This trail is off of the Manoa Falls trail. Parking was $4 Kamaaina and maybe $7 for out of towners? Google maps manoa falls trail and youll get here. I didnt mind paying for parking i felt a little safer leaving my car parked there than at other hiking spots. After about 30 min youll see the manoa falls. Then there will be a sign for aihualama trail. It took approx 3 hours to get up and back down and it was a beautiful trail, lots of foliage and a gorgeous views at the top. I am definitely not a pro hiking type of person but I made it, the incline wasnt that bad and its not a crowded hike since most people just go to see manoa falls. I would recommend hiking shoes since at times its slippery and definitely water. read more

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Started this trail off of Manoa Falls trail. Enjoyed the interesting trail surfaces. Heavily rooted in places, some step ups and down. There is an area where there was a slide and the trail is very narrow. The ground was not loose however. The trail was muddy in spots, I would not hike after rain or during a down pour, a number of places where water would run over trail. We wore crampons to help with the slick surface. Lots of amazing trees. Once we arrived at the fork for a different trail we turned right and went to a lookout that had a view of the other side of island, the reservoir, surrounding mountains and Pali Highway. The trail is not very long, or difficult, however the conditions did slow down how quickly we could hike. We started on the Manoa Falls Trail and right by the falls took this trail. Between the Manoa falls and going to the lookout there was at a 1500 foot elevation gain. read more

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This is a challenging hike to tack on to a trip to Manoa Falls. There is an entrance to the trail on the righthand side as you are walking away from the waterfall. This trail is twice as long as the Manoa Falls hike and requires a fair bit more endurance. It doesn't attract the same crowds so it's quite peaceful. I was amazed by the variety of views and terrains along the trek. You'll cross over thick tree roots (it almost seems like you've taken a wrong turn when you get to this section about 10 minutes into the hike but keep going!), bamboo forests, and several decently steep switchbacks along the journey. You will come to a fork that takes you to the Pauoa Flats and from there, it is another 15-20 minutes until you get to the lookout. The views are beautiful and very satisfying at the top. You'll see a wonderful expanse of treetops and mountains. The trail does get fairly muddy. You don't have bugs constantly buzzing in your ears, but I did come away with several bites, even with bug spray. It's quite a long journey to get to the next scenic point once you've reached the top so you'll most likely want to exit the way you came and get back on the Manoa Falls trail. I'd budget about 2 hours for the round trip. read more

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We had a blast. It's a challenge if you aren't in decent shape. Lots of different terrain. We didn't make it all the way to the top. We were probably about 20 minutes away. We had been at the Manoa falls trail starting about 8:30 and it was 12:17 with us on this trail. Be prepared with snakes, water, toilet paper (lol-no we didn't do that on the trail) and the proper shoes. Lots of mud, big rocks, tree roots, large uphill steps, and devious downward steps that seem as though you took the wrong turn. I'm only knocking off a start as I kind of feel like on the sign they should tell you this portion of the hike will take a lot Longer than you think. Like 2-3 hours there and back. If you want some adventure and a break from all the other tourists this is the trail for you. Get some candid shots of you and your significant other in the lush bamboo areas, take some muddy pics with each other, or sit and take in the breeze and watch others stumble about. It's still a fun trail no matter your expertise in hiking if you know how to make it one. read more

This hike is long, boring, and unnecessary. I recommend skipping it and doing a better one. The view at the top is nice but the hike itself sucks. read more

Aihualama Trail - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's a pretty nice hike exercise wise. I went via the manoa falls. Just as you can first see the falls, you'll see the trail head to your left, just a couple of rocks to climb. The trail starts with a little bit of a rocky walk and then has a pretty long section through a bamboo forest. After that you come across a couple of large trees followed by a section of trail that is completely covered with roots on an angled slope. Can be slippery but it's probably best to navigated laterally. There are many sections that are pretty deceiving muddy, be careful. The majority of the trail after is pretty even zigzags up the mountain. It's a pretty even grade. Unfortunately I only finished 80% of the trail. It started to rain a bit and I was just like, nope! It was a bit more dicey and slick on the way down. Good I left when I did when I rewatched the manoa falls trail it was getting pretty saturated. I'll return to finish it with a group probably. The trail traffic was pretty light. I finally got to finish this trail which offers pretty great views of the reservoir on the Lulumahu Falls hike. The greater benefit of this trail is that it connects to a network of trails when it's dead ends at the Nu'uanu Loop Trail, which I went on part of the loop. You can take the Nu'uanu trails over the ridge and down near the Pali highway and the Judd trail too. read more

