Best Waterfall Hikes On Oahu

Oahu is filled with beautiful hikes and waterfalls. The lush green of the mountains mixed with the fresh water create beautiful landscapes. While you can spend hours following streams and chasing waterfalls (insert TLC lyrics), many relatively well-marked hikes will take you to some beautiful falls. After living on Oahu as a traveling healthcare professional, these are the best waterfall hikes on Oahu. I recommend these to travelers visiting the island.

If you’re a novice hiker, Manoa Falls is a great place to start. If you feel comfortable on that trail, then you may want to consider advancing to Maunawili Falls, or Waimano Falls, which are more challenging.

These hikes are all in lush, green, and rainy areas of Oahu. Please hike with caution. The trails can be muddy and slick. Therefore, wear appropriate shoes. Also, don’t forget bug repellent, drinking water, and other essential hiking gear.

I highly recommend reading and reviewing all of the trails on the AllTrails app. You can also use the AllTrails app for navigation.

Manoa Falls

The 1.8-mile Manoa Falls hike takes you through the lush jungle and lands you at the foot of a beautiful 150-foot waterfall.

Manoa Falls is one of the most popular hikes on Oahu and for good reasons.

• There is easy parking ($7/vehicle)
• A well-marked trail
• An easy path to get to a beautiful waterfall. 

Because Manoa Falls is such a great hike, it does tend to get very crowded. Go early to avoid crowds.

Expect to have a very busy trail and come across a lot of other hikers. This is not a hike for somebody who wants to be alone in nature.

While it does allow dogs on leash, due to the crowded nature of the trail, it’s not a trail I would recommend highly for a dog.

Manoa also tends to be very wet and rainy, so prepare for a lot of mud and potential rain. Waterproof shoes and clothes are always a plus on this one.

Maunawili Falls

Cliff jump from the side of a waterfall into a beautiful pool of water. You can do that here at Maunawilli Falls. Or, you can bring your pup and play in the pool like I did.

Maunawili Falls is a 5.2 mile hike starting along the Pali Highway that goes to Kailua. It has beautiful jungle views, a view of the Koolau Mountains, and ends at a fun and incredible waterfall.

This trail is rated hard intensity. You will be hiking over tree roots, through a lot of mud, and you will have to cross a river several times to reach the falls and pool. It is a challenging hike.

Waimano Falls

Multiple waterfalls with pools of water and a rope swing overhead. Waimano Falls is a hike with vistas that won’t dispsapoint.

The waterfalls at Waimano Falls feel like an adult playground.

Waimano Falls is a 2.9-mile hard hike. There is a challenging, steep section you need to walk up and down to get to this beautiful waterfalls.

This waterfall is in a valley. You begin the hike by descending down into the valley. Coming back out, you will notice the burn as you climb back to the road. You will feel the burn as you climb up an incline of stairs made out of tree vines that takes you out of the valley. 

Conclusions: Best Waterfall Hikes on Oahu

Oahu is filled with natural beauty and serene landscapes. Waterfalls are a magical part of nature to experience on the island. Manoa Falls, Maunawili Falls, and Waimano Falls are top picks for best waterfall hikes on Oahu