Spitting Cave of Portlock
Spitting Cave of Portlock
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
274 reviews
Excellent
200
Very good
48
Average
14
Poor
6
Terrible
6
strudel2018
Honolulu, HI61 contributions
Feb 2022
Having lived on Oahu for 12 years this was my first time visiting the "Spitting Cave" overlook. Mainly because it always sounded like a dangerous place. My son had been here before & invited me to go visit it with him. We parked on the street and walked down the trail (Wear good footwear!) to the large smooth rocks that overlook the cave. The smooth weathered rocks were interesting. A woman was preparing to jump off the rocks into the water in front of the spitting cave. Her friend was using a drone to capture her jump. I was concerned for the woman's safety! It was windy and we only stayed a short time. I have seen it and have no desire to return. Now when I hear of someone getting injured or killed at this site I will know why.
Written February 25, 2022
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.
Margaret A
Santa Clarita, CA80 contributions
Nov 2020
Brent N from Atlanta got it right. We "rich" neighbors do hate: the noisy drunks and druggies. The wailing sirens coming several times a week to pull a tourist's body out of the roiling water. Screeching tires. Car doors slamming. Not enough room for two moving cars to pass between the parked cars on both sides of the street. What's the big deal? It's a bunch of water with no place else to go. It's very, very dangerous.
Want a great sunset? Try Haleiwa. Easy to find. Sunset over the water any time of year (at Spitting Cave Oct-March). Want a marine geyser? Five minutes up the road at the Halona Blow Hole. Easy parking. A plus? sometimes you can see Molokai and Haleakala on Maui from that lookout.
Want a great sunset? Try Haleiwa. Easy to find. Sunset over the water any time of year (at Spitting Cave Oct-March). Want a marine geyser? Five minutes up the road at the Halona Blow Hole. Easy parking. A plus? sometimes you can see Molokai and Haleakala on Maui from that lookout.
Written November 9, 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.
Teacher20052013
DeLand, FL549 contributions
Jul 2022
This place is nestled in between two magnificent pieces of property - one with a house, the other with a house being built on the site. Getting down to the caves you have to traverse a very steep path that can be treacherous if it has gotten wet. Not for the faint of heart as there is not really a railing to hang onto the entire way but rather a chain link fence and then a chain that dangles. Wear good sturdy shoes and perhaps take a walking stick.
Written August 1, 2022
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.
Charlie B
Pittsburgh, PA104 contributions
Jul 2022
We went here on the suggestion of a local we met. Its kind of hard to find the trail down to the ocean, but its there between houses. There is no beach here, just waves crashing against the rocky shore with often spectacular results. The trail is a little tricky, but not difficult to manage. It does seem like you could fall and get hurt here, so be careful.
Written July 18, 2022
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.
Lauren D
7 contributions
Mar 2021
a hidden gem! our Uber driver said this is a "locals" thing and it's not well known to tourists, and it's really off the beaten path. The entrance is in a neighborhood so be mindful of parking to not block driveways. The walk down to the caves if very slick so wear good shoes like Tevas, Chacos, something with good grip and a strap (no flip flops). The caves are very slick but totally worth it and beautiful. Close to Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach and the blowholes so definitely pair this trip with one of those sites to make the most out of your trip to this area.
Written March 18, 2021
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.
clum1007
Honolulu, HI10 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
There have been two recent deaths of young people who've jumped in, and perished when they could not climb back up. The waters are treacherous and deadly. Yes, it CAN happen to you and your friends, so admire the waters, but stay out. I am saddened when another young life is gone because they "Just do it!" Take photos and videos so you can enjoy the experience, not to mention other experiences, later.
I suspect most readers will dislike my review, but I felt compelled to tell it like it is. Believe me, I don't like hearing the rescue units sirens roaring past my home on beautiful summer days.
I suspect most readers will dislike my review, but I felt compelled to tell it like it is. Believe me, I don't like hearing the rescue units sirens roaring past my home on beautiful summer days.
Written June 22, 2014
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.
