East Oʻahu
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail
A paved uphill walk to a cliff view over the ocean and a red-roofed lighthouse.
Why go
Big coastal views without needing hiking boots. Whales in winter.
The catch
Fully paved and pushchair-possible, but completely exposed. Do it early or late, not midday.
- How long
- 1-1.5 hours
- With children
- Yes
- Effort
- Easy
- Cost
- Free
- Parking
- Limited
Getting there
Driving times on real roads, from the same data the trip planner routes on — not straight-line distance.
| From Waikīkī | 32 min | 13.9 miles |
|---|---|---|
| From HNL airport | 1 hr | 28.1 miles |
| From Hawai‘i Kai | 14 min | 5.8 miles |
| From Kailua | 25 min | 9.6 miles |
Add traffic. These are free-flowing times, and the H1 through town at eight in the morning is not free-flowing.
Hours, fees and access rules have not been checked against a primary source for this entry yet. Confirm before you build a day around it.
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What else is close
Nearest by road, which is not the same as nearest on a map — and not the same as sharing a region either.
- Makapu'u Lookout2 min awayThe pull-off at the island corner, looking down on Makapuu Beach and the offshore islands.
- Sea Life Park4 min awayA marine park on the southeast corner, under the cliffs at Makapuu.
- Halona Blowhole Lookout6 min awayA lava tube that fires seawater up through the rock when the swell is right.
- Koko Head Stairs6 min awayA punishing climb straight up an old railway track. Over a thousand steps.
- Koko Crater Botanical Garden7 min awayA dryland garden on the floor of an old crater, with a plumeria grove in the middle.
- Lanai Lookout7 min awayA pull-off on the southeast coast road where the lava shelf drops straight into the water.