Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and Shuttle Service
Description
Choose Kaimana Tours for a truly personalized and hassle-free Oahu experience. Unlike other providers, we combine convenient round-trip shuttle service from Waikiki, insider knowledge of the best viewpoints, and expert guidance to help you make the most of your hike and sightseeing. We go beyond just transportation—our tours are designed to maximize your experience with carefully selected stops, including the Makapu‘u Lighthouse, windward coast, offshore islets, and Halona Blowhole, along with tips for wildlife spotting and photography that many visitors miss. With Kaimana Tours, you also get friendly, attentive service, clear instructions, and local expertise, ensuring your adventure is safe, comfortable, and unforgettable. We focus on helping travelers truly connect with Hawaii’s natural beauty, history, and culture, making your experience more than just a hike—it’s a complete Oahu adventure.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
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.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Drivers and Receptionist MAY speak Portuguese as well.
- Not recommended for children under 3 and people with disabilities
- We do not recommend this hike for ages older than 65
Reviews(105)
This was a fantastic experience! Our driver Tommy was great! The hike itself was easy enough, but not a lot of shade. Be sure to bring water and maybe a snack. It is well worth the breath taking views and blue water.
This is an easy hike, paved the entire way. The views are beautiful. The company picked us up and dropped us back off, gave us cold bottled water. I am in my late fifties and found this hike pleasant and enjoyable
It’s a steep hike up and down. There aren’t a lot of places with shelter, however, the atmosphere is relaxed and allows for taking breaks if you need them. Would not recommend for those who need to be pushed with a wheelchair- it’s paved, but would be very challenging to navigate due to the steep slope.
Fabulous! Had not done this hike before. This was my 5th visit to Oahu and I'm so GLAD we hiked to Makapu'u Point and Lighthouse. The trail is paved and well-maintained so makes for a great hike. I will do this again! We saw more whales on this hike than we did on 2 other whale-watching tours. Loved it!
This was a fun hike! The newly paved roads make it a smooth walk. Parking gets crazy so get there early. Once you get to the top, the views are spectacular! We even got to see some whales out in the distance due to the migration season. Plenty of great spots to stop and take in the views and snap some pics.
Worth the money for a shuttle transport
We had originally booked early tour that day but due to numbers we rescheduled to next one. On way out the tour guide was not commenting on any of the scenery, which we thought odd. The time allow is heaps for anyone walking tho we had heaps wind that day. Going back our guide was much more talkative so enjoyed this part back to our hotel.
Tommy gave a great tour while driving to the lighthouse. Love the trail and the scenic view all around. Highly Recommend!
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.
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
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!
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.
