Oahu: Manoa Falls Hike & Tantalus Lookout Small Group Tour

4.59

(283 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We started winding up the road into Manoa Valley, windows cracked just enough to let in that damp, earthy smell you only get after rain. Our guide, Kaleo, pointed out a cluster of rainbow eucalyptus trees — the bark really does look painted, I swear. I was still fumbling with my poncho when we stepped onto the trail, shoes squishing a little in the mud. The air felt heavy but fresh, like it was pressing all the city noise out of my head.

The hike to Manoa Falls isn’t long (maybe 45 minutes?), but it’s all green on green — ferns brushing your calves, bamboo creaking somewhere above. Kaleo stopped us where they filmed Jurassic Park and grinned: “So if you hear a dinosaur... run.” I laughed harder than I should’ve; maybe it was just relief at being out here. When we finally reached the waterfall — 150 feet high and thin as thread — there was this fine mist that stuck to my skin. A couple of locals were picnicking off to the side, just quietly talking story. I tried saying ‘mahalo’ for letting us pass; probably butchered it.

On the way back, my legs felt wobbly but in a good way. We drove up to Tantalus Lookout next. The view of Diamond Head and Waikiki skyline almost didn’t look real — sunlight bouncing off glass buildings and that old volcano cone in the distance. Someone behind me said it looked like a postcard, but honestly it felt better than that because you could hear birds and distant traffic all at once. I still think about how small everything looked from up there.