Incredible views from the lookout, a great spot for photography. The lookout is steps from the…read moreparking lot. There was nobody else there when I as everyone else was doing the lighthouse trail. We had other stuff planned so i felt this was a good quick option.

Makapuʻu Lookout is located on the southeastern side of Oahu along the Kalaniana'ole Highway. It's…read morenext to the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail and is only a short walk from the small parking lot. From the lookout you'll see panoramic views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean. From December to May, this spot and the general area as a whole are popular spots for humpback whale watching. It's also a popular spot for sunrise as this side is where the sun rises from. You will be able to get a lot of the same views as the lighthouse trial here without needing to go on the hike.

Landmark in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I was driving my friends from New Jersey around the island. We stopped at Halona Blowhole, where I checked my Yelp app for other nearby Landmarks. Japanese Fishing Shrine (Umi Mamori Jizo) seemed like an interesting stop, so we looked for it. Located next to Eternity Beach, before the Halona Blowhole parking lot, on the way from Hawaii Kai, we parked on the shoulder of the road. It's a bit dangerous, so I wouldn't recommend this. However, one of my passengers has walking difficulties, and I wanted to park as close as possible for her. We struggled with going up and down the stone stairs, but it was worth it. The views of the ocean and Eternity Beach below are breathtaking! On the base of the Shrine are carvings - maybe it's the name of the person who drowned here many years ago? It's supposed to be a memorial for fishermen who lost their lives due to the strong, unpredictable waves along the beach. There's English, too: "Japanese Casting Club". When I used Google, I found out that there's an annual ceremony on the second Sunday in November, conducted by a Vietnamese Buddhist church. The Shrine was built in the 1940's. There's a carving of Jizo (Buddhist guardian) in the stone to protect fishermen. There were fruit and flower offerings, a solar-powered flower, and a flower lei at the shrine on 1-21-24. Rest In Peace...

We had a great time with Lui. His knowledge of the history of the events of December 7 are…read moreexcellent. His knowledge of the history of the USS Missouri are interesting and engaging. We were loathe to hire a service to take us to Pearl Harbor, but I can say that in hindsight, it was a great experience. We had eight total people on our tour. I never felt rushed or as if I was going to miss something. This was my first time to Hawaii and I wanted to do all the "touristy" things. I can say, unequivocally, that our day with Lui and the Keawe adventures rates right at the top of our experience on Oahu. I actually felt sorry for the tourists on those huge buses. I also want to thank Lui for listening to my few stories...not sure he bought them...but they were true. Great guide. Great time.

My wife son and I took the pearl harbor group tour. It was an incredible experience to be able to…read moresee these historic ships, and to learn about the bravery and tragedy on that 12/7/41. What help made it such a tremendous experience is out fantastic tour guide Lui. He was not only very knowledgeable about what led up to and including the actions on the day of the attack, but he was able to bring him own knowledge and personal experience into the tour to help explain at a level that couldn't be done with just any tour. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone and everyone who asks.

Off the beaten path, sits an ancient treasure, the Ulupo Heiau Historic Site. A massive rock…read morefoundation is the remnant of a sacred rock temple/platform that would have been important to Hawaiian chiefs for hundreds of years. Faded plaques near the site tell pieces of the story. The construction of the temple was supposedly by mythical people named "menehunes", who could build such temples overnight. The original temple would have measured a massive 140 x 170 feet and had walls 30 feet high. Construction is mind boggling, indeed. My math figures that over a million rocks were carried to the site. The Heiau was most likely used to oversee agricultural fields and fish ponds below by the chief or kahuna. Kailua (the town below) was once an agricultural capital on Oahu. In later years, the Heiau may have been used to oversee war efforts. The address is the parking lot of a YMCA. Go around the building to find the site. There is no admission, just a request to not remove any of the sacred stones. There are no amenities. The site could stand renovation of plaques. There are several benches under large shade trees to sit and think about Hawaiian ancestors that would have used the site. Worth a short visit if near Kailua. I was moved by the wondrous effort to build such a site.