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This trail is at the base of Manoa falls, where everyone congregates and makes it a big cluster. Just look for the sign. I definitely wanted to love this because I needed a easy/moderate hike that I could take my mom on, after giving her a good workout on Koko Head. Having done Manoa falls, I knew that wasn't going to be very hard, but wasn't going to be very rewarding either. This was only slightly better, only because it was quieter/less crowded, but it was so damn long and one-note. I definitely agree with Johanna, who found this hike lacking in the scenery department. Yes, it's very green and lush and you do go through some bamboo and climb over some roots, but to make it "to the top" to view the Pali felt long and monotonous and wasn't really worth the effort in my opinion. There aren't many chances to pause and have your breath taken away by the expanse of the valley. While shorter, it's still more rewarding to do a falls hike like Maunawili, or to do something like Kuliouou. read more

I'll keep real with y'all, unlike the rest of these peeps. I went to Moana falls but too many people were talking and gathering at the falls that it took all nature out of nature. I was disappointed with the falls when I turned around and saw the trail. The trail itself Is muddy, it's a climb and you will be tired but the view and the seclusion really leaves you one and one with nature. Don't let the babies who couldn't finish or find the lookout taint your view of trail. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. read more

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The disturbing fact about a treacherous hike to a peak is that you eventually have to come back down. In the case of the Aihualama Trail that probably means trekking back down the the path from whence you came. This explains why I didn't announce my joy for this hike upon reaching the peak. Getting back down safely, hell, getting back down alive, wasn't a given. To reach this trail you begin at the same place you would if you were going to Manoa Falls (pay parking lot or hike in from below). You then follow the trail to Manoa Falls and nearby, to your left as you approach the falls, is a small sign indicating the start of this trail. Most people won't see the sign unless actively searching for it and that's probably a good thing. A hike to Manoa Falls is relatively quick and relatively easy depending upon how wet it is. You're in a rain forest and the rocks on which you'll ascend or descend are made much more slippery if it's recently rained. You might be able to handle this for the brief time you're on the Manoa Falls Trail but once you get onto Aihualama, all bets are off. The hiking book I referenced ("Hiking the Hawaiian Islands" by Suzanne Swedo) describes this trek as 4.2 miles round trip (beginning at the Manoa Falls parking lot) and 2 - 3 hours in duration. My hike clocked in at 4 hours including time for photos, time for trekking through shoe-eating mud, and time for screaming bloody murder as I slid and grabbed for the life-saving bamboo on the downside of the trail. The bamboo can truly be a lifesaver as can a sturdy piece of bamboo, when used as your walking stick. At the trail's peak (Nu'uanu Valley Overlook), before you turn around and retrace your steps, there's a small bench and a view through the valley all the way to Kailua. It's not as spectacular a view as you can get from many other trails and lookouts but it's a nice and satisfying thing to look out upon, gather your wits, and pray for no rain before attempting your descent. Leave plenty of time and daylight for the descent, as it's far more treacherous than the climb and your bamboo walking stick will become your best friend. Particularly unsettling to me was navigating the part of the path affected by a sizable landslide in 2013. After the slippery rocks and man-eating mud I thought I was inured to this trail but hiking this small section while envisioning giant boulders barrelling down the mountain towards me brought new levels of terror. Eventually, God willing, you'll return to the Manoa Falls trail. All those clean hikers in their day clothes will look at you and your filthy self and say "I didn't know there was another trail" and give you a wide berth for passing. It's an adventure, this Aihualama Trail. Don't attempt it without a walking stick or if there's a forecast of rain. If it sounds like your kind of thing it likely is. Put on your grubbiest hiking shoes and have at it. For me, once was enough, but I'm actually happy to have had the experience and to have gotten out in one piece. read more

