Mānoa Falls Trail Hiking Guide
Mānoa Falls is the rainforest walk most visitors to Honolulu end up on: a short climb up the back of Mānoa Valley through bamboo and tangled hau to a tall, thin waterfall. It is a state trail with no hiking fee, open sunup to sundown. Expect mud on most days and a walled viewing area at the top that you are not allowed past.
The Walk In
Nā Ala Hele lists the trail at 0.8 mile each way with about 400 feet of gain; AllTrails maps the out-and-back at 1.8 miles and 429 feet. From the end of Mānoa Road you walk up past the Lyon Arboretum turnoff, through the gate and over Aihualama Stream on a bridge. The path follows Waihi Stream on gravel, plastic planks and rock, climbing more steeply as the valley narrows, then passes through a bamboo grove and a stand of mountain apple trees before the final steps to the falls.
Mud, Rain and Flash Floods
The state says the trail can be very muddy and slippery in many areas; it recommends not hiking it during heavy rain even when it is open. The heaviest storms come October through April. After a big downpour, streams on Oʻahu rise fast, and city first responders warn that swollen streams and muddy trails stay dangerous for days afterward. Covered shoes are a must; this trail is not for strollers or sandals.
The Viewing Area and the Closed Pools
A landslide beside the falls in January 2002 led the state to build a rock-mitigation fence and a walled viewing area. Do not go past the rock wall or into the pool. Rushing water, falling rock and falls in that area have killed people, and the upper pools are strictly off-limits. Freshwater here can also carry leptospirosis, which the Hawaiʻi Department of Health says enters through cuts or the eyes, nose and mouth; it advises against swimming or wading in any stream.
Parking: Paid Lot or Neighborhood
The old hiker lot at the trailhead was closed because of car break-ins. The lot below Lyon Arboretum is run by Paradise Park, not the state. Nā Ala Hele lists its fee as $5, while recent visitor guides report $7 per car, so bring a little cash or card either way. The free alternative is legal street parking lower in the neighborhood and a walk up Mānoa Road. Never park on the fire lane above the lot, and leave nothing in your car.
Hours, Dogs and Going Farther
The trail is open seven days a week from sunup to sundown, and the state recommends not starting after 5:30 p.m. Leashed dogs are welcome; pick up after them. Drones and loud music are prohibited by law. Just before the falls, the ʻAihualama Trail switchbacks up through bamboo to Pauoa Flats and a lookout over Nuʻuanu, a much longer outing that links into the Honolulu Mauka Trail Network.
Hiking tips for Mānoa Falls Trail
- Wear shoes you don't mind ruining; the mud here is deep and slick.
- Turn back in heavy rain; the state advises against hiking it in a downpour.
- Stay behind the rock wall at the falls; the pool and upper pools are closed.
- Cover cuts and keep out of the stream to avoid leptospirosis.
- Park legally lower in the neighborhood if you want to skip the lot fee.
Nearby trails to explore
- Judd Trail
- Puʻu Pia Trail
- Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) Summit Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Mānoa's mud is easier to laugh off with company. Use TrailMates to find Honolulu hikers heading up to Mānoa Falls. Download the TrailMates app to connect.