Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and Shuttle Service
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Honolulu, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Spend the morning out in nature as you explore Oahu’s Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail. The easy hike is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and takes you to the historic Lighthouse built in 1909. Look out for humpback whales in the winter months, and stop at Halona Blowhole for more views and photos after the hike. This tour is ideal for visitors wanting to experience Hawaii’s natural beauty while getting some exercise.
- Explore the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail at your own pace and avoid the crowds
- See views of Oahu’s windward coast and watch for whales on an easy hike
- Stop at Halona Blowhole for great views and a photo-op
- National Park fees is included
What's Included
- National Park fees
- Bottled water
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
If you are not staying in Waikiki, a free parking lot is available at 2805 Monsarrat Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815. Please park there and walk to the Queen Kapiolani Hotel for shuttle pick-up. Be on time, as the shuttle will not wait for late arrivals. After booking, please contact Kaimana Tours to confirm your pick-up location and time. International travelers without a U.S. mobile number should provide their hotel room number. We will try to reach you 24 hours before your tour; if we cannot contact you, the shuttle may not be able to operate. Please wait outside of the hotel your pick-up was assigned to. The driver has multiple stops, so you may not be the first or last pick-up of the day. Allow a 5–10 minute window for arrival, and if the driver hasn’t arrived by then, please give us a call. After booking, please contact Kaimana Tours to confirm your pick-up location and time. International travelers without a U.S. mobile number should provide their hotel room number. We will try to reach you 24 hours before your tour; if we cannot contact you, the shuttle may not be able to operate. Please wait outside of the hotel your pick-up was assigned to. The driver has multiple stops, so you may not be the first or last pick-up of the day. Allow a 5–10 minute window for arrival, and if the driver hasn’t arrived by then, please give us a call.
What To Expect
1
Halona Blowhole
2
Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Drivers and Receptionist MAY speak Portuguese as well.
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for children under 3 and people with disabilities
- We do not recommend this hike for ages older than 65
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
JamesT_M
Tommy, our guide was excellent. He had a lot of valuable information about places to eat and go. This was a pleasant hike on a paved Trail with manageable incline. Water is provided. Tommy made sure we visited a bathroom prior to getting started. The views are magnificent!
Reviews
4.6
based on 102 reviews
ElisaBrunoMidili, Jan 2026
Tommy gave a great tour while driving to the lighthouse. Love the trail and the scenic view all around. Highly Recommend!
Jordan_G, Jan 2026
I booked this trip last minute for my family in our last day before heading back home. It's a decent value, offering views of the famous Halona blowhole and Halona beach on the way to the main stop, the Makapu'u lighthouse trail. Our driver Matthew Kenny made the trip an enjoyable experience with his vast knowledge of Hawaii. For the price you could probably get away with just driving to the sites yourself if you have a rental car already, it's only about a 15-20 minute drive from Waikiki. But having the knowledgeable driver we had made the experience much more valuable.
The Makapu'u trail itself is all paved so very easy to walk. It's roughly a mile long walk up to the 3rd highest elevation lighthouse in the entire country. Easily accessible for all levels of hikers and pet friendly. Gorgeous views at every turn with occasional spotting of whales. Make sure to bring your binoculars.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for taking the time to share such a detailed review and for choosing to spend your last day in Hawaiʻi with us. We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed the scenic stops along the way, including Halona Blowhole, Halona Beach, and the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail.
We’re especially happy to hear that Matthew helped make the experience more enjoyable by sharing his knowledge of Hawaiʻi — we’re lucky to have him on our team. While guests are welcome to explore on their own if they have a rental car, our goal is to add value through local insight, storytelling, and a stress-free experience, and we’re glad that came through for you.
Thank you again for your kind words and helpful tips for future guests. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure the next time you’re on the island.
Mahalo nui loa,
Kaimana Tours
Kate_R, Jan 2026
Gorgeous views on a fairly easy hike. Gradual climb all the way up, so pleasant downhill walk on return. Our driver Tommy efficiently navigated around the MLK parade route to get us to the trailhead on time, and picked us up 2 hours later. We had plenty of time to do the hike and rest at the too. Saw a few whales too!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the gorgeous views and found the hike pleasant and manageable, especially on the way back down.
We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Tommy — navigating around the MLK parade route and still getting everyone to the trailhead on time is no small task, and he’ll be glad to know it made a difference. We’re also happy you had plenty of time to hike, relax at the top, and even spot a few whales along the way.
Thank you again for choosing Kaimana Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
Heather_H, Dec 2025
I thought it was a nice experience. Plenty of time to walk the trail at an easy pace. Driver was polite and provided good information.
Samuel_K, Oct 2025
Excellent use of time-view from the top of trail is amazing-guide was surprisingly informative-thought it would just be a shuttle to venue
JamesT_M, Jul 2025
Tommy, our guide was excellent. He had a lot of valuable information about places to eat and go. This was a pleasant hike on a paved Trail with manageable incline. Water is provided. Tommy made sure we visited a bathroom prior to getting started. The views are magnificent!
Maxine_G, May 2025
They take you to the blow hole and then drop you off You have 2 hours to go up the fairly steep paved trail. Worth the trip Note you cannot go in the lighthouse. Lovely views all around
Karen_D, Feb 2025
Great views and lots of whale sightings! Hike is paved but has hills. So much easier having a shuttle as parking would be a challenge.
Gerald_R, Feb 2025
If want to hike the lighthouse trail mostly, it is a good way to get there and back. Plenty of time to hike the trail and enjoy the scenery.
