Makapu'u Point is the most convenient point on Oahu and a very popular place for hiking and swimming. It is located less than 20 km from Honolulu and is easy to get to, especially by car.

Makapu'u Lighthouse and Trail

One of the main local attractions is the Makapu'u Lighthouse, a small lighthouse that houses one of the largest Fresnel lenses in the world, reaching a height of 3.7 meters.

Makapu'u Lighthouse was commissioned in 1909 and still serves its original purpose.

The lighthouse can only be reached on foot along a convenient asphalt road that leads from the parking lot near the main circular road along the island. The path from the car park to the lighthouse is 4 km long with a total elevation gain of around 270 metres.

Map of the route to Makapuu Lighthouse

From the trail, you'll get spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the lighthouse, and Oahu's jagged east coast.

Beach and viewpoint

To the west of the lighthouse, you can visit a smaller sandy beach with great open water swimming. The beach is popular with visitors to both Makapu'u Point and the nearby Sea Life Park Hawaii.

Just above the beach, just off the main road, you can pull into a small parking lot right on the edge of the cliff and enjoy breathtaking views of the black rocks and dramatic looking coastline.

How to get there

The easiest way to get here is by car - Highway 77 is the main road from Honolulu and Kailua, and it's a 20-minute drive. All official parking lots are well marked and free.

The bus stops closest to Sea Life Park (lines 22, 23, 67, 69), from where you can walk to the beach but not to the lighthouse, which can only be reached by car.