Hiking the Waimano Falls Trail on Oʻahu
Distance: 2.9 miles / 4.7 km
The Waimano Falls Trail is one of Oʻahu’s most popular waterfall hikes!
Although the trail is only 2.9 miles (4.7 km) roundtrip, it’s a bit more challenging than the distance indicates, especially if it has been recently raining.
Waimano Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Waimano Falls hike is located at the top of Komo Mai Drive, which is same trailhead as Mānana and ʻIliahi Ridge.
On a weekend, finding a parking spot can be especially difficult because of how popular all three of these trails are.
Google Maps Directions: Waimano Falls Trailhead
Hiking the Waimano Falls Trail
The Waimano Falls Trail follows the same trail as Mānana Ridge for the first 0.8 miles (1.3 km) before the trail starts descending down to the waterfall.
Prepare for an exceptionally muddy/ slippery hike if the area has been raining.
For the first part of the hike, follow the main Mānana Ridge Trail until you come to the split in the photo below.
Whether you’re hiking Waimano Falls or Mānana Ridge, the easiest trail is down to the right.
Waimano Falls-Mānana Split
Shortly after the area in the photo above, the split for Waimano Falls will branch off to the right.
Past this point, the trail becomes much steeper and often more slippery.
Be aware that the hike out can be much more difficult than the hike to the falls because of how steep the trail is on the way out. Most of the 550 ft. of elevation gain is located in a relatively short stretch.
At this split, you can go which ever way looks easier. Both routes meet up shortly after.
At the split in the photo below, go left.
Lower Waimano Falls
Waimano Falls is rain fed, meaning that they may be anything from stagnant pools if it hasn’t been raining to what you see in the photos below.
If you’re considering jumping, always check to make sure that nothing like a rock or tree has fallen into the lower pool.
Additionally, the ropes are not put up nor maintained by any managing agency. You accept all risks if you choose to use them.
Upper Waimano Falls
Upper Waimano Falls is significantly taller than the lower falls, but the pool is not nearly as deep.
Simply put, don’t jump!
Hiking Out
Elevation Gain: ~550 ft. / 168 m
Remember that everything you hiked off of Mānana Ridge will have to be climbed back out which is why I don’t think that one direction is easier than the other.
Native Plants on the Waimano Falls Trail
Generally speaking, the Waimano Falls is relatively low in elevation as it doesn’t climb very high up Mānana Ridge before decending down to the stream.
This means that there is not a lot of native plants to look out for, but I did notice ʻŌhiʻa, Koa, Uluhe, and Hau on both the Mānana Ridge and Waimano Pools sections of the trail.
If you would like to learn more about identifying these and other native plants around Hawaiʻi, check out my post on different native Hawaiian plants from across the islands.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
