Manoa Falls

Out of all the things there are to do in Hawaii, I think hiking is my favorite. That's all apart of the fun of coming to a place like this; enjoying the beauty of nature and how different it is from wherever you came from. Because believe me, it's different.

Manoa Falls is my favorite hike that we have done so far.




Rainforest

The hike is so beautiful and green and you see plants and trees that you have never seen before. I mean look at how huge this leaf is.

You are hiking through this jungle of trees and tropical rainforest and then all of a sudden there is bamboo all around you that came out of nowhere. It's so incredible.

Beware of the mud and bugs

The hike isn't especially difficult. Just to the falls and back takes probably about an hour. But there are some parts where it's steep or there are rocks you have to climb over, that could make it a little difficult.


The scariest part of the whole hike is the mud. It is always muddy. So make sure you don't where white, or flip flops, and wear shoes that you can wash. It's even worse when it rains, which is often does in Manoa, and the mud gets even more slippery. You are more in danger of slipping on mud down a set of steps than anything else.

Make sure to bring a water bottle with you. Like I said, the hike isn't especially hard, but it is long and it's important to stay hydrated. Just make sure not to carelessly throw your plastic bottle on the ground. Because I will hunt you down.


Another thing I highly recommend is bug spray. Seriously, if you remember one thing, remember bug spray. It will keep the rest of your vacation happy and exciting instead of miserably itchy.

The hike is better than the falls
The falls themselves aren't the most exciting thing in the world. But the hike is totally worth it. I've been up there several times and I still want to go back. It's like nothing I've ever seen before.


Once you get up to the falls, there is another trail you can take to go up higher. It's a little steeper and a little bit harder, but if you're up for it, I highly recommend it. You only have to hike up it a little ways and the trees open up and there is this incredible view. It's one of those things you just have to see. A picture wouldn't do it justice.

Parking

If you drive all the way up to the park, you can pay to park for $5. There is also a little cafe and gift shop. If you don't want to pay to park, you can park further down in the residential area. It's a little bit of a hike to get up into the actual hike, but your walking on a road through trees, so it's still pretty. And hey, you're there to hike anyway.