Family Friendly Easy Hike At Makapu’u And The Tide Pool In Oahu, Hawaii

Family Friendly Easy Hike At Makapu’u And The Tide Pool In Oahu, Hawaii
Sayaha
Sayaha 
Updated
| 2 min read

Hiking is one of the most popular outdoor activities among Hawaiian locals. For travelers who don’t feel too adventurous, but still want to enjoy a nice hike with a great view, Makapu’u might be the perfect location. Makapu’u is an easy enough hike for families even with small children, letting them enjoy a quick and fun physical activity together. Other hiking locations may not be recommended if you do not have the adequate shoes and attire, but here in Makapu’u, you can hike more casually.

The lighthouse of Makapu’u lookout point

family friendly easy hike at makapu’u and the tide pool in oahu, hawaii | the lighthouse of makapu’u lookout point

Macapu’u offers beautiful views of the ocean for a very little effort, so put on your shoes and get started! When you go up Makapu’u, you can first see the Diamond Head on your path going up to the top. The view of the Diamond Head is beautiful from Makapu’u so this could also be a great lookout for seeing the famous Hawaiian volcanic landscapes. Makapu’u’s lookout point is above a lighthouse facing the enormous blue ocean, which is simply breathtaking. In the summer, you can enjoy the beautiful blue sky and the blue ocean, while in winter, it becomes a great lookout place to watch whales coming to give birth in the warm ocean of Hawaii. If you come in winter, you might be lucky enough to see a family of whales!

Can you see a rabbit head floating in the ocean?

family friendly easy hike at makapu’u and the tide pool in oahu, hawaii | can you see a rabbit head floating in the ocean?

At the lighthouse lookout spot, you can also see what the locals call the “rabbit island.” It is called this way because it is said to be shaped like a rabbit head. Let’s see if you can also spot a rabbit head in the blue ocean! It is a fun activity to do if you are going with children.

Crystal clear water welcomes you at the tide pool

family friendly easy hike at makapu’u and the tide pool in oahu, hawaii | crystal clear water welcomes you at the tide pool

The tide pool is simply really beautiful. It is right in front of the ocean, so you can occasionally witness big waves crushing inside into the tide pool, resulting in surprise floods. The water is crystal clear, and you can see many interesting marine creatures living in the tide pool. If you plan on going down to the tide pool, you want to come prepared with a swimsuit so that you can jump in and refresh from the hike. Unfortunately there aren’t any bathrooms or showers at this location, so you need to have your swimsuit underneath your hiking clothes. Going up the steep hill after the tide pool will dry up the water by the time you get back to the track, so do not worry about drying your clothes. This is definitely the perfect location to take beautiful pictures, so don’t forget to bring your camera. Beware of the sudden big waves though!

Are you fit and adventurous? Don’t forget to visit the tide pool!

family friendly easy hike at makapu’u and the tide pool in oahu, hawaii | are you fit and adventurous? don’t forget to visit the tide pool!

Unfortunately, although Makapu’u hike is family-friendly, I do not recommend going down to the tide pool with small children. You have to go down and come back up a rather steep and unstable hill, so this activity is only recommended for adults. However, if you are fit and adventurous, you won’t regret going down to the tide pool.

A one day adventure

Makapu’u is a short and easy hike, which can be done with your family, even if you have small children. However, if you want a little more challenge, you can go down to the tide pool where you can refresh from the heat of the hike. You can park your car right down where the hike starts, so all you need is yourself and a camera/smart phone. The only thing I would like to warn you about is that, occasionally, wild fires take place in Macapu’u or nearby, so you might like to pay attention to the news before heading there.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Sayaha Aida has been traveling internationally since the early age of 15. She has lived internationally in Japan, England, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the United States (Miami and San Francisco)...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Oahu Island
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top