Manoa Falls Trail Reopens After $2.8M Restoration With New Boardwalks and Erosion Controls

One of Oahu’s most popular hiking trails has reopened following a $2.8 million restoration that added elevated boardwalks, stone-reinforced switchbacks, and new erosion controls to the heavily trafficked path to Manoa Falls.

The trail, which draws an estimated 300,000 visitors annually, had deteriorated significantly over the past decade, with sections becoming impassable mud pits during rainy periods. A major landslide in December 2025 closed the trail entirely and prompted the state to fast-track a comprehensive restoration.

“This trail was loving itself to death,” said DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife administrator David Smith. “We needed to rebuild it in a way that can handle the traffic without destroying the watershed.”

The restoration includes 1,200 feet of elevated composite boardwalks over the most erosion-prone sections, 14 new stone-step switchbacks, improved drainage channels, and native plant restoration along trail margins. A new visitor counting system using infrared sensors will track usage in real time, allowing managers to implement temporary closures if capacity is exceeded.

The project also added interpretive signage in English, Japanese, and Korean highlighting the ecological significance of the Manoa watershed and the cultural importance of the valley to Native Hawaiians. All materials were helicopter-lifted to avoid further damage from heavy equipment.

The trail is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A new reservation system caps daily visitors at 1,500 on weekends and holidays, with free permits available through the DLNR website. Weekday access remains first-come, first-served with no reservation required.