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Short answer: The trailhead lot at the end of Manoa Road is a private paid lot, listed at $7 a car and open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking along Manoa Road near the trail isn’t allowed, and the lot fills early on weekends.
Manoa Falls parking trips up first-time visitors, because you can’t drive to the falls and the old free lot is gone. Here is what to expect when you drive up in a rental.
Where to park for Manoa Falls
Most hikers use the paid lot at the very end of Manoa Road, just before the trailhead. It’s on private land (the old Paradise Park), not a city or state lot, so there’s no official rate page. Traveler sources describe an attendant booth in the middle of Manoa Road where you pay before driving up.
- Price: listed at $7 per vehicle, with a lower rate for Hawaii residents and military. That figure comes from independent guides and recent visitor reports, so expect it can change.
- Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. One Reddit thread reports the lot opening at 8 a.m., which rules out a sunrise start from the lot.
- Distance: the trailhead is a short walk from the lot. Visitor reports put the hike to the falls and back at about 1.6 miles.
For the latest details, the independent Manoa Falls guide site keeps a parking page. It isn’t an official source.
Street parking, and where not to park
Parking along the sides of Manoa Road near the trailhead isn’t permitted. Free street parking exists lower down in the Manoa neighborhood, about a 10-minute walk away, but residents are sensitive about it. Follow every posted sign, stay off driveways and grass, and expect a ticket or tow if you don’t.
A ticket in a rental lands differently than one in your own car. The rental company usually finds out first and adds its own fee, which is covered in what happens if you get a parking ticket in your rental.
Protect the rental while you hike
The free lot that used to sit at the trailhead closed after a run of break-ins on hikers’ cars. Rentals are easy to spot, so leave nothing visible: bags, phones, and shopping all go in the trunk before you arrive, not in the lot.
Timing and getting there
Manoa is about 15 minutes by car from Waikiki. Weekends and holidays fill the lot fastest, so arrive close to the 8:00 a.m. opening. The trail is often muddy after rain, which is common in the valley, so pack shoes you don’t mind getting dirty and a towel for the car.
Planning more Oahu stops that need a parking plan? See Hanauma Bay reservations, Diamond Head reservations and Waikiki parking. Not sure you even need a car? Read whether you need a rental car on Oahu.
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Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Researched and written by Neo Pecorro. Facts on this page were checked against traveler guides and listings (there is no official parking page), plus the other sources linked above. Hawaii rules change often, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Last updated: October 14, 2026.