Makapu’u Point Tide Pools
Makapu’u Point Tide Pools
4.5
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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
18 reviews
Excellent
12
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5
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1
Natalie
6 contributions
Sep 2017 • Family
In the summer of 2016 a father and his 6 yr old daughter were swept out of these tide pools and died. She was taken out first and he went in after her. The ocean is powerful and unpredictable at times. Prior to them being swept out the ocean was calm according to one of the witnesses that was there with them. Educate yourself about the dangers, not worth the trip down. We enjoyed the view from up top. It was tempting to go down but after we heard the story from a local woman (while standing on the trail above the tide pools, our curiosity was gone.
Written September 12, 2017
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.
Mili Laff
Kapolei, HI11 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We hiked to the tide pools in a less conventional way. (If you're doing this, go up the paved lighthouse trail to the 3rd whale watching spot and look for the white arrows and dots painted on the rocks.) We stupidly took the trail to the shoreline from the parking lot, and then climbed around the coast to the pools. We've lived on the island for a year, and done the Makapu'u Lighthouse trail at least 15 times. It's one of our favorites so I assumed this would be as easy; I was wrong!
We are still pretty new hikers, and the climbing was fun at first, but the waves were really rough, and in a few spots we came close to falling in the water. We kept going, according to our apple watches, for about 1.75 miles along the coast.
I thought we could hike around to the pools from the coast, but we were wrong. The rocks drop off before the main pools that (if you're researching this) you've probably seen on Instagram. So, 3 hours in, sunburned, and out of water we were forced to decide to make the hefty climb back, or scale the rock wall up near where we saw folks climbing.
With no rock climbing experience, we climbed the 600 feet back to the paved trail. The rocks shifted constantly, and we both cut our arms and legs up a lot. I was terrified but when we reached halfway there was no way to go down. I say all of this as a warning to NOT do it this way.
Once we hit about 450 feet, we made it to the path marked for the pools and it was an easier climb. I can't emphasize enough, please be careful. The rocks slip and the wind is crazy. I don't see this hike as kid-friendly, and the waves are beautiful, but as you're reenacting that picture from "The Little Mermaid" please be careful not to be swept out to sea.
We are still pretty new hikers, and the climbing was fun at first, but the waves were really rough, and in a few spots we came close to falling in the water. We kept going, according to our apple watches, for about 1.75 miles along the coast.
I thought we could hike around to the pools from the coast, but we were wrong. The rocks drop off before the main pools that (if you're researching this) you've probably seen on Instagram. So, 3 hours in, sunburned, and out of water we were forced to decide to make the hefty climb back, or scale the rock wall up near where we saw folks climbing.
With no rock climbing experience, we climbed the 600 feet back to the paved trail. The rocks shifted constantly, and we both cut our arms and legs up a lot. I was terrified but when we reached halfway there was no way to go down. I say all of this as a warning to NOT do it this way.
Once we hit about 450 feet, we made it to the path marked for the pools and it was an easier climb. I can't emphasize enough, please be careful. The rocks slip and the wind is crazy. I don't see this hike as kid-friendly, and the waves are beautiful, but as you're reenacting that picture from "The Little Mermaid" please be careful not to be swept out to sea.
Written May 16, 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.
CoupleCastaways
Los Angeles, CA48 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Make sure to follow the trail that has the white arrows painted on the rocks or you're in for some loose gravel. I accidentally took friends on a slightly different path and it was rough. We finally worked our way over to the right trail and it was much safer. Try to go on a clear day to get the most beautiful photos because the sun needs to shine into the water of the tidepools for the aqua blue color. I've gone on clear days and cloudy days, and the cloudy days disappoint because the pictures on those days just don't do it justice. Gorgeous on the clear days! Try it at least once. The Dragon's Breath blowhole is fun to see also. I've also attached photos of a Trail that's higher up, when you go back up and scale the other side. Gorgeous views there too.
Written July 10, 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.
Liza K
55 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
The walk up to the lighthouse is easy and enjoyable. The trek down and back up the side of a mountain of lava rock to the tide pools was not! If you fall (and there are many opportunities to do so) you will probably not survive. The tide pools are worth it simply because it’s so treacherous, not because they have a lot of sea life. Even getting into and out of the pools was a challenge (and don’t step on the anemones!). The climb back up was actually easier than the decent and there are white arrows painted on the rock to help guide you. Make sure you have water and really good shoes. Be prepared to slip some on the way down. I don’t think I’d do it if it was raining.
