Hiking Oahu- Manoa Falls Trail

The hike to Manoa Falls is one of my favorite hikes, and what I feel is one of the best on the entire island. It is a fairly simple 2 mile round trip hike back to a beautiful waterfall. Best of all it is easy to get to the trail head- whether by city bus or other form of transportation.
Parking near the beginning of the trail costs $5, and there is a small stand where snacks and drinks are sold. There is a restroom at the beginning of the trail. Word to the wise: take hand sanitizer and hold your nose. The port-a-potty always smells foul.
Keep a look out for exotic birds. You can always hear birds while out in the rainforest, and every now and then you might see a bird such as a cockatoo, especially near the Lyon Arboretum. Be prepared for rain (pack a light poncho); thick mosquitoes; mud; and humidity. Water is an absolute must on this hike, as well as a camera. Also, you can not swim in the pond due to the presence of bacteria. This hike is more for the view and exercise.
If you are visiting the island for a short time, this hike is one you should not mix. You will quickly travel from city, to suburb (Manoa), and back in to the rain forest in a matter of minutes, and you will be swept away by the beauty of Manoa valley. There is a restaurant, Lyon Arboretum, and what used to be Paradise Park all near the beginning of the hiking trail.

Directions:

Driving Directions to Manoa Falls / Location

Manoa Falls is located at the end of Manoa Road in Honolulu's neighborhood of Manoa. Take the city bus number 5 all the way to the last station. Or you can catch the number 4 in Waikiki going toward the UH campus. Get off the bus at Punahou School (you can't miss it- remember it is the school President Obama attended), head left up toward the next stop light and make a right. You will see a bus stop right in front of the other side of Punahou School. Wait for the #5 which will take you to the end of the bus route. The bus driver always announces the stop for Manoa Falls because there is almost always someone headed that way. When you get off the bus, go left and back in to the neighborhood. Take the road to the very end and you will see the park. You really can't miss it.

Driving directions: From H-1 take the University Street exit. Drive through UH campus and Turn right once you get to Manoa Road. Follow carefully follow until it dead ends at the trail head.

Address: 3860 Manoa Road Honolulu, HI 96822







For directions to the trail, follow this link:

Hiking Oahu- Waimano Trail

Lower Waimano trail is a nice family hike that only takes an hour or two. The trail is approximately 2 miles long and forms a loop. When starting out make sure you take the lower Waimano trail, as opposed to the upper trail. The lower trail starts at the same trailhead as upper Waimano, but it it heads down in to the valley and runs along side a creek. It then reconnects to upper Waimano trail and cuts back to the starting point. The beginning of the trail is a very easy down hill decent in to the valley. It is sunny- hats and sunglasses, and of course sunscreen are necessary. The valley itself is pretty well shaded and nice and cool. We were unable to enjoy the creek because there was no water in it! But the hike is very pretty, so very much worth the time.
When the trail reconnects to the upper trail it does get steep, and younger children might need a little push up the hill. To cut to the upper trail, look for the giant mango tree, take the trail up the hill (to the right) and make your way up to the main trail. Be sure to go to the right to head back to the trail head, along the fence line. If you go left you will be in for a much longer hike! Do not go left, unless prepared to be hiking for hours.
One thing about this area that everyone should take note of- it is a public hunting area. Bringing dogs out hiking with you is okay, but you might come across hunting dogs. Be aware of this and wear brightly colored clothes so hunters will be able to see you clearly.

Directions to the trail:
http://www.hawaiitrails.org/trail.php?TrailID=OA+09+021

Life on an island

Almost a year ago my family began the process of moving to Oahu, one of the main Hawaiian islands, and home to the capitol city of Honolulu. Withing a month we found an apartment on Oahu, packed up our belongings, sold a lot of stuff, said goodbye to friends and loved ones, and took off for the island.
During the moving process I had many people tell me that they think Hawaii is a nice place to visit, but not to live; that they felt sorry for me because I was moving to Oahu, of all the islands; that I would get claustrophobic and move back in a year or two; you get the point. Now almost a year later I am pleased to say that I am anything but claustrophobic, Oahu has a lot to offer and is a great place to live, and overall, living here is way better than just visiting! My life is far from perfect. And yes I have made sacrifices to be here. But it has been more than worth it and I would not change a thing.
That being said, I rearranged this entire blog so that instead of just talking about the move here and the adjustment to a new lifestyle, it is now about what my family does here on Oahu. Oahu is more than Waikiki and the tourist spots that so many people are familiar with, and I hope to share that with you.