As Gob Bluth would say "I've made a huge mistake." This trail is......meh. It was a huge mistake because my husband and I originally planned to just hike Manoa Falls, but we felt adventurous and thought...Aihualama Trail should not be so bad...we were so wrong. It was long and pretty boring most of the time. It is not very scenic as you go for long periods without seeing anything outside the forest surrounding you. When you do reach the scenic points, they are nice, but not really worth all of the muddy trek it takes to get there. We went all the way up to the scenic point at the end of the hike and decided, let's keep going. This was very adventurous of us and kind of dangerous. The "trail" is not really a trail. You are essentially walking on a cliff along the side of the mountain and at many points, there are holes that if you miss them, you will fall off the side of the mountain. It probably would not be a fun ride down....it's steep. Looking back at the photos, the few views that we observed were beautiful, but it was just so long and boring, that I can't overlook the boring trek to appreciate the views. Again, I did not enjoy this hike very much. The only hike that I have done around the same length of time is three peaks and that one is much cooler, more dangerous and has more beautiful views. Aihualama Trail is pretty boring much of the time. We likely won't do it again. read more

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This is a trail that you can access towards the end of the Manoa Falls Trail and is perfect if you're already familiar with Manoa Falls but want a bigger challenge. It's an additional hour to an hour and a half long trail that ultimately leads you to a small clearing that overlooks Nu'uanu Pali. It's a spectacular view! And although technically the trail ends there, another small trail exists past it that you can climb through to get to where you can actually see Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and Kaneohe Bay all from one spot. It's a pretty amazing experience, and if you have a camera or phone app that's capable of a panoramic shot, be sure to bring it with you. The first time I found out about this trail, it was totally by accident. My friend and I only intended on seeing Manoa Falls, but when I noticed someone coming out of the barely noticeable 'Aihualama Trail, I was instantly lured in. In this 1.3 mile hike, you will encounter a few patches of bamboo forestry, awe-inspiring banyan trees, and even some native birds, if you're lucky. The first half of the trail is pretty smooth and actually easier than the Manoa Falls trail before it. It's not as rocky, it's usually nice and breezy, and in fact, there are parts where the path is mostly flat. The latter half of the trail is a different story. There are rocks and muddy puddles you have to maneuver yourself around, and before it gets any better, you have to make your way through a windy, zig-zag trail that is extremely repetitive and at times dizzying. I love this trail in general, but honestly, the zig-zag part is the only part of it I don't look forward to. It's long, it's boring, and as if climbing it wasn't bad enough, going down it is a total nightmare on the knees. If you've been there, you'd know what I'm talking about. There are some forced "shortcuts" that cut across this part of the trail (indication of how much of a b#tch it can be), but only a few are really worth considering, and for the sake of preservation, I don't recommend them. Should you choose to take on this challenge, be sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, definitely some bug-repelant, and try to avoid days when it recently rained since the trail can get pretty slippery. The 'Aihualama Trail also connects to the Pauoa Flats Trail near the end, which in turn leads to other trails. If you can go another thirty minutes to a couple hours, you might enjoy an even greater challenge by following this trail. Get a topographic map of 'Aihualama and other trails here: https://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/trail.php?TrailID=OA+19+001&island=Oahu read more

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Wonderful trail! 1.) Located to the left of Manoa Falls Trail. 2.) First 5 minutes of the hikes is similar to the Manoa Falls Trail. 3.) Next 5 minutes you will enter a nicely paved trail that is surrounded by a lush bamboo forest. 4.) After the bamboo forest you will start to see the trail get rockier. Be careful where you step and be aware! 10 - 15 minutes into this section of the trail, you will come across an area where you will need to do a bit of rock climbing! (FUN! Be extra careful because it can be slippery!) 5.) After the short rock climb experience the path continues! You will eventually see a rock wall. The path is located to the left side of the wall. I did not get to climb that portion of the trail since I started later in the day. The trail is breathtaking! Make sure to use mosquito repellent, have good hiking shoes with traction, water, and bring a phone (I had my iphone and was able to get great reception) and bring some friends on this trail! read more

