We’ve hiked to the Makapu’u Tide Pools by heading up toward the lighthouse and then down the other side, but a few weeks ago we made an attempt at getting there by the shoreline route. Yes I said attempt and yes I’m going to blog about a hike we didn’t complete because I think hiking is about the journey as much as the destination.
We parked in the lot for the Makapu’u Lighthouse but instead of heading up the paved path we immediately veered off to the right on a trail that heads to the ocean. There are a couple trails that go toward the shore and they all get you to basically the same spot. With all the rain we’ve had this winter and spring that part of the island is extra green now.
When we reached the shore we headed around the corner to the left. Any trace of a trail quickly disappears here. There’s a bit of bouldering to be done and a tiny bit of rock climbing as well. At one point I turned around to see my husband had taken off the hiking backpack and it was being handed down a steep section with our daughter in it! Yes, a few places on the hike are a little tricky but most of it is just walking over rocks.
We enjoyed the view of the ocean and the waves pounding on the rocks as we hiked. We did our best to stay on the inland side of the tidal shelf in case any extra big waves came crashing in. It was windy and probably high tide so not the best time to be hiking here but we were careful.
There were a few places where we had to time the waves right to get around certain spots without getting wet. Those areas made me nervous. I’ve known of people who have been swept to their deaths in similar situations, so I kept our son nearby and kept a close eye on the ocean and we kept our daughter in the backpack the whole hike.
All was well until we got to a spot with a big tide pool. Just before we headed down to the pool a big wave came in and washed clear across the pool. Had we been hiking down there when that happened it would have been a little sketchy. That, and the fact that a couple groups of hikers we met said it was worse around the corner convinced us we’d gone far enough for the day. We declared a snack break and all the kids ate while a few of the adults went on just a little farther. While we sat there we didn’t see any more big waves come in, but we had nothing to prove and decided to be safe.
All in all it was a fun afternoon and we all want to head back and try the hike again, but next time we’ll do it at low tide on a day when the ocean is calm so we can safely make it to the blowholes.
Do it yourself on Oahu
Location: The Makapu’u Tidepools are located on the east side of Oahu between Hanauma Bay and Waimanalo. The parking lot for this hiking area is between Sandy Beach and Makapu’u Beach.
Parking: As mentioned in the post, you can park in the lot for the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail. When the lot fills up, people park along the road leading to the parking lot. As always, do not leave valuables in your car.
Facilities: There are no facilities here; no restrooms or drinking fountains.
Safety: If you choose to take this hike, you do so at your own risk. I cannot overemphasize the need to use caution when hiking along the ocean, here or anywhere. I would highly recommend checking the tide and surf reports before making this hike. Even under the best of conditions, keep an eye on the ocean for rogue waves. If you feel unsafe, turn around!
Other: I cannot recommend this hike for all children, but I can tell you about our group. The two year olds in the group were carried the whole hike, the five year old in the group was carried at a couple of spots but the rest of the kids, ages 6 to 12, hiked the whole thing on their own with just a little help with some of the bouldering. One of the kids did the whole hike in slippers, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that.
I would recommend taking cell phones, water and snacks. Wear sunscreen and, unless you’re really good in slippers, wear comfortable reef walking or hiking shoes.
More info: Related posts on Oahu Mom: Hiking to Makapu’u Lighthouse and Hiking to Makapu’u Tidepools (the up and over route)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this post. I used to live in Kaneohe and now am planning to bring my kids to Oahu or the first time. I wondered if my 8-year-old could do this hike and looks like we can manage. Thanks!
I definitely think an 8-year-old could do it, just check the tides and go when the tide is on its way down. Hope you have a great time showing your kids around your own stomping grounds!