This also goes for standing close to the waters edge and coastline especially when waves are crashing over rocks. **A Note about Ocean Safety & General PSA**: Please exercise caution around blow holes, do not stand directly on top, for there is a chance of falling in. If you go on a day when it’s flat, there wont be much action at the blow hole at all. It will be easy to spot if the surf is up that day. Once you have arrived down to the bottom, a few steps to your left will be the blow hole. Rubbah slippahs (flip flops) may be humbug (a pain) and cause you to trip or lose your footing. Wearing sneakers, hiking sandals (like Keens), or any type of shoes with good soles and support will be beneficial for you. Most likely you will see people down there, but you will see the gem like green hue of the tide pools from this vantage point.Īs I prefaced before, it requires a little scaling down the rocky cliffside. Here is a view of the tide pools from the access. The access is unmarked, but the Makapu’u tide pools are easy to spot, if you know what to look for. Proceed with your own judgement and honest assessment of your own skill level.Ī selfie with the Lighthouse in the distance, photo taken to the left of the Makapu’u tide pools.
Scaling down the cliffside entails sure footing down rocks and loose gravel. I wouldn’t recommend this accent down the cliffside for small children or people with bad knees. This leads down to a collection of beautiful tide pools, and a blow hole that is active when there is high surf/windy days. Located roughly about 80-90% to the top of the switchback paved hike is an access to scale down the lava rock cliffside. This post isn’t about the entire Makapu’u Lighthouse trail, but a bonus adventure located within that hike, Makapu’u Tide Pools. Nearby also features Kokohead, and the famous bodyboarding spot, Makapu’u Beach. The reward of this hike is a sweeping view of the famed lighthouse and scenic Kaiwi shoreline which is located in the southeastern coastline of Oahu. This trail is well groomed, and has been newly renovated with paved roads. The lighthouse was built in 1909, and the overall hike is a roundtrip of 2 miles, with a gain of 500ft in elevation. A famous hike here in Oahu is called the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail. In the context of adventure and hiking, this trail would be considered twice the bang-for-your-buck. A re you the type of traveler who likes to wander off the well-paved and beaten path?