Manoa Falls is a waterfall located in the Manoa Valley in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is located in the Manoa Falls Trail which is 1.6 miles long[1]. The trail leads up to the waterfall which is is 150 feet tall[2]. Many tourists are attracted to the waterfall and the scenery leading up to it. The hike to Manoa Falls and back is a one hour round trip[1]. The waterfall encounters rainfall almost everyday and flash floods may occur at anytime. Swimming in the pool below the waterfall is highly discouraged because there is a threat of getting Leptospirosis. This disease causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms that can last for up to 1 to 2 weeks[3].
Characteristics
editManoa Falls is located on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii in Manoa Valley. The Manoa Falls is 150ft an empties in a small pool. The waterfall is nestled in the mountains of Koolau in a tropical rainforest[4]. Being located in a rainforest means the area is prone to heavy rainfall making the ground often damp and muddy[1] The high amount of precipitation leads to a high about of plant life near the falls.[4]
Dangers
editLeptospirosis
editSwimming in the pool at the bottom of the falls is discouraged. This is due to the bacteria disease called Leptospirosis which causes flu-like symptoms up for up to 1/2 weeks. Leptospirosis is found in freshwater and it common in tropical climates, in Hawaii rats and mice often transfer the disease to humans[3].
Deaths
editA 19 year old Valedictorian from Kaiser high school in Honolulu, Hawaii died in Manoa Falls on June 15th 2016. Kirsti Takanishi died two days later from blunt force trauma to the head after falling from the the top of Manoa Falls.[5]
Sourses
edit- ^ a b c Lee, Diane (March 29, 2012). "Oahu Hike of the Month: Manoa Falls Trail". Honolulu Magazine. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ DEKNEEF, MATTHEW (October 17, 2016). "12 Tallest Most Epic Watersfalls". Hawaii Magazine. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ a b "What is Leptosporosis". Hawaii State Department of Health. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ a b "Manoa Falls". Discover Hawaii Tours: Hawaii's Ambassadors of Hawaii. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ Blair, A (June 20, 1016). "Kaiser High School 2015 valedictorian dies while hiking Manoa Falls". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved November 14, 2016.