Things to do nearMakapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail

The Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail follows a former military road along Oʻahu's windward coast. The lighthouse itself dates to 1909 and houses one of the largest lighthouse lenses in the United States, a fact that speaks to how critical this headland was for guiding ships through the Kaiwi Channel.

The trail is paved and roughly two miles round trip, gaining about five hundred feet in elevation. Interpretive signs along the route describe the native coastal plants and the geology of the lava formations beneath your feet. At the upper lookouts, the views stretch across the channel toward Molokaʻi on clear days.

Wildlife is a consistent draw here. Laysan albatrosses and other seabirds ride the thermals above the cliffs, and the offshore waters are a reliable corridor for humpback whales during winter months. Spinner dolphins occasionally pass below the headland as well.

The trail is managed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and is open daily. Its accessibility, natural drama, and layered history make Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail one of the most rewarding short hikes on the island.