Oct 25

Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail

Welcome to another Travel Tuesday! (Go check out my new[-ish] Travel tab! <3 ) As I promised at the last one, we’re taking on the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail today!

 

 

Distance: 2 miles (round-trip)
Elevation: 500 feet
Trailhead Location: Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline, Kalanianaole Hwy
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: There’s a parking lot at the base of the trail!

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One thing you need to know: there is no shade. None. Nada.

Apply sunscreen liberally and maybe reapply a couple times depending on how long you’re going to be hiking for, because skin cancer is not something that you want in life!

There are also no water fountains, so bring lots of water with you too! And a hat.

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On a super clear day, you might catch a glimpse of Moloka’i and Lana’i. From November through May, you might want to bring a pair of binoculars to see the migrating humpback whales!

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Join @fairyburger up the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail! #TravelTuesday #travel #hawaii #hiking

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The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail is not a difficult hike by any means–it’s paved all the way to the top! I hiked it in flip flops with no troubles (but sadly, because I was wearing flip flops, I couldn’t go down to the tidepools to explore because the rocks down there were super sharp! :[ ) All the more reason to return someday though!

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The lighthouse itself is off-limits, but I did see some people trying to trek their way over there. (You probably should not.)

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You can get a really great view of the southeastern coast of Oahu at the very top! It’s pretty windy up there though, so if you have a hat, make sure you hold onto it!

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There you are, lighthouse!

This trail is actually pretty close to where I had my lazy beach day with Liz in Waimanalo!

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I walked another 1.5 miles along the highway and waited ~1 hour for the bus to arrive to get back to Waikiki. Good thing it came!

I discovered later on that if I’d trekked just another half-mile, I would’ve come across an awesome mess of food trucks, but…alas. So I had a celebration meal elsewhere. I felt like I’d had enough walking for the day, so I found a nearby place, Ahi Poke and Bowl, to have lunch!

 

 

It was right next to Musubi Cafe Iyasume, which has over 1800(!) reviews on Yelp, so I got a couple salmon musubi for the road (dinner).

…If you know me, you’ve probably realized that I happen to have a separate stomach for dessert, so I got a pineapple sorbet at Hawaiian Crown Plantation! :D! Twas a little pricey, but it was so delicious that I had to let it slide.

 

  • How much water do you usually bring with you on a hike? I almost ran out!
  • Do you have celebration meals after hikes?
  • What’s your favorite type of sorbet?

Check out my other Travel Tuesday posts!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.fairyburger.com/makapuu-lighthouse-trail/

32 comments

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  1. That little lighthouse <3
    This is so random, but when my aunt and uncle when on their honey moon to Hawaii, they said the "malls" there didn't have roofs and that sunscreen on the scalp was essential (I always have to get special sunscreen for my head anyway..I always burn even here in NJ), but is that true? Do shopping centers like that have no roofs?
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Black Sesame Yogurt SauceMy Profile

    1. Hmm, I think they did have some outdoor malls where sunscreen would be a good idea (as it would be for anything outside over there though! :P all the sun!!), but there were plenty of indoor shopping centers as well! I didn’t do all that much shopping while I was there, so not entirely sure! The farmers’ market I went to was outside, but…I think most of those tend to be outdoors. :D Pretty sure my hair/scalp has definitely dealt with a lot of sun damage. x_x

  2. I’m such a fan of cute little lighthouse. Paved hikes are always better for me since I’m super clumsy. That ahi poke bowl looks pretty darn good to me. That’s one thing I remember about my trip to Hawaii how tasty the pineapples were. This pineapple sorbet looks “cheat meal” worthy

    1. haha, I’m super clumsy too, so I feel ya! I wished I’d brought my hiking boots because going down to the tidepools would’ve been really cool! I’m glad the views were awesome though, and hooray for celebratory meals! :P

  3. A lovely hike followed by poke?
    Yes please!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Rewinding and Reliving MomentsMy Profile

