Manoa Falls | A Fun Family Waterfall Hike near Waikiki

Manoa Falls is a 150-foot waterfall at the end of a 1.7-mile rainforest trail about 20 minutes from Waikiki. The hike is short, mostly flat, and ends with a waterfall — which makes it genuinely rare among Oahu trails. Everything is dripping and green and a little prehistoric-looking. Roosters run the parking lot. You cannot swim in the pool at the bottom, but you can stand there and stare at it for a while, which turns out to be enough.

Oahu Hikes for Kids

I recently discovered Meetup and found lots of fun clubs and activities on the island from beer-swilling running clubs to business mixers and board game marathons. There’s a little something for everyone and a photo hike to Manoa Falls caught my attention. It had been over a decade since I’ve made the short hike. In my mind it was a crowded, over-hyped trail due to its proximity to Waikiki and ease of access. Once they started charging for parking, I never returned.

But that was a mistake. With children in tow, I experienced it with fresh eyes. It’s an exceptional hike for families with young kids. It’s short, easy to access, fairly level with a clearly marked trail, has jungle to explore and ends with a waterfall. That alone makes it a unicorn among hikes; prefect for the reluctant adventurer. Everything is wet, lush, dripping. Street signs are overtaken by thick layers of moss. Impossibly large vines crawl over every surface while brightly colored blooms accent the scene.

A Complete Guide to Manoa Falls

Packing List

The non-negotiables. Water, snacks, and shoes with actual grip. This trail is wet and muddy essentially year-round — light hiking shoes or trail runners with good lugs are the right call. Sandals and slippery soles will make you miserable.

For your valuables. Leave anything you don’t need in the car or bring it with you in a light daypack. A zip-lock for your phone is worth it given how wet the trail gets.

A layer. The valley gets rain regularly and the canopy keeps things cool. A light, quick-dry layer or a packable rain jacket takes up almost no space and is worth having.

For little kids. Snacks make hiking more fun, especially for the reluctant adventurer. If your kid is into finding things, geocaching on the trail is a great way to keep them moving. AllTrails has a good trail description if you want to preview the route.

One important note. You cannot swim in the pool at the base of the waterfall. There is a rockfall hazard and people have been fined. Worth knowing before you hike in with expectations.

Getting There

The trailhead is about 20 minutes from Waikiki. Parking is available daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and costs $7. It’s a popular trail so go early or late to avoid crowds. The parking lot fills up fast on weekends.

On the Trail

The trail itself packs an impressive amount of diversity. Roosters form a rowdy welcome committee in the parking lot as they clamber for food scraps. Follow their calls (and signs of course) to the trailhead where you will plunge into rainforest.

The trail traces a babbling stream as it winds its way through the towering albizia trees adorned with cascading purple flowers. As you continue, you’ll encounter a knotted hau tree that invites you to climb its entwined branches. Moving onward, a bamboo grove awaits, providing the perfect setting for a game of hide and seek among its smooth, robust branches. Keep a keen eye out for miniature marvels; fungi are cleverly concealed in plain sight, but you need only slow down to spot them.

On average the 1.7 mile (out and back) Manoa Falls trail takes a little over an hour to hike, but it took our family a full 3 hours to complete the hike. Instead of the typical hike, snap a photo and sprint ahead to re-join the group, we all went slow. My oldest had taken a recent interest in photography so I gifted him an old DSLR. We fully geeked out with the other “hiking” photographers and explored the world with cameras in hand.

P.S. You CANNOT swim in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall due to rockfall hazard. People have been fined.

Where to Eat Near Manoa Falls

If you’re stomach is rumbling, you may want to try one of these tasty places to eat in Manoa Valley.

• Andy’s Sandwiches & Smoothies doesn’t disappoint. Tasty sandwiches with fresh ingredients made this our favorite lunch spot when we lived in Manoa.
• Morning Glass Coffee is known for having great scones, sandwiches, omelets, and their famous mac and cheese pancakes with bacon slices on top. I haven’t tried these pancakes, but dutch pancakes (pannekoeken) with cheese, bacon and banana have been a long time personal favorite.
• Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop is a more hidden local favorite, located close to the dense green mountainside and a couple hundred feet from Manoa Valley District Park. Tasty breakfasts, pastries, brunch and lunch at this historic location.
• Off The Hook Poke Market, a very popular local poke shop featuring auction fresh fish daily.

3 Must do family activities near Manoa Falls

1. Lyon Arboretum is a lush and diverse botanical garden located in Honolulu, Hawaii, renowned for its stunning collection of tropical plants and its dedication to conservation and education.
2. Experience Nutridge is an intimate backyard-style lu’au located at the Nutridge Estate in Pu’u Ualaka’a Wayside Park. This is not your shiny resort-style luau. It’s quirky and ultra-casual in a most delightful way.

Family Photos Near Manoa Falls

The Manoa Valley and surrounding Nuuanu area are genuinely beautiful for family sessions. The area is lush, green, completely different from a beach morning. It’s a good fit for families who want something different. Not everything has to be at the beach, right?

If that sounds like your family, I’d love to hear about you. You can see sessions from the area here, here, and here.

Manoa Falls FAQs

Q: Is the Manoa Falls hike good for young kids? A: Yes, it’s one of the best family hikes on Oahu. The trail is 1.7 miles out and back, mostly flat, clearly marked, and ends at a waterfall. Plan for it to take longer than the listed hour if you have small kids who want to stop and investigate everything, which they will.

Q: How far is Manoa Falls from Waikiki? A: About 20 minutes by car. It’s one of the closest rainforest hikes to Waikiki, which is part of what makes it worth doing even on a short trip.

Q: Is there parking at Manoa Falls? A: Yes. The lot is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily and costs $7. It fills up fast on weekends and holidays. Go early.

Q: Can you swim at Manoa Falls? A: No. Swimming in the pool at the base of the waterfall is not allowed due to rockfall hazard. People have been fined. You can get close and enjoy the view, just not in the water.

Q: What should I wear on the Manoa Falls hike? A: Shoes with real grip — trail runners or light hiking shoes. The trail is wet and muddy year-round. Sandals are a bad idea. Bring a light layer in case of rain and sun protection for the exposed sections near the trailhead.