Manoa Falls Hike
5 Top Reasons to Do the Manoa Falls Hike in Oahu!
The Manoa Falls Hike is easily one of the most popular easy to moderate hikes on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
While Manoa Falls is an impressive payoff at the end of the trail, the Manoa Falls Hike offers so much more!
From spectacular scenery to a dense jungle ambience, the Manoa Falls Trail is truly a tropical adventure, whether you are hiking solo, as a couple, or as a family.
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You’ll find all the information you need to hike this trail in our complete guide to Manoa Falls.
But if you are still on the fence, here are some top reasons to add this exciting waterfall hike to your Oahu itinerary.
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Oahu, check out the some of the top things to do in Oahu, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
1. Manoa Falls is as much about the hike as about the falls
Manoa Falls is one of the nicest waterfalls on Oahu, and there’s no doubt that just in its own right, it is well worth the hike.
The 150-foot Manoa Waterfall is known to flow year round. The flow is powerful after rains, making it a very impressive sight. Even when the flow is much more sedate, Manoa Falls is still beautiful because of its lush setting.
But what makes the Manoa Falls Hike a must-add to your Oahu trip is that it is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
Along every step of the hike, you’ll experience the lush tropical jungle, with towering trees, vines with large shiny leaves, ferns of different kinds, and even bright tropical flowers here and there.
This enormously popular Oahu circle island tour allows you to sit back and relax as a knowledgeable local takes you around the island! Visit the charming town of Haleiwa and stop at top sightseeing spots along the way. 🚐 🏖️ 🚐
You’ll see droplets of moisture, clinging to the vegetation or dripping down, and you’ll hear the exotic calls of birds.
Banyan trees form picture-perfect arches with their trailing roots. Bamboo stalks stand tall like sentinels. Hau trees show off their pretty yellow blooms. Ginger flowers throw off their sweet fragrance.
Is snorkeling with sea turtles on your bucket list for Oahu? On this Turtle Canyon tour, you’ll likely share the warm waters with honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), as well as schools of tropical fish. This is a super popular tour, so reserve your spots early! 🐢 🐢 🐢
The ambience on the Manoa Falls Hike is so jungle-like that you’ll find it difficult to believe you’re not far from the concrete urban jungle of Waikiki!
The setting of the Manoa Falls Hike is so scenic that it’s no surprise that Hollywood has come calling. Jurassic World and the TV series Lost are among the productions that have been filmed here in part.
So if you are looking for a sensational rainforest jungle walk on your Hawaii trip, the Manoa Falls Hike delivers in spades. The waterfall at the end is the cherry on top.
For many visitors, a first trip to Oahu is not complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor. This highly-rated half-day tour comes with guaranteed seats for the boat tour to the USS Arizona Memorial, which requires advance reservations. 🚤 🚤 🚤
2. Manoa Falls is easy to access from Waikiki
If you are based in Waikiki, Manoa Falls is a breeze to access from the island’s tourist hub.
The trailhead for the Manoa Falls Hike is located along Manoa Road, just about 5 miles from Waikiki, and if you have a rental car, it’s an easy drive from Waikiki to Manoa Falls.
Contrast this to Waimea Falls, another popular easy waterfall hike on Oahu, which is located on the island’s north shore, almost an hour’s drive from Waikiki.
But the best thing about the Manoa Falls Hike is that you do not need a rental car to get to the trailhead. If time isn’t a constraint, you can arrive by bus, or, if you have a full day, you can get there quickly in a taxi or an Uber or Lyft.
You can also join a guided tour or book a shuttle to Manoa Falls and back. You can even arrive by e-bike on this tour!
Looking for a top-rated luau on Oahu? If you have a rental car, Toa Luau at Waimea Valley receives rave reviews and you’ll get to tour the botanical gardens and hike to a waterfall as well! Check price and availability for Toa Luau now! 🌺 🌴 🌺
3. Manoa Falls is a doable hike for most visitors to Oahu
There are numerous hiking trails on Oahu, but not many that are in the easy to moderate range and still offer eye-popping scenery or an amazing waterfall at the end.
The Manoa Falls Hike is without a doubt one of the best easy-moderate hikes on the island. It’s family-friendly and easily done by most visitors to the island.
Unless you have mobility issues or you are traveling with very young kids, the Manoa Falls Hike offers an exciting experience for kids and adults alike.
You’ll be walking steadily uphill for the bulk of the hike, and the trail is rocky in parts. On the plus side, it’s shady.
There are also some steps on the trail, and it can get muddy after rains, so you’ll want to wear shoes with good grip that you don’t mind getting stained with mud. Hiking sticks are helpful as well.
Cruise aboard a 50-foot catamaran and look for dolphins and turtles year round, plus whales in the winter. Look through magnifying portals in the glass bottom for fish and colorful coral! Leaves from Kewalo Basin Harbor in Waikiki, easy to access. ⛴️ 🌊 ⛴️
4. Hiking Manoa Falls doesn’t have to take a lot of time
Full itinerary in Oahu but still want to squeeze in a hike with a tropical vibe? The Manoa Falls Hike is your answer!
The Manoa Falls hike length is under a mile each way but it features spectacular scenery along most of its length, giving you a big bang for your buck.
Getting to the Manoa Falls Trailhead from Waikiki takes just around 15 minutes or so by car, taxi, or ride share, and you can knock out the hike itself in under an hour.
If you get an early start, you’ll avoid crowds on the trail and still have most of your day left for sightseeing!
Of course, if you aren’t super rushed, you can be a little more relaxed about the Manoa Falls hike time, spending a couple of hours or more enjoying the trail and the setting at leisure.
Parasailing over the beautiful blue waters off the Waikiki Coast is one of the most exciting things to do in Oahu! This popular parasailing tour has been operating since 1977 and features your choice of an 800-foot or 1,200 foot line. 🪂 🪂 🪂
5. Manoa Falls is a no-hassle hike, and it’s free!
Are you wondering if the Manoa Falls Hike requires advance reservations?
Diamond Head Hike, the other extremely popular and relatively easy hike near Waikiki, does require advance reservations, which can sometimes be hard to obtain.
But the Manoa Falls Hike is hassle-free: you just have to show up and hike!
Also, entrance to the Manoa Falls Trail is absolutely free, a big plus if you are counting your dollars on your Hawaii vacation. A superbly scenic waterfall hike with no entrance fee is an experience well worth considering.
Yes, there’s a parking fee if you choose to park in the very convenient parking lot right by the trailhead, but if you’d rather not pay for parking, you can also find street parking in the Manoa residential area nearby and walk Manoa Road to the trailhead.