Pali Highway
Pali Highway
4.5
About
Officially designated State Route 61, this scenic highway runs from Kailua to Honolulu.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles78 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
36
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
1

Mike H
Phoenix, AZ2,077 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We traveled this highway to the lookout. the lower part that is from Honolulu up the mountain at first is good. However as you get father up the road there is construction work that keeps you in a traffic jam. It would have been some nice scenic drive except for that. We did get to the overlook turnoff and went up the the overlook. Worth the trip but until the road work is done it is a pain.
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SinKailua
Kailua, HI25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016
Aloha, please enjoy the island. Please drive with Aloha and be courteous to others. We drive this road every day for business, school, and athletic activity reasons Folks are kind to each other around here and we all need to keep that in perspective when enjoying the road. We let each other in, don't cut folks off, and smile. Enjoy..just with respect please.
Written July 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travelmastercurry
Marysville, WA76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019 • Couples
My fiancé and I are photographers and had heard of some of the amazing landscapes able to be seen from this highway. The tunnel is awesome as well!! If you can take this highway in a convertible it adds to the experience! Check weather and traffic reports before you do given the way it carves across the island both can change dramatically rapidly. Enjoy!!
Written December 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SinKailua
Kailua, HI25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
Aloha,

This is one of 3 regular routes between the Windward Side of the Island and the Honolulu (town) side. It is currently STILL under reconstruction after some rock/hill slide activity near the tunnels in a recent rainy season. For clarification: 1. It is NOT only to take if you have the time and passing between different towns. An easy misunderstanding when visiting. It is a regularly, daily, traveled route for folks and one of the fastest ways to get to town from Kailua. It IS beautiful, and SHOULD be enjoyed (although respect to regular commuters please!) It starts off of Vineyard Ave. on the Honolulu side, and ends at the first stop light after the tunnels in Kaneohe. From there, although it seems to continue to Kailua, it officially at that point changes names to Kalanianaole, and then turns into Kailua Road. All confusing, because Kalanianole continues if you turn right at Castle Junction (the hospital).Confusion aside, after construction and repairs are complete (nobody is holding their breath...at the latest, we have been told November 2019), it is wonderful traveled and enjoyed off peak and not during commute hours. Either way..take it slow and enjoy the view and luscious plants/trees/etc. Drive with Aloha and enjoy! It starts in Honolulu, ends in Kaneohe, but the road technically continues to Kailua just to recap.
Written August 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wireless_in_CA
United States4,994 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018
This road is an easy drive from Honolulu to Kaneohe on the windward side of the island. However, avoid driving it (or most highways in Oahu) during rush hour!

I always stop by the Pali lookout which gives an expansive view of the windward side. Parking used to be free but now a couple bucks for visitors. Tourist buses stop be here so it can get busy when they are disgorged from their buses. From the parking lot, it is a short walk to the main lookout vistas.

The kids enjoy windy days since the winds can be quite strong and make you feel like you are getting blown away.

From the lookout we walked a bit down the old pali road but we never seem to have enough time to venture farther down towards the waterfall. It is not that far away but it can get slippery on wet days.

Overall always a nice drive to get away from Honolulu for a short while and enjoy scenery from the other side of the island.

Written June 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

maureen023
Oviedo, FL28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2013 • Family
We drove the Pali Highway in the morning starting about 730am.
It was an adventure to travel to the east side of the island from Honolulu to Kailua Beach which incidently was voted at one time to be the "world's number one beach". It was easy to drive with beautiful lush greenery.
We pulled off to the Pali Lookout which was amazing! Very windy and chilly as the tradewinds blow thru the mountains so literally hold on to your hats--and small children.
The view from the concrete lookouts (2) is breathtaking--a lot to take in--pictures definitely don't do it justice!
We were there early in the morning so we were the only ones there which was great!
It is a paid lot by machine.
Written July 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Blowhole808
Texas79 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
Be sure to watch news traffic updates for road details...it can change how u approach your course of travel to windward side of the island...might save u time, gas and frustration 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽
Written April 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

verbalTea
Alexandria, VA22 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Family
Planned to do this as a rainy day option but mudslides made it impossible. If you are using navigation software that is not in real time you may end up running in circles because of this closure.
Written April 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John S
Kapolei, HI146 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2018
The main Pali highway leading to the "Pali" or "cliff" where King Kamehameha I defeated the local O'ahu chiefs is a nice pleasant drive. What makes it special is taking the detour to the "Old Pali Road" that parallels the main roadway. It passes through the "haunted" Morgan's Corner and waterfall where a murder was committed decades ago. The watershed and the overhanging trees are part of what "Old Hawaii" was about when the only way from the windward to the leeward side of the island traveled in days before automobiles.

After you view the tourist area at the Pali, take a short walk down the old two-lane road to where it is now blocked off to get the feel of the old road. You'll find some camel lion lizards watching you if you're looking for them
Written December 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chrisff3
Raleigh, NC30 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Friends
There is not a way to walk or bike from anywhere in Kaneohe/Kailua to Honolulu without getting out in the middle of traffic. 10 miles vs 28 if you have to go around Hawaii Kai, and no walking or bike paths around there, just very dangerous hairpin turns. Failure of infrastructure in Hawaii as usual. On the flipside the road is scenic with lots of trees, big leaves, vines along the pali lookout etc.

It tends to be chilly up here as it is in the mountains. There should not be a pay to park at the pali lookout, and since there is they need to clear out the stray cats and chickens there and not allow people to feed them. it just attracts more and causes disease and litter in the area, which is not necessary. The animals will die when the person feeding them stops and there needs to be better solutions for animal care in Hawaii rather than having so many stray animals all over the island.

Facilities needed at pali lookout, with or without parking fee, such as restrooms, hotel, restaurant, convenience store, electric vehicle charging station etc. this is 2015 but this attraction you would think exists pre 1960.
Written May 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Pali Highway - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Pali Highway