Hike· Oahu· Hawaii
Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
21° 18.6′ N · 157° 39.0′ W
A paved 2-mile round-trip walk up Oahu's eastern tip to look down on the Makapuu lighthouse, Rabbit Island and the windward coast, and in winter to watch humpbacks blow offshore.
Practical
Position is the light (Coast Pilot 10: 21-18-36N, 157-38-59W; 420 ft above water on a 49 ft white tower; state layer: occulting, 19 nm). Trail (State Parks, Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline): 2 miles round trip on a paved road, about 500 ft of climbing, hot, dry and windy; no water or restrooms; no entrance fee; hours 7 am-7:45 pm from April 1 and 7 am-6:45 pm after Labor Day; the lighthouse itself is off-limits. Humpbacks may be seen November-May, peak January-March. The upper Makapuu Lookout viewing area was scheduled closed for repairs October 21-November 4, 2026. From the sea, Makapuu Head is the landfall for vessels bound to Honolulu from the mainland; give it about 1 mile (Coast Pilot); the Makai Undersea Test Range restricted area extends offshore (33 CFR 334.1410).
Best for
Whale watching and the best view of Oahu's east end
Season
Whales Nov-May, peak Jan-Mar
Nearby
- Manana (Rabbit Island) Seabird Sanctuary1.2 NM away
- Koko Crater Railway Trail2.6 NM away
- Waimanalo Bay (Inside the Reef)3.2 NM away
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve3.4 NM away
- Hawaii Kai Provisions (Safeway, Keahole St)3.5 NM away
- Hawaii Kai Marina (Kuapa Pond)3.6 NM away
- Waimanalo Bay Beach Park3.6 NM away
- Oahu Humpback Whale Season3.7 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).