Makapuʻu Lookout image

Makapuʻu Lookout

Tourist attraction Vista point

One of the Best Places To Visits in East Honolulu


Address

Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Waimanalo, HI 96795, United States

Website

dlnr.hawaii.gov

Contact

+1 808-587-0300

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (3.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: Open 24 hours
  • Monday: (Martin Luther King Jr
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: view (17) views (11) stop (10) beautiful (9) island (9) easy (8) spot (8) parking (7) ocean (6) worth (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Brendan 1 year ago on Google
    One of the most beautiful spots on the island for a photo!!! So beautiful! Easy hike to the light house is concrete and easy 30 min hike. This spot requires 50 feet to get an amazing shot! I’ve seen whales off in the ocean.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TinaEh V. 1 year ago on Google
    Limited to 25 minutes of parking but worth it. If you're spending more than 25 minutes here, you can go down the road and enjoy the beach area if you want to. Parking is a bit easy since there is a time limit on parking. The view is fantastic. You have to be there to experience. There are signs of not feeding the wildlife, we didn't see any. The area is beautifully well kept and maintained.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vanessa G. 2 years ago on Google
    The most gorgeous spot that I saw on Oahu! The waters were beautiful and we saw snorkelers over the darker areas so I’m guessing they were seeing all kinds of neat things under the water. When I think of returning to Oahu, or just the beautiful sites of Hawaii, this view is the top of my list. It’s breathtaking!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Morayma Montes B. 2 years ago on Google
    Very Beautiful View to stop and see also a lot of tours going swimming and hiking up the very busy road and a lot person's riding bicycles so careful
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ryan R. 10 months ago on Google
    This is a spectacular look out to see the Windward side of Oahu. There is plenty of free parking and photo opportunities. You can see rabbit island and the turtle shaped island that is the Marine base. It is real windy so hang on to your stuff. There are bathrooms right down the hill at the beach also
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amity B. 9 months ago on Google
    Considering it? DO IT! We actually had the beach saved to go to but decided when driving by to stop at the lookout and we do not regret it. The views are just unbeatable. At the lookout you can see ocean from the front and back. It’s breathtaking. Super easy park and walk up, they do have a ramp for accessibility.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dave M. 7 months ago on Google
    An easy roadside stop to drop in and take in the views! There are also hiking trails and some old World War 2 bunkers in the mountain to see. It's worth a stop if you're meandering your way along the coast!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Herbert J. 1 year ago on Google
    This vista was right off the highway. We stayed maybe 30 minutes just marveling at God's beautiful Earth! This spot adds to the Oahu paradise. Get here if you can...
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mike Norris (. 1 year ago on Google
    Great spot for photographers to catch sunrise (or sunset) shots from a number of vantage points around the area. You could spend a couple of mornings or nights here, easy.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Pramod K. 2 years ago on Google
    This scenic view was an expected find for us. I would recommend this view and if possible the small hike to lighthouse as well. Very good view of ocean shoreline and rock-islands. You can also see multiple World War 2 small bunkers. There are few more on other side of road as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vanessa S. 2 years ago on Google
    Stunning view!!! Definitely worth checking out.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ron O. 2 years ago on Google
    Great spot for a photo. Gets really crowded. Also, as posted on signs there, this is a spot where thieves break into cars. Daytime or night so be careful. If you're into cycling also a nice ride to get there.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jackie N. 1 year ago on Google
    We found this during my research on places to stop on a drive around the island. It is just past the pull off for the Makapuu lighthouse trail. The parking lot is on the smaller side, but there was a decent turn around of people coming and going so it seemed to work out while we were there. You cannot see the lighthouse from here as it is around the corner, but it still has a pleasant view of the coastline down the island. There are signs in the parking lot warning of break ins. Please be sure to take your bags with you on your person, don’t leave anything that looks valuable in plain sight, and lock your doors. So please be alert and aware of your surroundings. Overall it is a great place to take in some of the beauty of the island as you make your way around.

  • 5/5 Max F. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely breathtaking views. Easy to get in and out of come during the middle of the day and it's not as busy. Don't leave any valuables in your coach.