Hawaiikaigal
Oahu, HI22 contributions
Jul 2014
I'm not rating this poorly because of spittings caves beauty. I'm rating it thus because i live just down the street from this site. Everyday ambulences and police race back abd forth, attemping to save tourists from themselves. In the past 2 months there have benn two deaths at spitting caves. In both cases they were young (20 somthings) in great shape, who have met there maker at this "beautiful" spot. My suggestion is to continue on around to Sandy's, park safetly, and enjoy the presence of qulified life guards! No more deaths at spitting caves!
Written July 5, 2014
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.
parmihawaii
honolulu, hawaii8 contributions
Apr 2013 • Friends
I almost died here scuba diving. Jumping off into the water and finding out my partner had not checked the tides as he claimed and the undertow was tremendous, ripping off my mask almost immediately when I was down below. He wandered off (a big no no when scuba diving) and finally came back to help me put my mask back on...I had held on to a piece of lava to keep myself from being thrown against the undersea cliff, so went up and faced large waves that crashed against the shelf where one usually rode a wave up to get out of the water. Unfortunately the waves were too high and I kept on being swept back out, which is quite exhausting to say the least. Finally a very big man came onto the ledge and told me to ride the next wave in and give him my tank, which I did....then when another wave came in, he grabbed me and quite honestly probably saved my life. I was an experienced scuba diver and good swimmer, but the waves in Hawaii can be unrelenting.
I cannot stress to people how very, very dangerous this area is...people who were "watching" the waves have been swept to their death. To bring a child there would be criminally irresponsible, but people do. I lived in Portlock and I can't tell you how often rescue workers had to endanger themselves to rescue people who ignored warnings about this area. After my experience I have never gone back there...go at your own risk
I cannot stress to people how very, very dangerous this area is...people who were "watching" the waves have been swept to their death. To bring a child there would be criminally irresponsible, but people do. I lived in Portlock and I can't tell you how often rescue workers had to endanger themselves to rescue people who ignored warnings about this area. After my experience I have never gone back there...go at your own risk
Written March 4, 2014
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.
Kailani001
Kailua, HI29 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Spitting Cave has taken many lives. It can be treacherous just getting there. Not sure why Tripadvisor has it as a destination.
Someone just died there a few months ago. A guy just died at China Walls, which is how you get to Spitting Cave.
Someone just died there a few months ago. A guy just died at China Walls, which is how you get to Spitting Cave.
Written February 5, 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.
Corry Wang
Budapest, Hungary42 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
This place was really hard to find-- the only reason we even knew this place existed was because it was briefly mentioned in a guide book we picked up a while ago. The cave itself is located down the road from a small, nondescript street in Portlock (where the average house price is 20 million plus, go figure). There are no signs, no points of interest-- your GPS won't do you any good here.
Anyways, the cave itself can be found about a minute down a small passageway between 2 homes at the end of the street. I hate to use traveller's cliches, but what you find down there really is a "hidden gem". At the end of the passage way is a beautiful volcanic, rock-lined coast that drops about 50 feet into the ocean. There was hardly anybody there; just 2 or 3 locals fishing on the side, and maybe 5-10 other sightseers (hardly a large amount for a location in the middle of Honolulu).
As for the actual spitting, it's more like a full-out eruption. Every minute or so, the cave "spits" out a 100-foot jet of water into the air. You can even feel the cliffs rumble under you. Definitely worth the visit.
Anyways, the cave itself can be found about a minute down a small passageway between 2 homes at the end of the street. I hate to use traveller's cliches, but what you find down there really is a "hidden gem". At the end of the passage way is a beautiful volcanic, rock-lined coast that drops about 50 feet into the ocean. There was hardly anybody there; just 2 or 3 locals fishing on the side, and maybe 5-10 other sightseers (hardly a large amount for a location in the middle of Honolulu).
As for the actual spitting, it's more like a full-out eruption. Every minute or so, the cave "spits" out a 100-foot jet of water into the air. You can even feel the cliffs rumble under you. Definitely worth the visit.
Written April 16, 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.
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