This was really interesting to see and, since it's hidden behind a YMCA, it is not something one…read morewould just stumble upon. I couldn't believe how big it was! The signs explaining the history were helpful in getting to know more about the structure itself and about Hawaii as a whole.

This is a must-stop when driving through the east side of the island!…read more Halona Blowhole Lookout is about 20-ish minutes from Waikiki. If you are feeling a little jet-lagged and waking up too early, I recommend getting here during sunrise. Multiple hiking trails are around this area, so make sure to head to one of those next. Besides the blowhole which is what is famous for, you can also access a small beach cave where I got to see a few turtles hanging out around the beach. If you decide to go down to the beach make sure to wear tennis shoes since it is very rocky. I also recommend coming on a day that is not too windy (it can get dangerous with the strong gusts). Overall a must see when visiting Oahu!

What a super cool spot among the road past the famous snorkeling reef/bay!…read more We stopped and spent a few moments peering down and watching the water erupt out of the blow hole! It was cool and lots of fun!

Cyndy's Bottom Line: A park dedicated to Muriel Mcfarlane Flanders…read more *The park located on the makai side of the outer slope of Le'ahi aka Diamond Head crater. *The park is dedicated to Muriel Mcfarlane Flanders (1909-2003), a native Hawaiian philanthropist. *Muriel Mcfarlane Flanders composed the song "Beautiful Le'ahi" which shows her personal connection to the historic landmark where her grandparents once had their home. There is more info on the landmark sign which includes the lyrics to the entire song. *There is interesting historical information about the outer slopes of Diamond Head.

We had family visiting from the mainland and since their hotel wasn't ready and they never went to…read morePali decided to take them there which they really enjoyed also because they are watching the Hawaii series with Jason Mamoa. The Park is well kept and they have parking meters self pay for visitors, if you're kamaina or military no parking fee. No restrooms

Beautiful! A misty day is THE TIME to visit! It lets you see the swirling winds (using the mist)…read moreas they come up the ridge line. Its is really cool! (No really, you'll need a jacket.) The views are incredible! The park is quite beautiful! (Tip: Understand the historical significance of the warring Hawaiian tribes and thus park before you come to see it.)

Reminder to self if you every get lost and start to notice you are going in circles, DO NOT PANIC!…read more The smarter thing to do is to leave a trail of bread crumbs. Lol. Thank goodness I was with a group when I first visited the Kaniakapupu Ruins. We were feeling a little adventurous so headed to the ruins from the Lulumalu hike parking area. We ventured off into the thick thick bamboo forest. The route we took initially had a path to follow then it eventually disappears. When we got there, the site was well worth the journey of getting lost. The ruins are breathtaking in its own way. This was once the summer palace for royalty so when you visit appreciate the beauty, respect this historic site, and don't take anything from the site. Kaniakapupu Ruins is one of Oahu's best kept secrets and should be enjoyed by all.

