Some of the best ocean views on Oʻahu wait at the end of a short, paved climb on the island’s southeast corner. The Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail runs about 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip out to a pair of clifftop lookouts, where a little red-roofed lighthouse sits far below you and the whole windward coast opens up. In winter, humpback whales breach just offshore. It is one of the few real hikes on the island that almost anyone in the family can finish.
We love pointing people here because it pays off big for a small effort. The path is fully paved, there is no scrambling, and you can walk it in about an hour. Below is everything you need before you go: distance and difficulty, parking and hours, the best time to beat the heat and the crowds, what you will see along the way, and the safety notes that keep the walk fun.
Related: Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Guide, Diamond Head Hike, and the Best Sunrise Spots on Oʻahu.
| Trail | About 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip, fully paved |
| Elevation gain | About 500 feet (150 m) |
| Difficulty | Moderate, family-friendly |
| Time | About 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Cost | Free |
| Parking | Free lot off Kalanianaʻole Highway (Highway 72) |
| Whale season | November to May |
| Best time to go | Early morning, before the heat and crowds |
| Managed by | Kaʻiwi State Scenic Shoreline, Hawaiʻi State Parks |
The Trail at a Glance
The Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail is a paved former service road that climbs to the summit of Makapuʻu Head, the southeastern tip of Oʻahu. It runs about 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip with roughly 500 feet (150 m) of elevation gain, and most people finish it in about an hour, or an hour and a half if you linger for whales and photos. Hawaiʻi State Parks rates it moderate, but that is mostly the steady incline and the heat talking. There is no rope, no rock scramble, and no mud. It is wide, smooth, and open the whole way.
That combination makes it one of the friendliest real hikes on the island. Beginners handle it. Kids handle it. A sturdy stroller can even make it with a strong push, though a child carrier is easier on the steeper stretches. The trade-off is shade, of which there is almost none, so the smart move is timing, and we will get to that.
How to Get There and Where to Park
📍 Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trailhead, Kalanianaʻole Highway (Highway 72), Waimānalo, Oʻahu 96795
From Waikīkī, the trailhead is about a 30 to 40 minute drive, roughly 15 miles (24 km) depending on traffic. Take the H-1 freeway east until it turns into Kalanianaʻole Highway (Highway 72), then follow it past Hawaiʻi Kai, Hanauma Bay, and Sandy Beach. Just after the road climbs toward the point, the parking lot sits on the inland side of the highway. Coming from the windward side, take Highway 72 south past Kailua, Waimānalo, and Makapuʻu Beach Park, and the lot is on your right as the road rises.
Parking is a free paved lot right at the trailhead. The lot has a gate that opens around 7 a.m. and closes in the early evening, and those hours shift a little with the season, so check before you plan a sunrise or sunset visit. Early risers who beat the gate often park along the highway pull-outs outside it and walk in, which is common, but never block the gate or the shoulder. On weekends the lot fills by mid-morning, so earlier is better. A car is easiest here, though TheBus does run along Kalanianaʻole Highway if you would rather ride.
Hours, Cost, and Facilities
The trail itself is free. There is no entrance fee and no reservation, which is a nice change from a few of the busier spots on the island. You are hiking in the Kaʻiwi State Scenic Shoreline, so daylight hours are the rule, and the parking gate hours above are really what set your window.
Facilities are thin at the trailhead, so take care of restrooms before you arrive. Sandy Beach and Makapuʻu Beach Park, both just minutes away, have restrooms if you need a stop. Bring your own water, because there is nowhere to buy anything once you park. For the current status and any closures, the official Hawaiʻi State Parks trail page is the place to check.
The Best Time to Go
Go early. The trail faces east, so sunrise here is one of the best on the island, and the morning air is cool before the sun turns the pavement into a griddle. Early also means a parking spot and a quiet path. If you are chasing that first light, pair this with our guide to the best sunrise spots on Oʻahu.
Midday is the hard sell. The trail is fully exposed, the surface radiates heat, and the wind at the top can be strong enough to steal a hat. If midday is your only option, load up on water, sunscreen, and a hat, and take it slow. Late afternoon light is lovely on the red roof of the lighthouse, and it is a fine time for whales.
Speaking of which, the winter window is special. Humpback whales pass through from November to May, with the peak roughly January through March. There is an interpretive sign and a viewing scope partway up the trail, so bring binoculars and give the horizon a good scan. Watching a whale breach with the lighthouse below you is hard to beat.
What You Will See Along the Way
The walk is the reward here, not just the summit. A few highlights stand out as you climb.
The Lighthouse
The star of the show is the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse, first lit on October 1, 1909. Ship captains had petitioned for a light on this point back in 1888, after the American ship S.N. Castle ran aground nearby, and the beacon has guided vessels toward Honolulu ever since. The tower stands about 46 feet (14 m) tall, short as lighthouses go, but it holds one of the largest lighthouse lenses in the world. That hyperradiant Fresnel lens weighs around 12 tons (about 11 tonnes) and is the only one of its kind in a United States lighthouse. The light is automated now, and the lighthouse itself is off-limits, so you admire it from the railed lookouts above rather than walking down to it. Even from up top, that red roof against the deep blue water is the photo everyone comes for.