Written January 23, 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.
0617merS
Columbus, OH91 contributions
May 2017
Our party was 4 adults and 4 kids 11-14yrs old. I saw pictures of these tide pools online and people swimming in them and they were beautiful and I wanted to go during our vacation. I looked up online how to get to them and what I found was spot on, except for the climb down to them, you have to be part mountain goat to get to them. with that being said, we all made our way down slowly and it was totally worth it, probably everyone's favorite activity of the week. You get to them from the light house path, and you vere off about half way up at the whale watching sign. it's a steep climb down, on a not so well or at all defined path. It took us about 45 min to get down and about 25 min to get back up (much easier going up). check when low tide is, and make sure you're there at low tide. the pools were so cool, clear and felt great after that climb down. wear sunscreen, and we wore back packs for water. you really dont need a towel, you'll dry off just on your way back to the car. It was awesome, and something i'd do again, if we get back to oahu for sure!
Written June 10, 2017
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.
boodoo83
Montreal, Quebec80 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
My husband and I were definitely not prepared for such a hike. Actually we had no idea it would be so steep. I suggest you wear proper hiking shoes and go down slow and steady. The pools are gorgeous. We went on a sunny day just before sunset and it was nice and quiet. If you pay close attention there are some blowholes close to the tidepools. Definitely a place to visit if you are on Oahu.
Written January 17, 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.
Zebmingo
New York City, NY5 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
First thing... make sure you go at low tide so you can actually swim in the tide pools — definitely check before making the trek! You can get to the Makapu'u Tide Pools by climbing down the cliffs off the Mkakapu'u Lighthouse Trail (you'll spot an unmarked path about half way up to the light house at the scenic spot with a whale watching sign). The climb down can be dangerous so be careful and considered before going. Locals may be able to do it in flip flops but, unless you're seasoned, plan on wearing sturdy sneakers with a grip. The path going down is unmarked, but the path going up you'll see very faint spray painted white arrows on the rocks — so when going down, look back up the mountain occasionally to see if you're generally on the correct path. 100% worth the trek if you go on a beautiful day — what's waiting at the bottom is beautiful and secluded tide pools that feel like a private, secret oasis. As always, be careful but you'll have a blast. Since the hike from car to tide pool is about 45 minutes, it's worth staying for a while.
Written July 24, 2017
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.
AventuraDelMundo
Costa Mesa, CA73 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
This place is hidden and hard to find and hard to reach, but it's all worth it! If you are an adventurous person, you must go there! You need to hike up the hill and once you reach the point where you can see the top, there is a observatory spot on your right, and that's where you walk down to the tide pools. It does not seem like there is a path. It is rocky and scary, you definitely need sneakers, absolutely no flip flops when you walking down. The tide pools are mysterious and so beautiful. There are fish and shellfish there so aqua shows will help. I stepped on something and got a cut on the back of my foot. Those rocks are slippery as well. The waves hit the cliff and could drag you to the ocean so you need to be really careful. This is one of my favorite places I have ever been in my life.
Written April 12, 2017
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.
Daniella P
Long Beach, CA9 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
It wasnt an easy hike to be honest but it was definitely worth it. You need to wear good shoes and be ready for this hike. Once you're there tho its beautiful and the water is not so cold. You can see some little fish swimming too. Dont go so late because the high tide can be really dangerous.
Written August 22, 2017
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.
Hibby922
Midlothian, TX454 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
very beautiful coastline with decent facilities and easy access to ocean.....big parking lot and great views all around...we did not see the tide pools
Written August 19, 2017
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.
Hi, we will travel to Oahu on coming April and will have a 3 yr old toddler with us. Is it possible to bring him to Makapu'u tide pools with us or it's too dangerous to do so? Is there any extra assistance we can expect from the staff to help accommodate his visit?
Written November 14, 2018
There’s no staff there... or is there some sort of tour you’re looking for? Anyway, there’s no staff and yes, it would be tough for a 3 year old to scale down the rocks (many of which are loose). I would not recommend this for small children unfortunately.
Written November 14, 2018
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