oahu – Tay By Day

This past weekend my husband and I were craving an adventure! Well mostly just me because I had been cooped up in the house all week but that’s besides the point! We decided on hiking Manoa Falls because it was a comprise between the dear husband and I. The one I originally wanted to do was Waimea Falls but that’s a pretty far drive so we decided to tackle that one another weekend. In the end though I wouldn’t have changed a thing because we had a blast!

Getting to Manoa Falls is pretty easy if you have GPS and you don’t need to worry about parking because its a “pay to play” hike, as I like to call them, getting a parking spot is practically guaranteed. (They charge $5 to park which is super cheap for the view and well maintained trail)

Word of warning this hike can get muddy so make sure to wear clothes/shoes you don’t mind getting a little dirty!

We did see some people who chose to brave this hike shoeless, something I have noticed a lot of locals do, but I wouldn’t recommend that because the hike has gravel laid down throughout most of it. This is because of how muddy it can be due to constant rains and high traffic.

The hike is only 1.6 miles and is not very difficult. We saw many children and elderly folk along the trail who were enjoying the view as much as we were. There was even a few expecting mothers out there this weekend so as long as its okay with your doctor there is no reason you should miss out on this beautiful hike!

All in all we had a great experience at Manoa Falls and I highly recommend this trail to anyone wanting to get out and explore this beautiful island. This is definitely one of more “tropical” hikes on Oahu and you are sure to enjoy yourself!

XOXO Taylor Mae

Oh Oahu how I love you! This island has given me some of the most beautiful memories of my life, and I will always cherish my time spent on the islands of Hawaii! There is an adventure around every corner and that’s something I love the most about this place! A few weeks ago my husband and I were brainstorming about where to go after a dreary couple of weeks on the windward side of the island so we decided to head to Oahu’s lovely and always sunny Haleiwa, where there are beautiful beaches and food trucks galore!

Its a bit of a drive from our side of the island to Haleiwa but manageable and that coconut shrimp is so totally worth the price of gas! I’m drooling just remembering how crispy and flavorful the coconut shrimp was! The best food trucks are down in an easy to miss “parking lot”. There is about 7-8 food trucks to choose from, and you can get anything from seafood to good ole southern BBQ. There is even options for those who are vegetarian or just prefer something lighter. Something you can’t leave without getting though is a snow cone, its a total must have!

After you fill up your tummy head on over to one of the lovely beaches close by to let your food digest and soak up some rays! The weekends in this area can get pretty crowded but if you go Monday thru Thursday early afternoon its usually not to bad and the traffic wont be terrible.

If you have the time definitely stop at The Dole Plantation on your way back towards town for some yummy adventures! I myself am not a huge fan of pineapple but you honestly cannot beat the fresh Dole Whip they serve there! You can also take pictures in a giant pineapple or ride the pineapple express(which is my husband and I’s favorite). It will take you on a beautiful and informative ride through their pineapple fields and also show you some of the other cool fruits/plants they grow here in Hawaii. The picture below is a photo of a baby pineapple plant! Isn’t it just the cutest little thing!

All in all you cannot go wrong with a day spent in Haleiwa. Its a fun and hip little town full of history, cool stores, and unbeatable food! It never ceases to put a smile on my face! That or I could just be laughing at my goofball husband, you never know!

XOXO Taylor Mae

Tag: oahu

Manoa Falls

An afternoon on Oahu’s North Shore