Makapu'u is the extreme eastern end of the Island of O'ahu in the Hawaiian Islands, comprising the remnant of a ridge that rises 647 feet (197 meters) above the sea. The cliff at Makapu'u Point forms the eastern tip and is the site of a prominent lighthouse. The place name of this area, meaning "bulging eye" in Hawaiian, is thought to derive from the name of an image said to have been located in a cave here called Keanaokeakuapōloli. The entire area is quite scenic and a panoramic view is presented at the lookout on Kalanianaole Highway (State Rte. 72) where the roadway surmounts the cliff just before turning south towards leeward O'ahu and Honolulu.

Features of special interest in this area are:

• Makapu'u Beach – The most popular body-surfing beach on O'ahu; conditions are generally too rough for casual beach goers, although the beach itself is spectacular.
• Sea Life Park – A large commercial park and aquarium featuring displays and shows of Hawaiian marine life.
• Makapu'u Light – U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse, now automated. Reputed to have the largest lighthouse lens in the U.S.. A popular day hike along the access road to the lighthouse begins at a parking lot located south of the Makapu'u lookout on Kalanianaole Highway (see State Wayside below).

• Makapu'u Point State Wayside is that part of eastern end of the Island encompassing Makapu‘u Head and the lighthouse at Makapu‘u Point. A paved road (open to the public for foot traffic) leads out to the lighhouse—a not particularly strenuous 1.75 mile (2.81 km) hike. The road rises mostly heading towards the south along the land-side of the ridge and curves around Pu‘u o Kipahulu (southern end of the ridge), then traverses the ridge bearing right towards the lighthouse, which is closed to the public. A trail leads up from the former Coast Guard residential area to a summit from which the island of Moloka‘i may be seen across the Kaiwi Channel. Of interest to hikers visiting the wayside park is the possibility of seeing Humpback whales in the waters offshore between about November and April. A telescope is available to the public at the summit lookout. There are so-called blowholes along the rocky shore below Makapu'u Head which are sometimes active.
• Manana Island – An offshore tuff cone known as Rabbit Island because of its resemblance to a large rabbit's head rising out of the sea and because it was once inhabited by introduced rabbits. A State bird refuge.
• Kaohikaipu – A low volcanic islet off Makapu'u Beach Park; also a bird refuge.
• Makapu'u Beach Park and Kaupo Beach Park – All of the rocky shoreline and pocket beaches between the sea cliffs at Makapu'u Point and the State Research Pier are beach parks open to the public. Wave conditions at Kaupo (western end) are more suited to young beach goers. Makapu'u Beach is a popular body-surfing beach, but the shore break can be dangerous.
• Makai Pier – A long, concrete pier built by the State of Hawaii to support marine research efforts in the Hawaiian Islands. Houses several commercial marine engineering firms and HURL (Hawaii Underwater Research Laboratory).
• Kaupo Beach and Kaupo Beach Park are located along the sandy shore centered on the Makai Pier.

The Makapu'u area is reached approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Waimānalo Beach on Kalanianaole Highway (State Rte. 72) or from the Honolulu side (south shore; Hawaii Kai) travelling east along the same highway beyond Sandy Beach. The Wayside Park (road for hiking in to the lighthouse) is about midway up the draw on the right-hand side coming from the Honolulu side.

See Also

• List of Hawaii state parks