Make the Best Plan to Makapuu Lighthouse Trail in Honolulu

Ever felt tired of your daily routine and wanted to get outdoors for a while? Did you want to have an adventure, walk through a scenic trail, and take a break? Makapuu Lighthouse Trail will take you on a beautiful journey that will add new dimensions to your life.

Of all Oahu hiking paths, Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is the most popular one. This trial provides amazing sceneries of Makapuu Beach, Molokai islands, and the coastline. You can see the scenic shorelines of the North Shore, far away from shore islands, and Koko Crater. Along the way, you will be greeted by old military posts, blue tide pools and the famous landmark Makapuu Lighthouse. The lighthouse looks stunning, which stands majestically against the deep blue sea below.

The hike is not only about the lighthouse. You can see the massive structure painted in red and white from miles away. The thrill is the journey that makes its way to the top of a hill. It rises above the off-limits paths to the lighthouse itself. The view from the top is phenomenal. There is also a chance to see geyser-spouting, flap-slapping whales.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is also known as Kaiwi Scenic Shoreline. The Trail is located at the southeastern point of Oahu. The climate is dryer and warmer. The total distance of the Trail is two miles or 3219 meters. The elevation gain is 500 feet. The region is windward. The route type is in and out. It would take about forty-five minutes to complete the journey. The Trail remains open from 7 AM to 6:45 PM.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1909. It was there even before Hawaii was a state. It was used as a guiding signal for sailors to reach the coast. Makapuu Lighthouse is placed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It shows the strategic importance of the lighthouse. According to Hawaiian legend, Makapuu was the home to a goddess with shining eyes. Now, it is home to a lighthouse with shining lights.

The hike by itself is not too challenging. The two miles round trip of the Trail is an easy one. Grandparents, children, and pets will be able to go on the journey comfortably. But, there are some parts with a steep incline. The paths are paved and not too steep. This part of the island is dry and hot. The vegetation includes cactus and other desert shrubs. The Makapuu Trail is exposed and is usually sunny. It can get windy at heights.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is a hotbed of thrilling activities. It is way more than a hike. Sure, you can walk along the paved road. If you walk through the main path, you will eventually reach a platform. From here, you can see the shoreline and the lighthouse below you. There are multiples things to do here. You can watch for sea birds and whales through the telescope provided here. You can take breathtaking photos. You can enjoy the breeze.

As you go down, even more, you see a lower road. Follow along the path, and you will end up on a platform. Although the lighthouse is off-limits, this platform provides a great side view of it. The viewing platform is the most photogenic place on the entire trip. You will see the beautiful 1909 structure that still stands with its head held high.

There are plenty of other adventures as well, including a beach at walking distance, and a hike beyond the path to the pillboxes. You can also get quite close to the lighthouse, and hike down to the tide pools. For this, you need to get off the main path. There are some giant tide pools and a giant blowhole. These are porous rocks filled with seawater that have lots of sea life inside them. Small fishes, crabs, shrimp, and algae thrive in these watersheds. The stones are slippery.

You can see an unmarked trail on the left-hand side. It leads down to a coastal reef. The path is not paved and is filled with gravel. You can see some white arrows are pointing to a tide pool. You can take a swim in the pool if you want. It is a lot of fun.

You can see an impressive giant blowhole in the area. Seawater travels through underground tubes and fills up the blowhole. It is entertaining to watch. When leaving the area, follow the white arrows back to the main Trail.

There are several random peaks you can climb. A lot of them provide excellent views. They are not marked, but you can climb them.

Hawaii is famous for its local cuisines.

Unfortunately, there aren’t hotels or restaurants on the hike. However, just a little distance away, you can go to Koko Marina Center. There are all sorts of tasty foods and drinks to try here.

Koko Marina Center is a shopping center located in Hawaii Kai in East Oahu. The center features a variety of water sports activities, specialty and gift shops, personal services, technology services, restaurants, and entertainment.

The address of Koko Marina Center is:7192, Kalanianaole Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96825.

For dining and wining, Koko Marina Center offers a wide range of options.

Typical breakfast items are omelets, French toast, and egg benedicts. In Koko Marina, you can find many Asian inspired dishes like hamburger dumplings. Italian food is also available.

Some of the best kinds of seafood in the world are found in Hawaii. The furukake pan-seared ahi, fish, and chips are all mouth-watering food items. Hawaiian specials include poi, Lau Lau, kalua pig, Lomilomi salmon, etc.

You can easily find tasty Asian food in the center. The restaurants here serve shrimp, chicken, duck, pork, and beef in all levels of spiciness you can tolerate.

Koko marina serves some stunning European food. Greek marina is one of the best. The fluffy pita bread with well-seasoned shawarma is perfect for a beautiful lunch.