  • 5/5 Krystal L. 4 months ago on Google
    Short stop, but worth coming here to see the perfect blue ocean and breathtaking view.

  • 5/5 Nuritzi S. 6 months ago on Google
    Absolutely stunning view. Recommend spending about 10 mins or so here soaking in the views. Definitely worth it.

  • 5/5 Robert D. A. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the most majestic view in Oahu. My wife and I were blown away by the views. I can just stay here for an hour staring at the ocean, mountain and Islands.

  • 5/5 Yolanda M. 2 years ago on Google
    One of my favorite spots in the island...holds alot of memories for me...the gorgeous blue water doesn't hurt. 🌊🌞

  • 4/5 GAN LAY Y. 5 months ago on Google
    Quite a distance from our hotel in Waikiki. So we took Lyft. The wind was strong and the sun shine brightly when we reach there. The scenery was beautiful.

  • 4/5 Pooja M. 3 months ago on Google New
    I halted here for the view while on our way from lanikai beach to Waikiki. A very nice and serene spot to stop by and it’s more amazing if you carry a cup of coffee. A hot cup with the cold breeze of wind just adds to the experience!

  • 5/5 Victor W. 2 months ago on Google New
    Amazing viewpoint with plenty of parking and not many visitors. Very quiet, decently shielded from light pollution. Nice view of the bay with the city lights in the background. See the stars over the mountain range.

  • 5/5 Stuart C. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the most beautiful spots on the Island. All these places are so beautiful you will be in awe. Spend time and drive around the island. You will be in traffic so have patience.

  • 5/5 Spencer K. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a beautiful location, especially on a day with some dramatic weather. It was very windy, but the less refined nature of the coastline here was a welcome change from the cookie cutter feeling of the Waikiki beaches. A great stop on a driving tour of the island.

  • 5/5 Sandy W. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing view and definitely must stop by if you’re taking road trip to the east. Parking is relatively easy to find since it’s a short stop for sightseeing. Turnover rate is pretty high.

  • 5/5 GeralynK R. 2 years ago on Google
    Spectacular views of Oahu's East side. Turquoise waters, with visible Green Sea turtles. Shear cliff mountains, (Koolaus). Rabbit Island, (Mānana) & Kāohikaipu Island State Seabird Sanctuary Island views. You can also see Sea Life Park, where Adam Sandler's character worked, in the movie 50 First States with Drew Barrymore. We lucked out to have a parasailor taking off, in front of the lookout! A MUST SEE!

  • 5/5 Brad W. 2 years ago on Google
    Great hike to cap off our day on the drive back to Honolulu from Kailua. Parking was free and plentiful right at the trailhead. It's paved all the way to the observation and maintained really well. Lots of people out at sunset but plenty of room. You'll wait a bit for a spot at the observation if you want but views abound here! We ended up climbing the last bit of the hill to the military bunkers for a really intense 360 view. That parts a little rougher but easy enough in sneakers. Very happy we stopped here last minute!

  • 5/5 U T. 1 year ago on Google
    The views really gave it the 5 stars stars locals and military park for freeThe views really gave it the 5 stars locals and military park for free The day I went the wind was probably 40 miles an hour The day I went the wind was probably 40 miles an hour But overall very good easy to get in-and-out of.

  • 5/5 Roger H. 2 years ago on Google
    Great views for sure. I really enjoy and appreciate places like this. The view was magnificent. The ocean appeared to have different shades of blue and it felt much cooler up there overlooking some beaches that when down there it was pretty warm. Definitely check it out.

  • 5/5 Dmytro L. 2 years ago on Google
    At first I thought that it's just usually tourist view point. But when I arrived there, I changed my opinion! It's awesome place, with view on billions , and it's worth to visit. I never saw same or close to this beauty place before. It's usually not to busy, I was twice , in the morning and at noon, and I always could find parking lot. But be careful, like everywhere in Hawaii, don't leave valuable things in your car.


Call +1 808-587-0300 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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