Most visitors drive the five miles from Waikiki into Honolulu's Manoa Valley, paying $7 to park at the trailhead. Public transit riders take Bus 5 to Kumuone Street and walk the final 0.8 miles.
End of Manoa Road, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Board Bus 8, 19, or 20 from Waikiki to the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Transfer here to Bus 5 heading toward Manoa. Ride until the Manoa Road and Kumuone Street stop. This route takes approximately one hour and drops you 0.8 miles from the start of the hike. Walk this final stretch uphill along Manoa Road to reach the trail. Expect sudden rain showers during this walk, so keep your phone and wallet in a waterproof zip-lock bag. Use the water hoses near the trailhead to wash off the thick clay mud before boarding the bus back to town.
Navigate 5 miles from Waikiki via the H-1 freeway. Take exit 23 for Punahou Street if heading eastbound, or exit 24 if westbound. Follow Punahou Street north and bear left where it turns into Manoa Road. Continue straight past the five-way intersection directly into the Paradise Park lot. The drive takes about 15 minutes in standard traffic. The gates operate strictly from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. Bring cash to cover the vehicle fee and avoid the small credit card surcharge at the attendant booth.
Park in the residential neighborhood a quarter-mile before the trailhead to avoid the standard vehicle fees. Follow the main route up Manoa Road but look for a legal street spot before reaching the Paradise Park lot. Parking along the shoulder of the short road immediately preceding the paid area is illegal and heavily ticketed. Walk the remaining 0.25 miles up the paved road to reach the start of the hike. The walk adds a few minutes to your trip but saves money for a post-hike coffee at the nearby cafe. Arrive by 7:00 AM to secure a legal space before the morning crowds fill the narrow neighborhood streets.
Book a vehicle for the 15-minute trip from Waikiki directly to the trailhead entrance. Drivers follow the standard Manoa Road route and drop you at the Paradise Park lot. This bypasses the $7 parking fee and the stress of hunting for a legal spot on crowded residential streets. Getting a ride back down to Honolulu requires preparation. The trail is notoriously wet year-round, and drivers frequently reject passengers covered in mud. Pack a clean towel and a change of dry shoes in a waterproof bag. Use the public hoses located near the parking lot to rinse the clay off your legs and boots before calling your return ride.
Parking at the Paradise Park trailhead lot costs $7 per vehicle, or $4 for military and Hawaii residents. Free street parking sits a quarter-mile away in the residential neighborhood, but leaving your car on the short access road leading to the paid lot is illegal. The rugged trail offers zero wheelchair or stroller accessibility.
| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waikiki | Car | 15 minutes | $7.00 parking fee ($4.00 with Hawaii or military ID) | Take H-1 to the Punahou Street exit and bear left onto Manoa Road. Parking along the short road just before the paid lot is illegal and actively fined. |
| Waikiki | Bus | 1 hour | $3.00 single fare | Catch Bus #8, 19, or 20 to Ala Moana Shopping Center, then transfer to Bus #5. The route drops you at Kumuone Street, leaving a 0.8-mile walk up Manoa Road to the trailhead. |
| Ala Moana Shopping Center | Bus | 1 hour | $7.50 daily unlimited | Board Bus #5 heading directly to Manoa. Purchase the daily unlimited pass instead of the single fare to cover your return trip back to the city. |
Aim to reach the Paradise Park parking lot between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM to secure a spot before peak crowds hit. Morning hours bring cooler temperatures and lower humidity for the uphill climb. The official lot opens at 8:00 AM, but early arrival beats the midday rush.
Skip the $7 parking fee at the Paradise Park lot by parking in the adjacent residential neighborhood. You will add a flat 1/4-mile walk to the trailhead. Military members and Hawaii residents can pay a discounted $4 rate at the official lot with a valid ID.
Ride Bus #5 from the Ala Moana Shopping Center to the Manoa Road and Kumuone Street stop for a $3 single fare. You must walk 0.8 miles up Manoa Road to reach the actual trailhead from this drop-off point. Buy a $7.50 daily pass if you plan multiple transit trips.
Leave a clean towel and a change of footwear in your car trunk. The trail remains slick with wet clay year-round, coating your legs and shoes in thick mud. Use the water hoses near the trailhead to rinse off before driving back to town.
Pack a zip-lock or dry bag to protect your phone and camera from sudden downpours. Manoa Valley experiences high precipitation almost daily, turning the 800-foot elevation gain into a slippery hazard. Turn back immediately if heavy rain starts, as the mountain stream can rapidly flash flood.
Take Bus 8, 19, or 20 from Waikiki to the Ala Moana Shopping Center, then transfer to Bus 5 heading to Manoa. Exit at the Manoa Road and Kumuone Street stop and walk 0.8 miles up Manoa Road to the trailhead. A single fare costs $3.00, and the five-mile trip takes about one hour.
Drive five miles from Waikiki by taking the H-1 freeway eastbound to the Punahou Street exit 23. Bear left where Punahou Street turns into Manoa Road, and drive past the five-way intersection straight to the parking lot. Westbound drivers should use exit 24 instead.
Parking at the Paradise Park lot costs $7 per vehicle. Military members and Hawaii residents with a valid ID pay a discounted rate of $4. Attendants add a small surcharge if you pay with a credit card.
You can park for free in the nearby residential neighborhood and walk a quarter-mile to the trailhead. Parking along the side of the short road immediately before the paid parking area is illegal. Arrive around 7:00 AM to secure a free street spot before the lots open.
The trailhead parking lot opens daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The trail itself is accessible from sunrise to sunset. Arriving right at 8:00 AM secures a paid spot and offers cooler morning temperatures.
Restrooms and a small cafe sit near the parking lot entrance at Paradise Park. Visitors can buy snacks, coffee, and cold drinks here before starting the 1.6-mile hike. Water hoses stand near the trailhead so hikers can rinse thick clay mud off their boots before getting back into their cars.
Recreational hikers do not need permits or reservations to walk the trail. The hike is completely free to the public. Commercial filming and photography require an official permit from the Hawaii Film Office and proof of liability insurance.
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