Hike to Oahu's Manoa Falls

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O'ahu, Hawaii

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(4 votes, 1 review)

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
Duration: 1 hour or less

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Overview: This short hike will take you to 100ft Manoa Falls. The trail can be quite muddy, so make sure to wear proper shoes (you will be sorry if you wear flip flops, because your toes will easily slip around once they get muddy.

Several scenes from the TV show LOST were filmed here, as was parts of Jurassic Park (you can see posters in the building with bathrooms and food service).

Unfortunately, you cannot swim in the pool at the base of the waterfall, but the view alone justifies the easy hike.

Tips: Parking costs $5 at the parking lot, or you can take the #5 bus which stops just before the entrance, on the residential streets. You can also park on the residential streets and walk about 1/4 a mile in.

Points of Interest

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Parking

You can park in the parking lot, or take the #5 bus to the Arboretum and Manoa Falls trailhead.

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Trailhead

Start your hike here past the sign to Manoa Falls. You gain a little elevation as you walk to the base and may feel as if you are on the set of Jurassic Park, which was filmed in this area.

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Base of Manoa Falls

You are now at the base of Manoa Falls. You are not supposed to swim in the pool or go past the signs. If you wish for a longer hike, you can find a trail going uphill a little ways back along the trail. This trail eventually reaches the ridge, where you will have views to the eastern side of the island.

Pictures in this guide taken by: chris

How does this work?

Great hike overall through a beautiful area. Quite the quintessential Hawaiian hike. Recommendations: BE PREPARED. This is not a paved path; although the beginning is just gravel it gets much more challenging. I am a very experienced hiker and very athletic (so I found it to be only mildly challenging), but many people along the way were unprepared. Tons of people were in flip-flops (slippers as they are called in Hawaii) and many people with really young children. They were all having a hard go at it. There are several areas that are very muddy, very slippery and some with steps/muddy-mounds to traverse with heights of 18 to 30 inches. So be prepared. Parking at the residential area at the bottom and walking up is definitely the way to go! Walk three-tenths of a mile and save yourself 5 bucks. Mahalo!
Visited on Mar 25, 2012

by Kristopher.Kaufman@gmail.com on Mar 29, 2012 at 06:09:17 pm