    1. I wanna do that now!! *-*

  4. That is gorgeous!! I never take enough water ever when hiking. My intention is always to travel light – it never works out well. Especially since i’m now traveling with a family and my husband certainly never thinks of it. Thanks for sharing!
    Amy recently posted…Do you have what it takes to become an Ironman triathleteMy Profile

    1. I’m (slowly) getting better about taking more water with me! I feel ya on trying to travel light though–it’s hard to find that perfect balance! :P

  5. Love the pics! I don’t do much hiking, but I do love the workout it gives! And that pineapple sorbet looks heavenly ;-)
    Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Not my #typical week…My Profile

    1. I need to figure out how to recreate that sorbet! <3

  6. I am in love with your photos! And I’m sad that I haven’t gone on a hike in 2 years. I really need to remedy that soon — and get some sorbet! But I doubt what I find in Colorado will be as tasty as what you had. :)
    Amanda recently posted…2016 Goals RevisedMy Profile

    1. Ah, Colorado!!! I really want to visit someday! Everything looks so gorgeous over there too! <3

  7. That sorbet looks amazing!! I went on a bit of a hike with a friend and her dog the other week, but normally it’s not something I do. I like that this hike was done on a paved road. Makes it a lot easier!

    -Lauren
    ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Guest PostMy Profile

    1. That sounds like fun! I really want a dog to go on adventures with! <3 Somedayyy...

    • Ricardo on October 25, 2016 at 11:44 pm
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    Blue sky met with a blue ocean. https://youtu.be/68ugkg9RePc

    1. Yay for blue eeeeeerything! :P

  9. It’s been a few years since out last trip to Hawaii, we need to go again and add this hike to our agenda. I wrote about our visit and the things we saw in this post series: http://bodynsoil.com/blog/tag/hawaii/ Feel free to swing by my posts and let me know if you stopped at any of them as well.
    Bodynsoil recently posted…21 Instant Pot Recipes to wow your familyMy Profile

    1. I definitely wouldn’t mind more reasons to go back to Hawai’i! Kayaking is one of the things I wanted to do but didn’t get a chance to–I’ll have to be sure to do that next time! <3!

  10. What great photos! We never went there on our trip to Hawaii last year so now I have to go back right?
    Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…6.2 Reasons To Love A 10KMy Profile

    1. Best reasoning ever! I wanna go back with sturdy shoes so I can check out the tidepools over there! <3

  11. Loving your Hawaii themed travel Tuesdays. Making me want to go back to Hawaii though. :-) I didn’t do this hike, looks awesome!
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Things I’m Loving Lately 28My Profile

    1. hehe, I’m glad! They’re making me want to go back too though, haha. I need to just move out there! :P

  12. Ok, those views do not stink! So beautiful. And your poke salad was pretty beautiful too.
    Jenn @ Run with Sole recently posted…Why I Run…My Profile

    1. It’s so gorgeous over there! <3! And ah, I miss poke bowls so much!

  13. what a lovely hike!
    AZ@…And a Dash of Cinnamon recently posted…Double PB and Chocolate Chip Protein “Eye” BallsMy Profile

    1. It really was! :] I wanna go back!

  14. What a gorgeous spot – and an incredible trail! I always love when trails have ample parking as often I’ll want to go on a hike/walk and find it’s impossible unless someone drops us off/picks us up and it’s so frustrating!
    Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Coffee Baked Oatmeal (Vegan)My Profile

    1. Me too! Having to find someone to do a drop off makes it so much harder! (Although in this case, I guess I did get dropped off, haha. It works out, but parking availability definitely helps!! :P)

  15. So beautiful, I can’t believe this is another thing I missed doing last time I was there, of course I didn’t know it existed until now… Definitely need to go back!!!
    Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…Hiking Angles LandingMy Profile

    1. Yay for an excuse to go back! (Take me with you!!! :P )

  16. What a cute little light house!!! So beautiful!!

    I usually fill my water pack up with water and bring a few extra bottles just in case.

    I love a mango or raspberry sorbet…yums!!

    1. That’s smart! I really need to start doing that!

      And yayy! I love both those flavors + fruits too! <3

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