Manoa Falls, Honolulu, Hawaii

Manoa Falls is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Honolulu. Barack Obama was said to have enjoyed this place as a young man in Hawaii.

Manoa Falls are part of the area near the mountains of Koolau, which accounts for the peaks and gorges in the area. 

The waterfall itself is 150 feet tall and the main attraction. But don't miss out on the great views and plant life as you hike to your destination. Vines covered in flowers, groves full of bamboo, and exotic ferns are all worth your attention.

They label the hike to Manoa Falls as suitable for novices. I would say that you need to be in moderately good shape to hike the trail. It is not overly difficult, but I saw several people who were clearly struggling to make it.

There is only one trail leading up to the falls so you're sure not to get lost. It rains almost every day in the this area so the steps get wet and muddy. Not so muddy that you're sinking to your ankles in muck, but muddy enough that the path can be very slippery. One the way down, I lost my balance and cut my knee. Very, very minor, but it does illustrate that it can be slick on the trail. Wear shoes with good traction.

As you climb higher and higher on the trail, the path gets more narrow. If you move more quickly than slower folks like parents with small children, you may say a polite "excuse me" to get by. But, know that the path gets so congested that you might wait for five minutes or more just to let another group go up or down the trail where only a single person pass at one time.

I told you it gets crowded

The viewing spot at the top is very crowded and many people disregard the warning signs to stay behind the rope barrier. These people are much more important than you and the rules do not apply to them; their selfie is critical, so allow them to pass.

The Lyon Arboretum is nearby and can easily be visited before or after your hike to the falls.

Danger Falling Rocks! Darwin should take care of these people

There's free parking in the residential neighborhood leading to the trailhead, but you'll have to hike an extra mile or so. Easier is parking at the lot on the right side of the road before the trail. That's an easy five minute hike to the trail and only costs $5.

If you go, I'd recommend getting an early start before the crowds swell. We went fairly early and there were still a lot of people. As we were leaving we noticed it was even more crowded.

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