Christian_M, Feb 2025
The Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail is a fully paved trail that takes you to gorgeous views of the lighthouse and ocean. However, don't expect to be able to actually visit the lighthouse as it is an active aid to navigation and there is no path you are allowed to take. But the views of the surrounding area are fantastic. If you go in the winter months you may see whales. We only saw one whale and it was very far out, and it only broke the surface of the ocean once, and mostly just slapped the water with its tail. But it is definitely worth it for the views.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience on the Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail! We’re glad you enjoyed the stunning views of the lighthouse and ocean. While access to the lighthouse itself is restricted, the surrounding scenery is definitely worth the hike. It’s great that you spotted a whale, even if it was a bit far out! We hope you’ll return for more breathtaking views in the future.
Lital_K, Feb 2025
Very cool. Beautiful scenery, saw lots of whales in the distance. Wish we had another 30 minutes to an hour. Other than that, perfect!
John_M, Jan 2025
We had a great time. The views were awesome and we saw whales. Our driver Matt was friendly, helpful and informative.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re so glad you had a great time and got to enjoy the stunning views—and spotting whales is always a highlight! Matt will be thrilled to hear your kind words; he truly loves sharing his knowledge and making your experience memorable. We hope to welcome you back for another amazing adventure soon!
Gomer_B, Oct 2024
It was great experience. Its good for exercise and a good Hike. Nice Breeze and Great View. The Tour Guide was entertaining, his name is Matthew. Definitely will come back if I have a chance.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Hi Gomer!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review! We truly appreciate your feedback and are grateful for your support. It means a lot to us!
Raymond_M, Sep 2024
Shuttle was good, driver nice. The trail was all paved but decently challenging. I would definitely recommend doing it early in the day. Views were spectacular!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for your kind words! Safe travels back home!
andyrahman, Mar 2024
Did not get to go on tour even though we waited for the tour for 50 minutes. We were waiting at the rear entrance to the Hyatt Waikiki with the Green awning where all tour operators pick up passengers. The driver sent a text and we asked at least 4 drivers from different tour companies. Only later we realized the driver was waiting at the front entrance which is not where we were told to wait.
Shirlee_A, Feb 2024
Great hike. Wish the tour guide didn’t talk so much about himself and fiancé. I’d be better to hear more History and about the island.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thanks for your feedback! We hope that we can see you soon! Aloha!
Laura_B, Nov 2023
Don't make the mistake of booking the shuttle if you plan to drive, park and hike up on your own. A planning error due to not understanding that the shuttle was for folks who needed a ride from a resort cost me $155.
David_C, Nov 2023
Diogo our driver was awesome! Super knowledgeable and a great storyteller. The hike and views were great!
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Aloha David,
Thank you for your kind review!
Safe travels back home!
wanda, Apr 2023
It was everything I expected and more. Up hill walk on a smooth surface beautiful scenery along the way. View was a nice reward for reaching the top.
stacey_j, Apr 2023
Friendly and knowledgeable
Helpful
Timely
Van was clean and kept cool
Scenery was beautiful
Weather was perfect
Mathew_G, Apr 2023
Tour driver was pleasant & informative. It was a nice ride and we were pleased with our entire experience.
Kim_B, Nov 2022
I'm a 64 y/o female that has a bad knee binding time for a total knee when I get on Medicare.
I didn't realize it was 1 1/4 miles straight up hill to get to the top to see the lighthouse. The scenery was wonderful and worth it but for those with back or knee issues you may want an easier hike.
Peter_U, Nov 2022
This is a beautiful walk but care needs to be taken as you walk on a small stones and at times muddy path.
We experienced a 20 minute tropical downpour.
The Manoa Falls is the destination but the journey is even better.
michelle_b, Jul 2022
Great tour! Awesome views. 100 percent recommended. Driver even stopped at additional locations. Quick pick up and drop off. Will return
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thanks so much!!
Joy_H, May 2022
All uphill climb, got my legs sore in other ways. Then all downhill. Views are spectacular. Take a hat to cover face from sun.
littlesister, May 2022
I is beautiful a long walk but we'll worth it. I would definitely do it again. Make sure you take extra water. And take a lot of pictures
Response from Host, May 2022
Thank you for the review!!
Louie_R, Apr 2022
This is my first time going to Makapu’u lighthouse.
Our friendly driver picked us up on time and shared some of his knowledge about the area. I would consider the short hike mild(feels like walking on a treadmill with 45 degree angle) compared to the Diamond Head. The view on top is amazing and the breeze up there is one the best I experienced in years. If you’re a photographer, it’s quite a challenge to get a perfect angle of the lighthouse due to limited access but still worth seeing.
Response from Host, May 2022
Thank you for the review!
JeremiahJOhn_D, Mar 2022
Kevin was an amazing driver/tour guide and very knowledgeable! Had the best experience and the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail hike was easy, especially once you get to the top which takes about 30 minutes, was breathtaking! The whole experience from booking to pick up and drop off was seamless. I highly recommend them and would definitely use them again next time in Waikiki!
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Thank you for the feedback!!
Delia_F, Mar 2022
It was a grea self guide tour with shuttle from my hotel. The tour guide was very prompt to pick me up
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Mahalo! Come again
Nancy_M, Feb 2022
I enjoyed the paved walk with ocean views everywhere. It was nice to be dropped off, given a certain time and do the walk at my own pace. Skipping parking jams was a plus as well. I'd recommend this hike for many.
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