Makapu'u Point Trail

My family and I found our way here at the tail end of a 10-day Hawaiian trip that included a 7-day Inter-Island Hawaiian Cruise. On our last day we disembarked our ship at 8am and had until 9pm when our flights left. We decided upon a tour of the east side of Oahu which included lunch in Kaneohe and then a drive down the coast past the beautiful Waimanalo Beach culminating at Makapu'u Point.

We stopped first at the roadside Overlook and were already impressed by the views to the north. The trailhead was just another quarter mile down the road. There is a large parking area but it was full. There is also roadside parking along the drive in which was also nearly full. The Lighthouse trail is completely paved and wide enough for a vehicle. There was a trail split shortly after the trailhead with an unpaved branch heading to the beaches south of the Point. Along the hike up were several overlooks with great ocean views as well as views to the neighboring islands. At the top was a series of overlooks with spectacular views. At the last of them was a view down to the lighthouse itself.

On our hike down we stopped at a signed overlook where a trail heads down slope to the tide pool area. We saw two dozen people down there so it appeared quite popular. If we had had more time we would have loved to check it out. From this same location there is a light use trail up a short ridge to a bunker which we did check out, and could even go inside it.

There was no shade on the trail so sun protection is an essential. Though it is ultimately short we did also carry water with it being a nearly 90 degree day. For the views alone this hike up to the Point is worth it.

Trip Info:
Makapu'u Point Trail

Trailhead Elevation: 10 ft.

Point Elevation: 515 ft.
Distance: 3.11 mi. 
Elevation Gain: 586 ft.
Start Time: 3:23pm
End Time: 4:37pm


Trip Report:

Trailhead Map

Getting started on the trail, the alternate
path to the beaches on the right

Marker along the way

Looking Southwest towards Koko Crater

Steep slope down to the ocean

At the top looking down at the Makapu'u Lighthouse

Molokai, Lanai, and Maui all in view

Looking down at the upper overlooks

Memorial for the 1942 crash of the Catalina

Looking out the bunker

Looking down to the trailhead parking

Looking over to the Point from the bunker

Looking down to the tide pools

Track:
I have a track and waypoints from the activity all contained in the embedded Google Map. Check it out and use at your own risk.