Manoa Falls Manoa Falls is perhaps O'ahu's most popular waterfall (especially with the 1999 closure of Sacred Falls). We experienced this pleasant 1.6-mile round trip hike, which was far enough to keep the casual visitors away while close enough to keep it from becoming an arduous trek amidst mosquitoes and humidity. Who knew that such a pretty natural attraction could be so close to the concrete jungle of Honolulu?
Apparently, Manoa Falls can go dry in Summer or during unusually dry Winters. We noticed that the plunge pool beneath the falls was once a popular swimming hole, but upon further research, we learned that swimming was banned after a landslide at the base of the falls in 2001/2002 as well as the detection of the dangerous leptospirosis bacteria in the stream. North of the campus, University Avenue bends to the right and becomes O'ahu Avenue. From O'ahu Avenue, turn right onto Manoa Road at the five-way intersection. Continue on Manoa Road for about 1.5 miles to the supervised parking lot ($5 fee per vehicle in 2007). The old parking lot further down Manoa Road at the trailhead is now closed to vehicles (we noticed plenty of ominous signs warning of break-ins here). So we had to walk up to the old parking lot to access the Manoa Falls trailhead. Just before the old parking lot is the Manoa Road turnoff for the University of Hawaii's Harold L. Lyon Arboretum. TRIP REPORTSGUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCESNEARBY WATERFALLSHave You Been To This Waterfall?
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Great Sunday Hike
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Muddy Hike
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During the mostly flat hike, we walked through a lush rainforest with groves of bamboo sprouting up here and there. I thought I overheard another tour guide in the area say they were invasive here due to their rapid ability to grow and spread (and hence elbow out and outcompete native species for real estate). In any case, it seemed like the lushness of the trail helped provide some shade, but with the humidity, I'm not sure it made too much difference.
The trailhead
Going up some stairs flanked by bamboo shoots
A perfectly good reason NOT to go in the water!
Timeshares
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| Prior to the Mothers day landslide that killed 8 people and injured 50 others, on Mothers Day of 1999, Sacred Falls State Park was my favorite hike on this Island...[more] |
| Ahoy! On or about June 1975, on an afternoon helicopter ride with Jack Harter, out of the Kauai Surf Hotel, Na'wili'wili, we were flying west of Kapa'a...[more] |
| I was stationed at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station 1970 to 1972 and frequented the Likeke water falls (Oahu). Back then there was a trail off...[more] |
| I am extremely familiar with Papalaua Falls. I used to run kayak trips down Koolau Moloka'i and will again someday. I also made two documentaries including the falls...[more] |
| I loved Wailua Falls. We hiked to the bottom and swam in the gigantic pool. We got such beautiful pictures of our family. The hike was not well marked and very steep....[more] |
| I was stationed at Schofield Barracks from 1980-1983. I was introduced to Sacred Falls by some locals at my church. My fondest memory was climbing the hillsides on the trail...[more] |
| I am a professional photographer and was turned onto this waterfall by a local tour company which took hikers up to Likeke waterfall on a daily basis...[more] |
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