Manoa Falls
- Height
- 150 ft
- Hike
- 1.6 mi round trip
- Elevation gain
- 800 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
Manoa Falls drops about 150 ft in Honolulu County, Hawaii. Reaching it is a 1.6 mi hike round trip with 800 ft of elevation gain.
Closures and warnings
Stay behind viewing cable. Falling rocks, slippery ledges, and fast water; fatalities have occurred past barriers. Trail is often muddy and flood-prone in rain. As of September 28, 2026.
Freshwater leptospirosis risk in stream and pool water; swimming prohibited. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 150 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | Rainforest cascade; flow stronger after rain. |
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
| Jumping | Prohibited |
Access
| Hike | 1.6 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Elevation gain | 800 ft |
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | End of Mānoa Road; trailhead past Lyon Arboretum fork. |
| Parking | Paradise Park lot at trailhead, $7 per vehicle ($4 Hawaii residents/military with ID); neighborhood street parking requires about 0.25 mi walk. |
| When it fills | Lot open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; fills mid-morning. |
| Fee | Trail free; parking $7 / $4 resident-military at Paradise Park lot |
| Hours | Trail sunrise to sunset |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | City and County of Honolulu (Mānoa Falls Trail / Paradise Park trailhead parking) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Note | Restrooms near parking area. |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Manoa Falls open?
Stay behind viewing cable. Falling rocks, slippery ledges, and fast water; fatalities have occurred past barriers. Trail is often muddy and flood-prone in rain. As of September 28, 2026. Freshwater leptospirosis risk in stream and pool water; swimming prohibited. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Trail sunrise to sunset.
How tall is Manoa Falls?
Manoa Falls drops about 150 ft.
Can you swim at Manoa Falls?
No, swimming is not allowed at Manoa Falls. Freshwater leptospirosis risk in stream and pool water; swimming prohibited. As of September 28, 2026.
How long is the hike to Manoa Falls?
It's a 1.6 mi hike round trip with 800 ft of elevation gain. The road in is paved. End of Mānoa Road; trailhead past Lyon Arboretum fork. Parking: Paradise Park lot at trailhead, $7 per vehicle ($4 Hawaii residents/military with ID); neighborhood street parking requires about 0.25 mi walk. Lot open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; fills mid-morning.
Do you need a reservation for Manoa Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Manoa Falls?
The fee is Trail free; parking $7 / $4 resident-military at Paradise Park lot.
When is Manoa Falls flowing?
Rainforest cascade; flow stronger after rain.
Nearby
Sources
4
- https://hawaii.com/blog/manoa-falls-trail (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.hikeDistanceMi / hours / fee / parking, waterfall.heightFt / swimmingAllowed false, access.parkingPattern / amenities.restrooms)
- https://www.shakaguide.com/article/oahu/manoa-falls-travel-guide (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.elevationGainFt / hazardNote / healthNote leptospirosis)
- https://manoa-falls.com/hours-and-fees/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / jumpingProhibited)
- https://travelhawaiiwithus.com/manoa-falls-oahu/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager)