This modest cataract is perhaps the most touted in the Hawaiian Islands -- or at least the most trafficked. I've seen far too many guidebooks and travel journalists in for their one-week Hawaii flings do the 1.5 mile mosquito-laden roundtrip slog in my mud slippers to Manoa Valley Falls and wax rhapsodic. Please. These are lovely but exceedingly minor waterfalls in the grand scheme of things and often so crowded that you can have to wait a turn to get onto the rocks close to the pool at the base of the falls. Petty thieves have long since taken a cotton to Manoa Falls. Rental cars get parked and the person who rents them is invariably gone for an hour or more on the trail.

While this trail may advertise itself as moderate -- and it is, in terms of no real incline -- there are some treacherous spots with slippery rocks and unstable ground that could trip up the less sure of foot or children. Then again, these are perhaps the most accessible waterfalls in the Hawaiian Islands. You can literally leave your hotel in Waikiki and be gazing up at the green cliffsides surrounding the falls within 15 minutes. It's also a good place to cool off from muggy, hot Honolulu weather. The back of the valley is usually a bit cooler than the rest of the metropolis proper. Do I hike to Manoa Falls? Sure, when there's not much time and I want something easy. And its a very shady trail, which is good for sun-challenged folks. It's heck of a lot better than, say, the average state park on the Mainland. And its great for travelers and locals who wants soft adventure with a capital S. But if you are really going to do the waterfall thang, look elsewhere. Also, check out Oahu Nature Tour's Waterfall Hike. This is a good outfit and they take people to good places.

Map/Directions / More Extensive Description

—Alex, 03/14/07