Manoa Falls Trail Photoset • KingLeonidas • 2024-05-18 • HikeArizona.COM

Manoa Falls Trail, HI

	2024-05-18
	10 by KingLeonidas

Manoa Falls Trail

Oahu, HI

Manoa Falls Trail

Oahu, HI

Hiking	2.46 Miles	526 AEG

Hiking	2.46 Miles	1 Hour 38 Mns		1.64 mph
	526 ft AEG	8 Mns Break	6 LBS Pack

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Hiked Manoa Falls Trail with Victoria as one of our Oahu hiking expeditions.

The prior day's heavy rain cancelled diving for the day and more rain was anticipated in the afternoon so we decided to do some of the local hikes while we had a weather window.

As with the earlier trail, this one was highly commercialized. There was a gatehouse at the entrance with bathrooms and a snack bar. It cost $7 to park. As with the other sites, getting there early helped avoid the crowds and actually have parking available.

The trail was very muddy from the previous day's rain but I gather that it is often wet here as they had a station for washing mud off shoes.

The initial portion of the trail was scenic with a few clearings with an expansive view of the jungle. With many spring flowers in boom it was beautiful!

There were a few streams crossing the trail near the beginning. One of these was crossed with a lob bridge (not unlike what is often used in Arizona). The other was crossed in a uniquely Hawaiian style. A 20' shipping container (no doubt previously used to deliver goods to the island) was laid across the span with the doors on either end removed, effectively making a covered bridge. It initially looked odd in the distance, but upon reaching it and realizing what it was for, I thought it pretty clever.

The next portion of the trail was a bit of a slog. The slope increased and the terrain became rocky. It also started to drizzle a bit (keeping everything wet and muddy). There was not much to see in this section until you reach the falls.

When you reach the falls, they are impressive! Falling over 100' down a mossy slope they stand out from the jungle backdrop. There isn't much room to approach them or swim in the pool (in fact there are signs prohibiting exactly that although there were people ignoring them). We continued on to explore Aihulama trail instead.

This trail wasn't mapped at the trailhead or on hikeaz. There was a google maps pin for Aihulama lookout so we figured the trail would probably go there and we would explore a bit. This trail was a tough one. With the rain the mud was thick and slippery. The jungle humidity had us soaked with sweat and the mosquitos added to the discomfort. The slipperiest section had bamboo along the side which made for convenient handholds (we didn't pack trekking poles on this trip) but even then it was difficult not to fall in the mud.

We then came to a section where the trail was completely covered with tree roots. This posed anew and unique obstacle. The roots were rigid and slick and so traversing across them without slipping was difficult. The alternative approach was to choose footholds in gaps between the roots (which of course were mud pools) but at least wouldn't leave you sliding down the drop off like the roots would. This was something like "jungle rock climbing" requiring similar skills to identify good hand and foot holds to get across.

After the roots we took stock of the distance traveled (~1/3 of the distance to the lookout) and the trail ahead (which did not appear much improved) and decided to head back. There were other waterfall trails in the vicinity that we wanted to explore and if we pursued this difficult trail to its conclusion we likely would not have had time enough to explore the others.

After returning to the trailhead we spoke with on of the rangers/hosts and she confirmed that the roots section is the hardest part of that trail and that the lookout is indeed worth the trip. Oh well if we ever com back, and it is less rainy, we can give it another shot or hike it from a different direction as there seems to be a whole trail system on this mountain.

This was a good one but not too difficult. IF you are attempting it go early so you can beat the crowds.

	â€˜Aihualama Stream	Medium flow	Medium flow
	Was running strong (from recent rain) at the point where it crossed the trail

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