Manoa Falls State Park   

Manoa Road & Waakaua St
Honolulu, HI 96822
808-973-9782

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Just a few minutes' drive from the University of Hawaii, Manoa Falls lies hidden at the end of a .75-mile trail through lush vegetation reminiscent of a scene on 'Lost.' Unlike at drier hiking sites, such as Diamond Head or Waimea Valley, Manoa Falls gives visitors a glance at the wilder, wetter side of Oahu as they tramp through 20-foot stands of bamboo and spy nectar-loving birds by the side of a cascading stream. Ferns with eight-foot fronds are not uncommon, as are the brilliant orange-cupped flowers of the African tulip tree. After the 600-foot elevation gain, hikers are rewarded with a spectacular view of the 150-foot falls tumbling into a shallow pool. Although Manoa Falls is considered an easy hike, visitors should take precaution, owing to the many opportunities to slip on wet rock or turn an ankle on a tree root. If you're lucky, the parking attendant on duty will supply you with some much-needed insect repellant, as the little buggers run rampant. Although the falls looks inviting, visitors are advised not to swim, owing to several rockfalls and bacteria in the water.