Things to do nearMakapu‘u Point

Makapu'u Point sits at O'ahu's easternmost tip, where the Ko'olau Range meets the sea in a series of sheer basalt cliffs. The landmark lighthouse, built in 1909, houses one of the largest lighthouse lenses in the United States and guided ships through the Kaiwi Channel for decades before automation.

The paved Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail climbs gently for about a mile, passing interpretive signs about Hawaiian history and marine life. Several lookout platforms offer unobstructed views of the coastline, the offshore seabird sanctuaries, and, in winter, migrating humpback whales.

The surrounding waters are part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, making this headland one of the finest whale-watching vantage points on O'ahu without a boat. The two small islets visible from the trail are closed to public access to protect nesting seabirds, but the colonies are clearly visible from above.

Whether you come for the geology, the wildlife, or simply the unbroken ocean views, Makapu'u Point delivers a concentrated dose of windward O'ahu's raw, elemental beauty that few other roadside spots can match.