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It was raining in Manoa Valley when I got there. I'm sure on a dry day the hike is way more fun, but I got rained on for almost two solid hours. That made the trail super muddy and slippery. I thought it was quite strenuous going up that incline, wither that or blame the humidity, I was drenched in my own sweat and rain when I finally made it up there. Unfortunately the views were shitty (again: it was still raining) and the way down was way faster yet partly also kind of dangerous due to the mud and the tree roots.... like I said: could be a fun hike if you go on a dry day, or even if you wanna connect to another trail from there. I just picked a not so good day, I guess. Took me 3 hours round trip. You should bring water and a snack, wear sturdy shoes. I would not recommend bringing kids on this hike. read more

Aihualama Trail - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I absolutely love this trail so... kind of biased I guess. It is absolutely not for everyone. It took me two tries to find the look out point which made me love it all the more for the challenge. You do not do this trail because it's easy. The first half is a relatively simple walk up and down through more beautiful bamboo forest. There are a couple nice views of the southern (I think it's the southern) side of the mountain. Then you get to the grind. Around a dozen steep switchbacks zigzag up the mountain. This is absolutely the hardest part and I always end up taking a rest part way through somewhere on this section. Once you push through here you're all good though as it's relatively level terrain through a beautiful bamboo forest. For the awesome viewpoint, if I remember right, it's the first trail that splits off on the right. It leads to an amazing vista of the northern (I, again, think?) portion and even has a nice memorial bench to take a break on. Also as an aside, I've seen some people suggesting to avoid this trail in the rain. I agree that if you want to avoid getting too dirty that this should be the case. HOWEVER, if you don't mind your hiking shoes getting caked in mud and coming down covered in sweat and dirt ABSOLUTELY check out this trail in a light rain if you can. I did by accident one day and it completely changes the surroundings with multiple little streams popping up. I also love a hike that I come back from LOOKING like I had a rough hike. Certainly not for the faint of heart but certainly manageable if you're in decent shape. Definitely a formidable workout. Bring a couple big bottles of water and something to snack on. It takes me personally about three hours overall. read more

I was happy when this trail was reopened on Christmas Day. I've done Manoa Falls before and read about this trail and had wanted to do it. There really are a lot of switchbacks to get up to the top. I was very surprised that the trail was very dry. The area that was cleared by the landslide makes a perfect scenic look out now. The trees are all cleared out of the way creating a good view across the valley and down to town. Some might be bothered by the rocks though. The whole time I was there, large grains of rocks kept coming down from the top. There are actually a couple piles of sand where it's been collecting. read more

It's a nice, shady, cool and fun family hike. There are a few switchbacks with some waterfall at Manoa Falls where you are able to start this hike but, there are a few other ways to get on this hike. The hike is about 3.6miles if you are coming from Manoa Falls. If you do park at Manoa Falls park leave all your valuable at home, even though their is a person that monitors that area, break in's still happen because it is a very heavy tourist attractions. Just bring your water and some snacks. Try not to also leave your opala as it is a nature forest reserves and to keep it persevered means if you bring your Opala (trash) with you, please malama our aina and take care of it and take your trash with you. The hike is very peaceful, tranquil, and breathtaking as you start your journey up to Aihualama. Enjoy your walk and no rush, take your time and soak in every minute that this forest has to offer you. I always say if those huge trees could talk that would be amazing ...LoL read more

Aihualama Trail - Aihualama Trail hike over looking Nuuanu! Nice family Dog friendly hike - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've been super lazy and haven't hiked in a while so instead of sitting my lazy ass in front of my computer on my day off I attempted Aihulama Trail with a friend..... The reason I say attempted is since we were so afraid our phones would get damaged from the pouring ran halfway up, we decided to turn around. Don't judge us. 1. I have a backpack from Walmart so its definitely NOT waterproof 2. My iphone is my baby, and if I lost it I'd be sad, really sad. The trailhead starts at the end of the Manoa Falls trail and you can see a sign for Aihulama Trail as you get to the falls. As far as scenery, the trail was nothing special but it was quiet and soothing. The coolest part of the trail were all the bamboo trees. Definitely made for some sweet pictures, since its not something you see everywhere. And as you got higher up you could see Manoa through the treetops which were pretty even through the pouring rain... I wish we could have made it to the top to see the beautiful views but I guess we'll just have to wait for a less rainy day. YELP 365: 207/365 read more

