Seeing the islands' natural beauty is one of the best reasons to visit Hawaii, and hiking offers an excellent opportunity for stunning panoramic views.
While Hawaii can be an expensive destination, hiking offers free and gorgeous entertainment.
There are many hikes on the island of Oahu, but one of the easiest, yet with some of the most rewarding views, is the short hike to the Makapu'u Lighthouse.
The hike is officially in the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline park, but most people refer to it as the Makapu'u Lighthouse, which you can see at the top of the trail.
The Makapu'u Lighthouse is located at the very southeastern tip of the island of Oahu. There's a parking lot where you can leave your car to begin hiking.
The hike is very easy as the entire trail is paved and gradually increases in elevation.
There are plenty of people who come to exercise up and down the mountain, and it's also an excellent place to bring kids or even infants in a stroller.
Another reason to take the hike is the likely chance of seeing humpback whales at the right time of the year.
The season typically runs from about December through March or April each year, and the sight of giant bus-sized humpback whales in the blue seas below is impressive.
The last time I went, I saw a few whales breaching out of the surface of the water below.
For the most part, the Makapu'u area and the entire southeast region of Oahu are pretty dry compared to other parts of the island.
There's no jungle-like on the higher mountains of Oahu, but the landscape is made of low-lying brush, grass, small trees, and flowers.
The coast shoreline is mainly rocky cliffs until you go a little north, where there are more sandy beaches.
The Makapu'u Lighthouse, being on the very southeasternmost point of Oahu, is in a very strategic position.
When it was formerly in use, it would direct ships en route to Honolulu from the mainland of the US.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1909, and at the time of being built, it had the largest lens of any lighthouse in the United States.
It is 46 feet high, has an intensity of 115,000 candlepower white, and can be seen from 17 nautical miles.
When you arrive at the end of the hike, from the main viewpoint, look down, and you'll see the lighthouse.
The lighthouse itself is now shut and can only be viewed looking down from a distance.
Related: Maine's Best Lighthouses
The main attraction is the incredible view that never gets old. At the top of the hike, the view of the windward side of Oahu is spectacular.
It gives you a great perspective of the rugged mountains, rough seas, and beautiful beaches of the island's southeastern tip.
The Makapu'u Lighthouse hike only takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it's an easy climb up a paved road.
For such a short and easy hike, it offers some incredible panoramic views of the island and the coast of Oahu.
Mark was raised in central Africa before migrating back to the U.S. for University. After graduating, he decided to continue traveling the world. On Migrationology, he shares the cultural side of travel from a slow-paced local perspective that often revolves around his love for eating all forms of food. Join him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @migrationology.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- World Nomads for travel insurance.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
- Rail Europe for train passes.
Ruann Weidemann
Wednesday 1st of January 2014
Loved this post! Looks like a lovely hike, even if its just for the humpback whales. I fell in love with these magical creatures when I lived rural in Mozambique, Africa.
Happy new year!
Dave
Wednesday 1st of January 2014
Glad you enjoyed it Ruann. Maybe we can get Mark to write more about Hawaii here in 2014.
Happy New Year to you too!