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The Makapuu lighthouse trail has it all. Crystal clear tide pools, a fierce blow hole, endless ocean views and a picturesque red lighthouse. We think the Makapuu hike does not get enough credit! The trail is located at such a beautiful spot on the island, which is unlike any other part of Oahu. You will see rugged black lava rocks all around you, not that much vegetation and deep blue waters as far as the eye can see. You can also view three other islands of Hawaii at the Makapuu lighthouse trail, isn’t that cool? And if that wasn’t enough, you can also spot whales at this hike during the winter months. Definitely one of our favorite short hikes to do on Oahu. Keep on reading to get all the information you need to hike this beautiful trail.
General information
Distance roundtrip: 2.0 mi / 3.2 km
Duration: 1-2 hours
Classification: Moderate
Elevation: 500 ft / 152 m
Best time to hike: Year round, but we recommend to start this hike early in the morning. It’s fully exposed with barely any shade.
Highlights
- Stunning panoramic ocean views
- View of three other Hawaiian Islands: West Maui, Molokai and Lanai
- Tide pools and a blowhole
- Red lighthouse
How to get to Makapuu lighthouse trail
The Makapuu lighthouse is on Oahu’s southeastern shoreline, a short 30 minute drive from Waikiki. It’s right on the Kaiwi scenic shoreline, which is one of the most beautiful drives on the island. You will drive through lava rock formations with the rugged and rough ocean right next to you.
Parking
The parking situation can be tricky, as parking space is limited (which is the case for most hikes in Hawaii!). We were always able to find parking by either waiting until someone leaves Makapuu, by parking on the side of the road before driving into Makapuu, or by parking at the Makapuu lookout. The Makapuu lookout is close to the trailhead, but this is the longest walk to the trailhead, compared to the other parking options.
What to expect of the Makapuu lighthouse trail
The entire trail is paved with a steady incline to the top of Makapuu. It’s a popular hike, so you will see many people walking on the trail. We’ve seen families, solo hikers and people of all ages hike this trail. The trail is exposed, with limited shaded spots. No matter if you’re hiking the Makapuu lighthouse trail in the summer or winter, the sun will be out and strong! Like most hikes in Hawaii, there are no restrooms or other facilities.
How to get to the Makapuu tide pools
When you go off the beaten path, you will find crystal clear tide pools and a blowhole! The blowhole is formed by molten lava tubes, where the ocean water will spout out. You might have to wait for the blowhole to erupt, but it’s definitely worth the wait!
When you see the sign about humpback whales, you know it’s time to take a small detour down the cliff. There will be signs saying to not enter and that it’s dangerous. While it definitely can be dangerous, many people walk this way to see the Makapuu tide pools and blowhole.
It’s a steep way down with loose rocks and the path is not always clear. Definitely watch your step! Some rocks are marked to show people the path, but it’s easy to miss these markings. You will probably hold on to rocks, take big steps downward (almost jump-like) and be amazed by those views in front of you!
You will quickly see the tide pools and blowhole as you’re walking down. We recommend to first figure out where the blowhole exactly is, so you don’t accidentally step too close to the actual blowhole (and be surprised or full with fear when water spouts out with force!). Try to listen to the sounds the blowhole is making. You can hear the ocean water rumbling in the tubes.
And then you have the crystal clear tide pools! We decided not to swim in them, but many other people did. The waves can crash on the rocks and potentially sweep you out in the ocean.
If you want to see even more tide pools, check out our absolute favorite hike in Hawaii!
How to get back to the trail from the Makapuu tidepools
You can go back the same way you came from, or go up a different way. You will find a second way not too far from the first way. Again, look for markings on rocks to show you the way or you might see some other people making their way up.
See the picture below for a view of the rock you would be hiking and how difficult it can be to see the path. Also notice the yellow sign in the picture, showing you the way. We hiked down to the Makapuu tide pools and it isn’t that hard to do. We do recommend being in good physical shape, because some parts can be tricky. Also, you will most likely have the sun blasting in your face the entire way. It’s still very cool to do and we’re glad we did it!
Sights along the way of the Makapuu lighthouse trail
On a clear day, you can see the outline of three other Hawaiian islands. We have seen these islands even clearer on different days, but nonetheless it’s cool to notice them. It’s crazy to see how close Oahu is to it’s sister islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai! There will be a sign with some information about these islands and how to spot them.
You can bring your own binoculars or use the stationary ones on the trail to spot humpback whales. They migrate from Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands during the winter months. You might see one of them slapping their tail!
There are swimming, canoe paddling and paddle boarding contests in the Kaiwi channel, which you can see from the Makapuu lighthouse trail. The ocean can get really rugged on this side of the island, so it’s exciting to watch people make their way through the deep blue ocean. These people have to be really brave to be in these waters, you will see what I’m talking about when you hike the trail!
The Makapuu lighthouse
After seeing the tide pools and blowhole, crawl back to the top of the cliff and continue on to the lighthouse. There are several lookout spots, but you cannot reach the actual lighthouse. It’s off limits and protected by a gate. Some people still hike out to the lighthouse, which is not that difficult to do. The gate stops eventually, so you could just walk around it. We didn’t do this and still enjoyed the beautiful lighthouse from a distance.
The lighthouse was built in 1909 after an accident that happened to the Manchuria ship in 1903, running into a reef. It still shines its light today.
Take your time exploring the several lookout spots at the top. Another couple spotted Hawaiian green sea turtles swimming in the ocean from one of the lookouts.
Do you want more hikes like Makapu’u? Check out our top 10 easy hikes on Oahu.
Wildlife at Makapuu lighthouse trail
- Humpback whales. You can spot these beautiful giants between November and April. They swim over 3,000 miles / 4800 km from Alaska to Hawaii.
- Great frigate bird. A large black bird that flies over the water near the cliff. It chases other birds until they drop their fish or squid. Kind of a little thief…
- Green sea turtles. You might be able to see some sea turtles swim in the ocean from one of the look out spots on top of the Makapuu lighthouse trail.
What to bring and wear
- Sunscreen
- Sun protective clothing
- Water
- Binoculars
Let yourself be heard!
How did your Makapu’u adventure go? Let us know in the comments!
If a person wanted to simply hike to the lighthouse and back without any other stops, any idea how long that would take? My wife is not a hiker and may not want to make this hike with me.