can be dangerous and may inflict injury. Know your fitness and skill level before embarking in any hike. Stay on trails and obey posted signs. The information here is for your reading pleasure only. Hike at your own risk.

How to get there: From the H-1 freeway eastbound, take the Punahou Street exit (#23). [From the H-1 freeway westbound, take the Wilder Avenue exit (#24), continue on Wilder Avenue, and make a right at Punahou Street.] Continue on Punahou Street and bear left at the fork in the road, where Punahou Street turns into Manoa Road. When you get to the five-way intersection, stay on Manoa Road.  To take TheBus: Take the #5 bus to the Manoa Road/Kumuone Street stop. Walk further up Manoa Road (about 0.8 miles) to the trailhead.

Parking: Free if you park in the residential neighborhood and walk 1/4 mile to the trailhead; OR paid parking if you park in the Paradise Park parking lot at the trailhead.

What to wear: Mosquito repellent (otherwise those suckers will definitely sniff you out here!), and shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting wet and muddy.

What to bring: Water to drink, a camera, a towel (for the car/bus ride home, since you may be wet and muddy), and a change of shoes and clothes if you plan to go somewhere else afterward and want to be dry and clean. If you tend to be unsteady on your feet, you may want to bring a walking stick or find a branch that you can use when you get to the trail. 

Can you swim at this waterfall? No. Back in the day you could…there was a nice pool that everyone could play around and swim in at the base of water cascading down the wall.

Avoid scaling the walls or climbing to the top of the waterfall —it’s dangerous and can result in serious injury and or other consequences.