Makapuu Beach Oahu
Best for. Confident bodysurfers, hikers tackling the lighthouse trail and anyone after big southeast views.
Best spot. The paved Makapuu lighthouse trail at sunrise, then the south end of the sand on a calmer day.
Know this. The shorebreak and currents can be strong, so swimming suits able swimmers and the trail suits everyone.
Makapuu is the dramatic full stop at the southeast corner of Oahu, where the highway bends around a headland and the island opens onto big blue ocean. The golden beach sits below cliffs, with the Makapuu lighthouse above and Rabbit Island, properly called Manana, just offshore. It is one of the great views on the island.
The water has character. Makapuu is a respected bodysurfing and bodyboarding beach with a lively shorebreak, and able swimmers enjoy it on calmer summer days. On bigger days the shorebreak and currents get serious, so this is not a casual paddle for weak swimmers or small children.
The honest highlight for many visitors is not the swim but the walk. The paved Makapuu Point lighthouse trail climbs the headland for sweeping coastal views, and in winter it is a prime spot to watch for humpback whales offshore. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds, because there is no shade.
At the base of the cliffs sit the Makapuu tide pools, a rougher scramble that rewards careful explorers at low tide. They are slippery and exposed to surge, so they suit sure footed adults rather than families with young children.
Who should skip the water. If you want calm, easy swimming, the windward beaches at Waimanalo and Kailua are a short drive north and far gentler. Come to Makapuu for the view, the trail and the bodysurfing, not for a lazy float.
Clubs on this beach
Makapuu is a public beach park with no club on the sand, so we route you to the Oahu beaches where a club day exists.
No beach club on this beach
This is public Hawaiian sand with no daybed club on the beach itself. For a club style day with loungers and table service on Oahu you book at the Waikiki and Ko Olina resort beaches, which we gather in the Oahu beach clubs directory.
Makapuu Point, Oahu
Makapuu Beach Park is on Kalanianaole Highway at the southeast point, about thirty minutes from Waikiki by car. It sits just past Sandy Beach as the road rounds the headland toward the windward coast.
There is a beach park lot by the sand, and a separate lot for the lighthouse trail a little further along the highway. Both fill on weekends, so an early start helps for the walk and the parking.
Restrooms and showers are at the beach park. There are no services on the trail, so carry water and sun cover, and combine the stop with the wider southeast and windward drive.
Photo: Chip Fields via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a club within reach of Makapuu Beach. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Makapuu Beach
Is Makapuu Beach good for swimming?
Makapuu has a lively shorebreak that suits able bodysurfers and bodyboarders, and calmer summer days are best for swimming. On bigger days the currents and shorebreak get strong, so weak swimmers and children should be cautious.
How long is the Makapuu lighthouse trail?
The paved Makapuu Point lighthouse trail is a moderate walk up the headland with sweeping coastal views. There is no shade, so most people go early in the day with water and sun cover.
Can you see whales from Makapuu?
In the winter months the Makapuu headland and lighthouse trail are a well known spot to watch for humpback whales offshore. Bring binoculars and scan the water on a clear day.
Are the Makapuu tide pools worth visiting?
The tide pools below the cliffs reward careful explorers at low tide, but they are slippery and exposed to surge. They suit sure footed adults rather than families with young children.
How do you get to Makapuu Beach from Waikiki?
It is about thirty minutes by car from Waikiki along Kalanianaole Highway, just past Sandy Beach. There is a beach park lot and a separate trail lot, both of which fill on weekends.
