However, under proposals currently under consideration by the Indonesian Parliament, it is planned to split Manokwari town off from the regency and turn it into a separate city.

[citation needed] The majority of Manokwari residents are Christians and the town is one of the seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manokwari–Sorong.

Possibly via Moluccan and Malay influence, some local chiefs of the town had adopted Islam by the 19th century.

[2] On 25 October 1793, Captain John Hayes in the merchant ships Duke of Clarence and Duchess raised the British flag at Dore Bay, which he called Restoration Bay (as he had put in there to restore his crews' health) and claimed it and the surrounding area, which he called New Albion, for Great Britain.

For a variety of reasons the British East India Company, including changing priorities consequent on the outbreak of war with France, did not support the settlement.

Residents were evacuated to Manokwari Military Academy to seek shelter from possible tsunamis and aftershocks that were felt throughout the day.

[7] On 14 April 2010, Merpati Nusantara Airlines flight MZ 836, a Boeing 737-300 (registration PK-MDF) with 103 persons on board, broke into pieces as it bounced off the tarmac at Rendani Airport near Manokwari after landing in poor weather.

The university is strategically located on a hill facing the town, surrounded by a dense tropical rainforest.

One tourist site is the white, sandy Doreri Bay Beach which has calm, shallow water and is very safe for swimming.

[17] Arfak Range Nature Reserve in the south of Manokwari is a popular tourist destination for visitors who are interested in hiking, birding, and wildlife watching.

Charles Roring is a tourist guide who regularly organizes birds of paradise and wildlife-watching tours to the Susnguakti forest of Manokwari.