The Makapu’u Point Trail is located within the Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline and is paved, pet-friendly and easy to hike. What more can you ask? There are no bathrooms here and the parking area has a history of people breaking into cars, so be warned. Start the hike early to beat the sun and the crowds. The hike is approximately 1.4 miles one way.
Pele's Chair
As you start the trail, you will see this stone structure to your right, called “Pele’s Chair.” Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of fire, lighting, dance and volanoes. Legend has it that this is the last place Pele was on Oahu before she left to find her home on the Big Island.
Rainbow off Koko Crater
Walking on the trail, we got sprinkled with a quick shower, but was rewarded with this rainbow soon after.
Back side of Koko Crater
Here’s the back side of Koko Head Crater where you can see the crater rim is noticeably lower than the front of the crater. The entire trail is paved and pock marked with holes and crumbling edges marked with white paint to warn hikers.
Whale watching lookout
There is suppose to be a telescope where you check out the whales that come during November through April. Maybe they store it during non-whale watching season or someone “cockroached” or “borrowed” the telescope. There is another trail past this sign that goes down to the tidepools.
Scenic View
I thought this was a nice shot with the sun peeking out through the clouds and casting a spotlight on the ocean waters.
Makapu'u Lighthouse
The trail to the Makapu’u Lighthouse is off-limits to the public and blocked by a locked gate. The lighthouse was first lit in 1909, then automated in 1974 and has the largest lens in the U.S. measuring at 12′ high and 9′ in diameter. A vandal shot a hole in the lens in 1984, however, the light is still operational to this day.
Oil house
This oil house building right before the trail to the lighthouse is all that’s left of the buildings that used to sit here. Including the lighthouse keeper’s quarters that was once used to house witnesses in a local federal crime case in 1975. In 1987, several Hawaiians occupied some of the buildings in an act of protest and were peacefully evicted weeks later. After that incident, the State razed all the buildings except this oil house. The oil house has no openings on all four sides, so I guess it’s safe from being occupied.
Manana or Rabbit Island
This shot of Manana Island or as it’s more commonly known as Rabbit Island, yes, the island actually was home to rabbits once and is now a seabird sanctuary, is framed by cacti which seems to stubbornly cling to this dry piece of land. People have taking to carving their names into the numerous cacti along the trail.
Memorial for the Naval Aviators
There is a memorial plaque to nine American pilots who perished in 1942 while coming back from a patrol. They mis-took the Makapu’u Lighthouse for Barbers Point and crashed their plane.
Padlock prayers
When you get to the top of the summit which is 647′ above the ocean, in the observation cage, there are a lot of padlocks on the cage. People put prayers on them and then lock them on the cage.
View of Windward Oahu
Here is a view from the top that stretchs from Makapu’u Beach to Waimanalo.
Makapu’u Point Trail ( Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline )
Honolulu, HI 96825
Open: Daily, 7am to 745pm
Cost: Free
