A Short And Sweet Hike At Manoa Falls

November 10, 2008 at 11:45 AM | by kjb | Comments (0)

The upside to the global financial crisis is that forgetting your money woes in Hawaii has become incredibly cheap. Kyle Brown just got back from a budget-minded trip to the islands...

On Oahu, a short drive from Waikiki Beach will transport you to what often seems like a different world. With the famous Diamond Head crater closed for some fixing up during our visit, we were forced elsewhere to satisfy our hiking needs. We were looking for something short and sweet--with a good payoff at the end.

The trailhead to Manoa Falls is just 15 minutes from Honolulu, and it fit the bill perfectly. During our visit, there were plenty of spots to park, although we did have to surrender five bucks to someone manning the lot.

The trail to the falls was well cleared, with man-made stairs assisting in the steeper bits. It's about a mile and half round-trip and we noticed visitors of many different fitness levels. We didn't think the hike was too difficult, but you might want to leave your grandma back at the hotel.

The trail was also a great introduction to the variations in the environment on the islands. One minute you're in a residential neighborhood, the next you're fully surrounded by a lush rainforest. Our favorite distraction was to stop and listen to the wind blowing through the bamboo trees.

When you finally reach the end of the trail, there's a small pool beneath the falls. Unfortunately, this isn�t the best place to enjoy a quick swim to cool off: There are signs everywhere warning about falling rocks and bacterial infections. Although this trail is no secret to locals and visitors alike, it wasn't too busy and we'd definitely hike it again.

Related Stories:
· Manoa Falls [Hawaiiweb]
· Oahu Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: kjb]

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