Coastal drive & short hikes · Hawaii

Diamond Head to Makapuʻu day trip

Diamond Head to Makapuʻu

A full day out of Waikīkī along Oʻahu's southeast shore: the early climb up Lēʻahi (Diamond Head), a morning snorkel at Hanauma Bay, the Hālona Blowhole and Sandy Beach from the safe side of the railing, and a late-afternoon walk up the paved Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail before the view over Mānana island at Makapuʻu Lookout.

Time
11–12 hour day
Driving
About 1½–2 hours of driving in total along Oʻahu's southeast shore
Best time
All year; best December–April
Updated
$4 USD

One-time purchase. You own your guide forever and can return for the latest update any time.

View from the top of Makapuʻu Point down a dark green sea cliff to a turquoise bay, a curve of white sand and the domed island of Mānana offshore under a cloudy sky
Sdkb · CC BY-SA 4.0. February 2025 photograph from the Makapuʻu Point summit lookouts; resized and displayed with crop.
Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

  • 6:30 amLēʻahi (Diamond Head) summit hike
  • 9:00 amHanauma Bay Nature Preserve
  • 1:15 pmLānaʻi Lookout and Hālona Blowhole
  • 2:00 pmSandy Beach Park
  • 2:45 pmMakapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
  • 5:00 pmMakapuʻu Lookout
  • 5:30 pmReturn to Waikīkī
Highlights

Worth the trip

  • Sunrise-hour stairs and tunnel to the Lēʻahi summit before the heat
  • A reserved morning snorkel inside Hanauma Bay's sheltered reef
  • Makapuʻu Point's lighthouse view over the Molokaʻi Channel, with humpbacks in season

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From December to April, southeast Oʻahu usually brings warm days with trade winds and passing showers; winter cold fronts and Kona storms occasionally bring heavy rain, and this dry, leeward shore gets less rain than the windward side. The sun is strong all year, and Diamond Head and Makapuʻu are bare slopes that feel much hotter than the beach. Summer and early fall are hotter and more humid, with south swells that can make Hālona spout and Sandy Beach dangerous. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

A good day, in the bag.

Your guides

One-time purchase · USD · Digital delivery after payment
By continuing, you agree to our terms and refund policy.