Manoa Falls-Hiking Through a Hawaiian Rainforest

Deep in the valley of Manoa lies Manoa Falls,an easy 30- minute hike through a lush rainforest filled with native flora and fauna. One of my favorite hikes on the island of Oahu, this is definitely one of the easiest, yet most beautiful hikes in Hawaii.

Located just a short 20-minute drive or a 30-minute bus ride from the Ala Moana Shopping Center, it's also one of the most accessible.

As weather plays an important function, it is crucial to know the forecast of your visit. Known for its frequent rain showers, the hike to the falls can get slippery and flash floods are not uncommon. So it's best to be prepared before a visit to the falls.

Fortunately for us, the weather was perfect. Or so it seemed.

*Photos taken by myself unless otherwise noted.

We awoke to sunshine and were thrilled to see clear blue skies. After a quick smoothie breakfast, we boarded the bus that would take us directly to Manoa. Once we entered the valley, we started to take notice of the ominous clouds in he distance. About a minute later, it started to drizzle.

Thinking the clouds would dissipate soon, we continued onwards deeper into the valley. Upon arriving at our stop, it was starting to pour! Since we didn't really have a choice, we hopped off and stayed under the bus shelter to protect us from the rain.

For five minutes, the rain came down hard, making us wonder if we needed to postpone the hike. But it wasn't raining as hard now and thought we might as well try. Trying to focus on staying optimistic, we made our way through the drizzle to the entrance of the hiking trail.

After protecting ourselves with a good douse of insect repellant, we made our way through the nondescript entrance to the hike. After a few minutes of walking past beautiful flowers of Bird-of-Paradise and Ginger, we found ourselves in the midst of something out of a fairytale.

Possibly one of the most beautiful places I've seen, we were standing in the middle of an open field of huge trees, tropical flowers and singing birds all against a stunning backdrop of the mountains. I was in awe and wonder and could have stayed there all day long if not for the mosquitoes trying to find its way past my protective layer of insect repellant.

For the next 30 minutes, we took it at a slow pace. Although the hike is an easy one, the dirt roads are slippery and wet, filled with water puddles to hop over as well as numerous natural obstacles such as rocks, fallen tree branches and extremely uneven terrain. One slip can ruin that Hawaiian t-shirt you just bought!

Taking shorts rests at regular intervals allowed us to take in the lushness of this Hawaiian rainforest. As we passed streams, guava trees and the tangled branches of ancient trees, we finally arrived at our final destination.

There in front of us stood Manoa Falls and it was a sight to see. The morning rain made the water flow stronger than I'd ever seen it and although this wasn't my first visit to the falls, I'd never seen it flowing this intense.

Located just a stone's throw away from hustle and bustle of the city, standing in the lush rainforest of Manoa Valley is mind-blowing to say the least. The air is wetter and the temperature is cooler compared to the city. The intense green that surrounds you as the cool wind blows through your hair, it's hard to imagine a bustling city exists just 20 minutes away.

• Exploring Downtown Honolulu
• Climbing up Koko Head Crater
• Hike up Diamond Head