After doing Manoa falls we decided to venture onto this path knowing next to nothing (really, actually nothing. Couldn't even remember the name of the trail - had to look at the sign when we got back down!) about this hike. Just went for it. As we started up we ran into about three other groups that asked "Are you going to the top?" We answered of course! They just looked at us and said good luck. Greatttttt. What could that possibly mean? They kept saying it seemed like the hike never ended. It does indeed though. Prepare to get muddy. What fun is it without a little mud? I mean seriously! When we went it was quite muddy, which made things a bit slick at times. Be careful! One of the coolest things about this trail is the bamboo forests. It is so cool walking through them! Lots of different scenery too as you walk the trail which is super neat! Lots of switchbacks. Yay! All around, nice hike! read more

We found this by accident and seriously loved it!!! It was not too difficult my 8 and 10 year couldn't do it but it wasn't a walk in the park either. It was wet and muddy and we all slipped and fell at least once. We didn't make it all the way to the end because it was late in the day and we wanted to make sure we weren't on the trail after dark but we loved it all. The bamboo forest is fabulous and there are tons of switchbacks that keep you climbing. It is a great adventure for sure. WEAR GOOD SHOES!!! This is not a flip flop kind of hike! read more

Aihualama Trail - Hiking Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you are going to do this trail, bring a snack!! We originally set out to do Manoa Falls, but we decided to be adventurous and do the Aihualama Trail. This trail just keeps winding around and we never did find a lookout point (but perhaps we just didn't take the right path). After about 2 hours of hiking, we decided to turn back around. Really amazing and diverse scenery. Very muddy and slippery at points. I love this trail because not many people are on it, and you get in an amazing workout! read more

Absolutely love this hike, but be prepared for a LONG one! After hiking to the Manoa Falls, look for a trial on your right (going back). This will be what says a 1.3 mile hike, but it seems so much further and I believe it may be. Very few people notice this trail and I am thankful for that. It's peaceful and very quiet. You will hear birds, water, and bamboo in the wind. Be careful with your footing and be prepared for mud! It's Hawaii...it rains. Wash yourself off in the falls when you make it back down. The water is soon soothing, but I digress. You will make it through the bamboo trails, past 3 glorious banyan trees, through more bamboo, to an old land slide, and eventually to the mountain for a winding way up. There will come a point where there is a fork, take the right (the way going UP the mountain.) You're 5 minutes away now. You will make it to the top with a view and a bench. You're already here so I suggest continuing through the brush trail (to the right) to the next peak. This climb requires the use of ropes (already there), but the view is worth the ENTIRE hike. You can see everything, the city, the Marine base..wow! All and all, this is a hike for those who don't mind spending 4 hours hiking through vegetation and nature, muddy shoes, and tired legs! Bring water and a snack. I read some really crappy reviews on here...I don't know what to say. Those people obviously don't understand what a hike is and should have turned back at Manoa Falls. Beautiful view! The way back down is fun! You can almost run the entire thing! read more

What a beautiful hike. Take the same trail you would to get to Manoa Falls and right before you hit the waterfall, look to your left and you'll see a little sign that says " Aihualama Trail". It looks and starts really deceiving. Small trail, rocky and up hill but once you get pass maybe 100 yards, it's really cool. Get to walk through all the bamboo forests and you'll get to see Manoa Valley from the inside out. I don't think there is an end because I kept on going and going. I didn't want to end up on the other side of the island so I turned around ( or I didn't want to be that person everyone is laughing at for RESCUE CREWS looking for me). You have 3 options on parking. Pay the $5.00 at the bottom of the trail, park by the homes and walk about 1/4 mile to the beginning or park at Tree Top restraunt for free.Up to you. Definitely good for beginners but do pack water and check out that one big tree on the trail with the fish in the roots. You'll know what i'm talking about. read more

Seems to take forever. its quite a lot more hiking then the initial manoa falls hike. be prepared for a long trek ahead. it probally took us over an hour and half to get up so bring water and food. and dont take shortcuts. found some that didnt work so well and dove out of the way of a rock slide that threw me down a steep hill that i had to be pulled back onto the trail from. shortcuters beware:D read more

