https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HQwvfrX-sY
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This is the second time I have done this hike with Kodiak, and we absolutely LOVE IT! It's easy to get to, a short drive or bus ride, it's a hike for beginners/intermediate, it's jungly, lush, green, cool, shady, and so much to see!!
TO GET HERE, simply look Manoa Falls up on Google. I take the bus everywhere, so I took Route 5 towards Manoa Valley. About 15 minutes bus ride from Waikiki and you're there! The bus driver usually tells everyone "Manoa Falls", when you arrive at the bus stop, and it's a straight shot up the road from there! You'll pass a restaurant called "Treetops", which you can eat at afterwards (I haven't been there, but feel free to try it for me!), and the concrete road continues, winding around the rainforest!
PARKING: You have 3 options! (I took the bus so these didn't apply to me)
1st: FREE: Park in the residential neighborhood (before Treetops restaurant) and walk a couple minutes to get there.
2nd: $5.00: Paid Parking right at the trailhead after Treetops restaurant
3rd: FREE: Pass that paid parking lot and there's another parking lot on the left that's free if there are spots available.
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Okay enough with the info! Let's get to the hike! When Kodiak and I went, it was sprinkling almost the whole time. But it doesn't even matter much because the trail is shaded 99% of the time with huge trees! So if it'd due for rain, I would go anyways, just wear clothes/shoes that can get wet!
With this in mind, bring proper clothing, as well as a plastic bag and some extra slippahs (flip flops). Chances are, it will be very muddy! There is a hose at the trailhead, AFTER the hike, that's a perfect opportunity to take off dirty shoes (put them in the plastic bag), wash your feet, and put on those slippahs to get back in the car/bus.
ALSO of course bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray!
This hike is FULL of cool things to see. Huge trees, trees with initials carved into them, little bridges, the stream that runs by it, a bamboo forest, and of course the Manoa Falls at the end!
There are lots of people that hike this trail, so be friendly, a meet someone new! Everyone, and I mean everyone, was SUPER nice about Kodiak passing them and lots of people would stop and say hi to him. Especially kids. Kodiak likes to go fast (especially on the way down), and so people were extremely nice to let us pass.
We did the hike pretty quick (it took us about 20 minutes each way). You get to the falls and there are people hanging out, resting, and taking pictures.
I was bad and went past the DANGER: STOP HERE sign. As did most everyone else there so i didn't feel any guilt. The pool at the base of the falls is cool and refreshing. You can wade in it, it's just slippery. I took off my clothes and got in all the way. Not many people do this, but man does it feel good and you are nice and refreshed for the hike back down! Kodiak also got in as well.
It started to rain pretty good when we were there, so we packed up and headed back down the trail, got all muddy, but we were both happy!!
I love this hike because it is close to Waikiki, but feels like another world completely! Definitely recommend for any age. (I've seen everyone-from babies to old folk!)
Here are some pictures, and be sure to see our video!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HQwvfrX-sY
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