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PH: (808) 396-0756

Assaggio's Ristorante Italiano is located at the heart of Marina Center. It is widely known for its award-winning Italian food. They provide a large variety of food items at affordable prices.

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PH: (808) 396-8722

Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts Koko Marina offers over 200 different flavors of icecreams to choose from. The favorites are Macadamia Nut, Lychee, Green Tea, and Azuki Bean, along with traditional favorites Ultimate Vanilla, Dark Chocolate Chip, and Mocha Chip.

The best time to go for the hike is morning. The temperature will be nice and cool. There is no rush. Most people are sleeping. It is one of the best sunrise hikes in the country.

If you visit during winter, you will be lucky to see whales. It would be a bonus. It is one of the best places for whale spotting on Oahu. Do you know how to spot whales? The easiest way is to look for spurts of water.

The park and beginning of the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail are located at Highway 72 of Kalanianaole Highway. It is located at the South-east point of Oahu. Your trip will take about 45 minutes from Waikiki by car. Start your journey from Honolulu. The highway H-1 will turn into Hwy 72 but will be still a part of the Kalanianaole Hwy, which follows the coast. Continue following the road till you reach Sandy Beach Park adjacent to the highway. On your way, you will pass across Hawaii Kai, Hanauma Bay and Hawaii Kai Golf Course. Then take the highway southeast. You will move through Kailua, Waimanalo, and Makapuu Beach Park. Then the road will climb to Makapu Head. The Trail will be on the left side of the highway. You will have to turn right onto Makapuu Lighthouse Road, entering an open gate marked by a sign. You can see a parking area near the entrance. Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline is the sign you will need to look out for. If you hit a sign that reads “Makapuu Lookout” on the right, turn around! You have gone too far.

The area has a big parking area. It also has shoulder parking. In busy days, when there is a lot of rush, you might need to park in the Makapuu Lookout parking lot. You can also park on the roadside on the grass. You will see a lot of cars parked this way.

You can also reach the Makapuu Lighthouse Traill by bus. The bus service name is Oahu Bus services. You will have to take the number 22 or 23 bus from Kuhio Ave. Kuhio Ave is located in Waikiki near Diamond Head. It takes about 2 hours to reach the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail. The time would heavily depend on traffic conditions. The buses run every hour during weekdays and every half hours during weekends.

Bring enough water with you.The hike would dehydrate you, and you may need to drink water at regular intervals.

Binoculars are suggested for viewing the whales and seabirds

The weather may get scorching during summers. So, protect yourself by wearing sunscreen.

In summer, it is okay to wear comfortable shoes, but hiking boots are more appropriate if the trails are wet, muddy, and slippery. Most often, there are chances of slipping and causing accidents. So, be risk-free and wear good hiking shoes with good grip

During peak season, there would be a large number of people. Even though there are parking facilities, they can get filled, and you might find it difficult to park your car. So try to reach early in the morning before 9 AM. Also, start climbing the Trail soon.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is exceptionally family-friendly. The Trail is very well maintained, and there are plenty of older people and families with small children on the path. The well-maintained roads and infrastructure make the trial comfortable for families and people of all fitness levels and ages. It is accessible to everyone all around the year.

There are toilets and picnic tables at Makapuu beach. There are no nearby restaurants. So, it would be good to bring lunch or snacks with you.

The wheelchair is not promoted. Some trail paths can only accommodate the width of the wheelchair. It is therefore strongly recommended to do alone at the early morning when there is no crowd.

Like all hikes, this hike also has different hazards and struggles that may inflict injury. Know your fitness and health level before embarking this hike. Obey posted signs and stay on the proper path. Carry on the walk at your own risk.

The area contains a lot of popular tourist sites that you can visit after the hike. Some of them are:

It is just below the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail. It is a gorgeous and stunning beach. It is an excellent place to set up a picnic with the family. The blue sea, the rock-filled coastline, and the lighthouse- all provide a place to take rest after the hike. Makapuu Beach is also an ideal place for surfing. It has some powerful shore breaks.

Hanauma Bay is a famous marine sanctuary. It is also an ideal place to snorkel and scuba dive. You can see hundreds of fish and other marine life here. If you are planning to visit the lighthouse and Hanauma Bay on the same day, you should start the tour early in the morning.

Sea Life Park provides an opportunity to spend time in a tank swimming with sharks and sea lions.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is one of the most popular destinations in Waikiki. It is one hundred percent justified. The scenic value with rocks, sunset, birds, and beaches are immeasurable. Above all, travelers can experience all this through a short walk. Be summer or spring. Be it autumn or winter; the Trail will blow you away.

The Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is a fantastic place to visit with friends or family. The towering rocks standing tall before you and the blue water flowing below you will make feel humbled and overawed at the same time. It will surely make you a better person. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and enjoy the adventure!