Trail full of wonderful rain forest. Don't be put of by the beginning of the trail, it gets much smoother after you climb the initial rocking, slippery part at the Manoa falls. It has some wonderful Banyan trees along the way after only 10 or 15 minutes. Many wonderful bamboo forests along the way as well. The trail was in very good shape and could be done by most people in decent conditioning. We took this trail and connected with several others of the mauka trail system to go to the summit of Tantalus. You can get a map at the bottom from the parking guy. The Tantalus summit is admittedly an anticlimax given how good the Aihualama trail is. The summit has paved roads all around for the telephone company. I felt somewhat cheated given that I hiked all the way up there and the telephone company can just drive their pickup trucks to the same place. read more

Love this hike, its decently challenging and like Gloria S.'s review the first 10 minutes or so you are thinking that this hike is a breeze and even doubting that this is indeed a hike. But keep on going and you will totally enjoy it. YES it is a rain forest and there are TONS of mosquitos but it does not take anythign away from the hike......its awesome. read more

Good workout. Pretty much zig zags all the way. There are shortcuts between most(steep mini trail straight up) but on the third or fourth zig zag we tried a shirt cut which ultimately led to a intense rock climb up a land slide. Would not recommend doing that. Follow the trail to the top! read more

Manoa Falls trail became more like a walk in a park. Not as adventurous as it used to be. On the top of the waterfall, found this trail, "Aihualama Trail". Wanted to do something exciting. Surrounded by beautiful black bamboo trees and scenery during the walk. Walked up the trail and it was very fun running back down. read more

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Holy crap. Steep, winding, muddy trails. It took 45 mins to get to the top- mind you this is AFTER you hike to the waterfall! The view from the top is beautiful of course, but be prepared for a HIKE! read more

Do not bring your dogs' on this trail there are reckless irresponsible idiot pig hunters who don't watch their dog packs'. My little sister's dog was mauled to death by hunting dogs due to their reckless stupid owners' hunting without a permit on a public hiking trail. read more

Holy crap. Just stick to the Manoa Falls trail. My husband and I thought we'd be adventurous and like Johanna mentioned, this muddy and treacherous trail is not worth the view at the top. Of course it was raining when we took this narrow and steep walk up the side of a mountain, so that didn't help matters, but even if it had been a sunny day, I don't recommend it. There's squishy mud that will engulf your shoes, slippery rocks that could send you sailing to your death, and twisted tree roots probably exposed by the landslide of 2013. It wasn't just the fact that this was difficult, that every step required a conscious effort to stay upright, it was the fact that this trail repeated the same views and terrain for all 3.5 hours we were on it. No ocean views, no lush valleys to encourage your forward momentum. Just the same muddy slopes, loose rocks, and bamboo trees the. entire. morning. We finally made it to the top and it is nice, but I've experienced more awe inspiring views with way less effort. We took a few photos and then I got a giant mosquito bite right on my forehead. Sigh. Somehow we made it back to the falls in one piece, and we stared in jealousy at the clean and energetic tourists we passed who only wanted to catch a glimpse of a mighty waterfall. In hindsight, I'd have to say they had the right idea. Stick to Manoa Falls, and read Yelp before thinking your spontaneous adventures will be an adorable story to add to the honeymoon tale. read more

Ok after reading the other reviews I don't feel like such a wimp. We took this detour on a drizzly day after making it to Manoa Falls and our guest felt like they wanted a little more exercise. There were other people ahead of us, the five of us are in reasonably good shape, we had water and cell phones, so we figured why not? Beautiful walk and change of scenery. Bamboo forests and breathtaking trees. But it was the trail to nowhere. It seemed the longer we walked the muddier it got and then the rain began in earnest. We finally had to take a vote and ended up going back the way we came. So a nice hike if you beleive hiking is more about the journey than the destination. read more

Cool bamboo forest and nice banyan trees. Found this trail off the Manoa falls point, and with a little help from yelp. We were looking for the look out point, and after hiking for well over and hour, we realized that if we didn't turn around we would be hiking in the dark. That was not an appealing thought. Beautiful trail, highly recommend it, just start a little earlier than 4pm. read more