One of O’ahu’s less-crowded beaches offers great boogie boarding and tide pool exploration with convenient nearby access to elevated views of the island.
Just 30 minutes’ drive from Honolulu, find sandy beach, tide pools and rocky panoramas of Makapu’u Beach Park on O’ahu’s easternmost shore. Come here for some of the best bodysurfing and boogie boarding in Hawaii. Waves are smaller than on the North Shore and many sections of the bottom are soft sand rather than rocky coral. Bring water shoes to cross the rocky access and always be careful if waves build strength.
Nearby is Makapu’u Lighthouse, a working unmanned guardian of O’ahu’s coast. Hike up the path leading above the lighthouse, but note that there is no access to the lighthouse itself. Although it is a fairly steep incline to reach the 600-foot (180-meter) cliff, the path is fully paved, so it’s possible to take children up in strollers. The 2-mile (3-kilometer) hike up will take about 2 hours or significantly more if you stop to enjoy the spectacular views. Bring binoculars to look for humpback whales, frequently visible from November through April.
On many days you’ll be able to see another Hawaiian island, Moloka’i, to the southeast. If you’re an early riser, start up the lighthouse trail before dawn so you can watch the sun rise over the Pacific. At any time of day, bring plenty of water; there are no restrooms or services along the path.
A short hike from the base of the lighthouse path will lead you to part of the Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline and two landmarks known unofficially as Pele’s Chair and Alan Davis Beach. The prominent chair-shaped lava formation overlooks a protected natural ocean “swimming pool” that is popular among locals, especially when a telephone pole is installed as a makeshift jumping board. Note that the water is too shallow for diving and there are no lifeguards.
Makapu’u is 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of Honolulu. Many visitors come here when they find Waikiki and Diamond Head a bit too crowded; once they see beauty in this lesser-known spot, they don’t want to leave.