Whales, Seabirds, and the Offshore Islets
Two islets sit just off the point, and both are seabird sanctuaries. The larger one is Mānana, better known as Rabbit Island for its shape, a tuff cone of about 64 acres (26 hectares) that is home to nesting wedge-tailed shearwaters and other seabirds. The low, dark islet beside it is Kāohikaipu. Landing on either is not allowed without a permit from the state, which protects the ʻiwa, or great frigatebird, along with tropicbirds and other nesting seabirds. On a clear day you can pick out Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi on the horizon, and in whale season the water between you and the islets is one of the better spots on Oʻahu to catch a spout or a breach.
Pele’s Chair and the Tide Pools
Near the bottom of the trail, look toward the shoreline for Pele’s Chair, a blocky lava formation the Hawaiians call Kapaliokamoa. Farther below the point sit the Makapuʻu tide pools, complete with a small blowhole. They are beautiful, but reaching them means leaving the paved trail for a steep, unofficial scramble down the rocks, and the surf here turns dangerous fast. Hawaiʻi State Parks asks visitors to stay on the trail, and we are with them on that, so we enjoy the tide pools from above unless the ocean is truly calm and you know the route.
The Lookouts and Old Bunkers
At the top, a pair of guard-railed lookouts deliver the full panorama: Koko Head and Koko Crater to the west, the windward coast curving north toward Waimānalo, and open ocean everywhere else. Tucked near the summit are a couple of concrete observation bunkers left over from World War II, when this point served as a coastal lookout. You can peek inside, and they frame a fun photo, but watch your footing on the way in.
What to Bring and a Few Trail Tips
Because there is no shade, sun protection is not optional. Bring a hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, and at least a liter of water per person, more on a hot day. Closed-toe shoes beat slippers on the incline, even though the surface is paved. Secure anything that can blow away, since the summit wind is no joke. Start early, stay on the paved trail, pack out everything you pack in, and skip open fires, all of which keep this shoreline healthy and the walk safe.
Leashed dogs are welcome and common on the paved trail, so this is a good one to share with the family pup, just bring water for them too and clean up after. Traveling with little keiki? A carrier is the move for the steeper middle section, and plenty of families still bring a sturdy stroller and trade off pushing. Take the pace you need, use the interpretive sign as a rest stop, and remember the view only gets better the higher you go.
Make a Southeast Oʻahu Day of It
The lighthouse trail is quick, so we like to build a southeast loop around it. Just down the highway, Hanauma Bay offers the island’s most protected snorkeling, though it takes a reservation, so plan that one ahead. Sandy Beach is right there for watching the bodyboarders tackle the shorebreak, and the Halona Blowhole and Lānaʻi Lookout make quick, scenic pull-offs on the same stretch of road.
Across from the trailhead, Makapuʻu Beach is a bodyboarding favorite with tide pools for the keiki, and the windward drive north leads to Kailua and Lānikai. If turtles are on the list, our guide to where to see sea turtles on Oʻahu pairs well with this side of the island. Doing the whole loop? It slots neatly into an Oʻahu circle island drive, and it is an easy win on any list of things to do on Oʻahu with kids.
Is the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail Worth It?
Yes, and it is near the top of our list for first-time visitors. For zero dollars and about an hour of easy walking, you get whales in winter, one of the island’s great sunrises, a storybook lighthouse, and a view that sells the whole windward coast in a single glance. Go early, carry water, take the climb at a comfortable pace, and give yourself a few minutes at the top to just look. We bring friends and family here first, because it shows off Oʻahu in one short, sweaty, unforgettable walk.
Common Questions
How hard is the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail? It is paved and rated moderate, with the effort coming from a steady incline and full sun rather than any technical climbing. Most reasonably fit people and kids finish it comfortably at an easy pace.
Can you bring a stroller or wheelchair? The paved surface helps, but the grade is steep in the middle, so plan on a sturdy stroller and strong legs. Many families find a child carrier easier for the little ones.
Can you go inside the lighthouse? No. The lighthouse is automated and off-limits, so you view it from the railed lookouts above rather than at its base.
Are dogs allowed? Yes, on a leash, and it is a popular dog-walking trail. Bring water for them, since there is no shade or water source along the way.
When can you see whales? Humpback whale season runs November to May, with the best sightings usually January through March. Binoculars help, and there is a viewing scope on the trail.
More from Wanderlustyle
- Best Hikes on Oʻahu: A Local Trail Guide
- Kaʻena Point Hike on Oʻahu
- Best Things to Do on Oʻahu With Kids
- Kailua and Lānikai: A Perfect Day Trip Guide
- Oʻahu Circle Island Drive
Featured photo: the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse, Oʻahu. Photo by Arjunkrsen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
