What was once a little-known lighthouse on the rocky eastern coast of Oahu has now become one of the most well-trodden yet wonderfully rewarding hikes on the island.  Many visitors choose to hike from the the parking lot along the paved path to the lighthouse and back.  There are, however, two worthwhile detours, both of which take add an extra hour to the hike.  The first are to visit the pillboxes scattered on the hillside, which will give you a sense of the effects of Pearl Harbor and Hawaii’s current role as a Pacific port of call.  The second leads you down the steep, rocky path to several tide pools you can swim in and blow holes that make for entertaining flying objects by the water’s edge.  During the winter, from November through April, be on the lookout for whales, who find the Makapu’u Lighthouse an especially nice place to breech.

This hike takes two hours round trip, plus two hours for the additional detours.  Take the Kalanianaole Highway past Hanauma Bay and Sandy Beach.  Parking is available on the right hand side, just before the hairpin curve leading to Sea Life Park.

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