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Kilauea Lighthouse

Kilauea Lighthouse, Kauai: Hours, Address, Kilauea Lighthouse Reviews: 4.5/5

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Kilauea Lighthouse

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Kilauea Lighthouse
4.5
749
#97 of 330 Outdoor Activities in Kauai
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10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
Spectacular views surround this historic lighthouse.
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Top ways to experience Kilauea Lighthouse and nearby attractions

The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
17 within 3 miles
Palate Wine Bar & Restaurant
129
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Wine Bar • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Kilauea Bakery & Pizza
676
1.4 mi$ • Bakeries • American • Pizza
The Bistro
783
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Hawaiian
Kilauea Fish Market
698
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Hawaiian
Kauai Juice Co
57
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options • Gluten Free Options
Trilogy
37
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Healthy
Sushi Girl Kauai
8
1.4 mi$$ - $$$
Ally's Cocina
2
1.4 miVenezuelan • South American
Namahana Cafe
8
1.7 mi$
Rainbow Smoke Barbecue
2
1.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Barbecue
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Attractions
39 within 6 miles
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
927
354 ftNature & Wildlife Areas
Kileaua Point National Wildlife Refuge Lighthouse
270
0.9 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
Secret Beach
216
1.2 miBeaches
Garden Island Chocolate
472
1.7 miFarms
Princeville Botanical Gardens
1,274
Gardens
Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens
333
2.1 miGardens
Anini Beach
910
3 miBeaches
Pali Ke Kua Beach (Hideaway s Beach)
564
Beaches
Queen's Bath
1,610
Geologic Formations
Historic Kong Lung Market Center
57
1.4 miHistoric Sites • Shopping Malls
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
749 reviews
Excellent
397
Very good
276
Average
60
Poor
14
Terrible
2
TheBoujCrew
Tempe, AZ621 contributions
More Than a Lighthouse - The Views are Spectacular || Free for Military
Many people recommended the lighthouse to me and admittedly, I thought, what could be so great about a lighthouse? LOL. But, man was I wrong! The views and photo opps here are pretty incredible.

Reservations are required and you can book in advance. We were able to get in FREE using the Interagency Military pass (we did not have the pass on hand, but you are able to select "buy pass upon arrival entry"). Otherwise tickets were $11 per adult.

PARKING: is a little limited, so instructions will tell you to arrive pretty close to your reservation time to avoid overcrowding the parking lot.

In the past there was access to go up into the lighthouse, but was closed due to COVID when we went.

I recommend stopping for lunch at Kilauea Fish Market - I still think about the fish I had there!
Written April 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karyn W
Kansas City, MO1,485 contributions
Lovely area to see good views of the wildlife refuge
Couples
This lighthouse is in the wildlife refuge. It was built in 1913 and on Wednesdays and Saturdays they offer guided tours where you take off your shoes before entering. Because you sign up for the tour 1 hour before it starts and the place was packed we didn’t get to do the tour because they filled up too fast, but we did get to take in the views.
Signs around the area tell you about birds, whales, and more that live on the nearby cliffs and in the sea near the lighthouse. It is a very pretty area with nice views.
There is also a small gift shop with nature center along the path to the lighthouse.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
grlgrdgate
California1,689 contributions
Views for Miles
Couples
We have been to the Kilauea Lighthouse before, but we decided to make another visit because it was near us. They now charge an admission fee of $10 per person, which we didn't remember from the past. You cannot go into the lighthouse, but walking around the area is beautiful.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
nctraveler315
Winston Salem, NC152 contributions
Nice for a Short Stop
We enjoyed the amazing views and information about the different species of birds in the bird sanctuary. The light house is quaint and makes a nice picture. We walked around for a bit and took lots of pictures of the beautiful views. It's not a long stay unless you really want to do some bird watching. Still it was worth stopping by. We were able to use our National Parks pass so we did not have to pay for entry. Don't know that this is something young children would enjoy. I heard the gift shop was nice but because it was so small and with Covid restrictions only one person could go in at a time and I did not want to wait just to walk around the gift shop.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
surfercharlie
Glendive, MT832 contributions
Nice view. Wish we had known to make reservations.
Couples
We stopped to see this lighthouse while driving on the East side of Kauai. The lighthouse, from the observstion point, is beautiful. We were hoping to drive to the lighthouse so we could see Mokuaeae Island, but visits must be reserved in advance, which we did not know. It is something new Kauai is doing around the island to limit tourism traffic.
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Diane W
124 contributions
Beautiful scenery and lighthouse
Couples
We went on a beautiful Sunday, however when we got there we found the lighthouse was closed . But the view was beautiful at the top of the hill. We were excited to see some whales flapping tails, waving with fins and blowing. There were Nene birds in the area and one family of baby birds. It was a nice stop.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Morgan P
7 contributions
Pretty but a bit boring :)
Couples
It’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong but it’s a very quick trip and a bit boring unless you do the tour, especially For the price of admission. Lucky for me my husband and I both have national park passes so we didn’t have to pay, and we were happy since we ended up staying just about 15 min and then left.
Still, it’s a beautiful spot!
Written April 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Theresa C
Allendale, NJ770 contributions
Historic Light inside a wildlife refuge
The KÄ«lauea Lighthouse, in the KÄ«lauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in Kauai was built in 1913 as an aid to navigation for ships bound for Hawaii.
The beacon was automated in the seventies and in 1976, the Coast Guard shut it down, replacing it with more advanced navigational systems. Today the lamp is lit only for ceremonial purposes.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
benni82018
Point Roberts, WA299 contributions
Great View of Birds, Whales and Shoreline
The lighthouse is on a high promontory with a great view of the North Shore and migrating whales. The neighboring hillside is full of boobies and albatrosses nesting. Remember to bring your national park pass or it will cost your $10 per person.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Scribs
San Francisco, CA41 contributions
Lovely lighthouse view and bird sightings!!!
This is a beautiful lighthouse, which you can view from a small upper parking lot before you turn into the gated entrance. Remember to make your reservation at the National Park Service site prior to arrival to obtain timed entry. We skipped the formal entry to the bird sanctuary, only because we were short of time.

The variety of birds sheltering here are abundant and beautiful!
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kilauea Lighthouse
Kilauea Lighthouse is open:
  • Tue - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Kilauea Lighthouse tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Kilauea Lighthouse tours on Tripadvisor