Hikers now are facing new parking restrictions at Manoa Falls Trail, and will either have to pay to leave their cars near the trail or walk about a half-mile to park free of charge.

The state recently closed the parking area at the trail head that hikers have used free of charge for years, said Aaron Lowe, the O'ahu trails and access specialist with the state's Na Ala Hele trail program.

"We had the possibility of falling branches from the trees and a high amount of thefts from vehicles," Lowe said. "That forces us to block off the parking lot."

Hikers started parking in the former Paradise Park parking lot nearby, but that caused problems for the restaurant there and the charter school in the same building, said Napua Wong, whose family owns the private park.

To manage the lot, the Wongs now separate the parking areas and charge hikers $5 to park there.

"The real reason for doing all this is to maintain order in this parking lot," Wong said. "Our priority is the restaurant because they pay us rent. We came up here and decided we had to do something."

Kane'ohe resident Michelle Pond hiked the trail last week with several friends and paid a $3 kama'aina rate to park in the lot.

"I came up a year ago and we just parked on the side for free," Pond said. "We were surprised when she told us $5. We were like 'What!' I think the state should reopen the free parking lot."

Lowe said there are no plans to reopen the lot and that people who don't want to pay can park in the residential area down the street and walk up.

"We would need security there and have to go in to do major contract to trim the trees to reopen it," he said.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.