It's one of Oahu's best kept secret (only because direction to this place is difficult for most…read morepeople)! At this point I'm pondering whether or not I should post directions...so if you can make it to here based on my directions, kudos to you! If not, it just wasn't meant to be. Nestled discreetly in the heart of Nu'uanu Valley lies Kaniakapupu Ruins. Through the bamboo forest and amidst the shady, grown trees sits what used to be the summer home of King Kamehameha III. What remains is a couple of walls, a stone walkway and an outdoor kitchen. This place is considered sacred for many Hawaiians. Even if you are a non-believer in spirits and such, you would be wowed by the presence of something spiritually powerful and present there. Allow yourself to quiet your soul a bit and you will feel what many believe to be a strong "mana," or spiritual energy. I walked around the ruins and gasped at the thought of having 10,000 people gather at this place many, many years ago and I felt a strong energy around me, untouchable and unseen but nonetheless harmless and powerful. I got goosebumps (or as locals say, "chicken skin") all up and down my back, neck and arms. The peacefulness and serenity of the surrounding forest lends to the magical feeling I felt. There are many directions of how to arrive at the Ruins, however the most accurate one was that from fellow yelper Eric Robert R. - Get on Pali Hwy - Get on Old Pali Road - Look for a small looking type water plant/bldg. **Now the difficult part - the opening to the trail is opposite the water bldg; discreet and well hidden to the passerby. It's an opening in the bamboo forest - refer to the pictures on YELP if needed. If you stay on the (main/obvious) trail - you will hit a waterfall and stream. The trail does not have an obvious fork in the road, however if you veer onto the trail on the left you will see a worn path, stay on that path and trek a short 10 minutes. The forest opens up and therein lies the enchanted Kaniakapupu Ruins. This is more of a "nature walk" rather than a hike. Expect it to be really muddy and "sticky" after the rains and always apply mosquito repellent prior, as the mosquitos here are quite hungry. As with any local historical site, DO NOT disturb the building, rocks and plants here. It truly is a beauty and the historical value is priceless. There is something very special about this summer home that words alone cannot describe. This walk is perfect for children and for the novice hiker or nature enthusiast. I'm told that large groups are discouraged from coming here however, upon exiting the trail we did see a small tour bus full of tourist congregating to commence the walk. I don't know about you but I'm a little selfish when it comes to things like sharing "treasures" with the general tourist population aka large groups only because you cannot assure that the "treasure" will not be destroyed. I'd venture to say that it'll be just a matter of time before attempts to preserve this gem on a larger scale is realized.

For sure there's lots to see in Waikiki on the beach but here's a landmark that gets overlooked a…read morelot for other things around here. It has a lot of history for the locals. The Stones Of Life have some kind of mystical powers. A lot of this may just be stories, but have become a part of the culture. These represent Hawaii's longtime history of a place for healing and inclusion, among other things. Cool pieces of local history and worth going for a look on the way to something else. It's got a pretty interesting story. There's four stones, each representing a spirit who brought healing powers to Hawaii in ancient times. Fun to discover something pretty simple with so much history. The Hawaiian name for these is Nā Pōhaku Ola Kapaemāhū A Kapuni. A pretty significant aspect of local culture. These spirits were named Kahalo, Kapaemahu, Kapuni, and Kinohi. It was only in 1997 that these stones were placed here. They were taken from other places where they had been placed close to their favorite bathing areas according to the information on the plaque. Local officials thought it would be a good idea to put all these together in one area. This would also help preservation efforts and increase interest. Good place to find some history on the beach and learn about local history. It's located on Kalakaua close to the Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue. This is one of the more culturally significant things about Waikiki.

These might literally just be a bunch of stones that you end up disregarding because it's by…read moreWaikiki Beach and the restrooms. However, they have historical significance. The four stones are said to hold the power (mana) of four Tahitian healers from Raiatea. These healers traveled throughout the islands administering their miraculous cures. When it was time to go back to their homeland, they gave their names and spiritual power to these four stones. You might think they're just stones, but they are meant to represent the spirit and heritage of the Hawaiian people.

Found this not as popular lookout spot at Diamond Head. It doesn't have as good of views as other…read morespots around it. Kāhala Lookout mainly looks in the other direction towards the east coast of O'ahu. Basic looking. This is okay for before going to other places. An easy to get to place once you're at the Diamond Head entrance. It's not quite all the way on top of the monument. This is before getting to the tunnel. Good place to view the neighborhood. That's where the famous Kāhala Hotel & Resort is, as well as the first maker of Hawaiian shirts. Seems as if the view isn't that good. There's not as much to see as at the top of Diamond Head and its more famous lookout. Get here much of the same way as when going to Diamond Head. It's located just before the tunnel. This is kind of like a pit stop on the way to the too or wherever.

You heard about the Diamond head lookout being a short 2 mile hike so you decided to head over. You…read moreget through the tunnel and find out you're getting turned away because you didn't know you need to reserve a time slot to hike Diamond Head. Well Lahala Lookout is your consolation prize, you don't have to go back out that tunnel with your head held down in shame, this decent little lookout is right across from the tunnel. Maybe you don't want to pay $10 for parking & $5 for the Diamond Head hike, good news this lookout is free. Besides the limited parking right next to the lookout not sure where else nearby you can park for free, but we stayed by the beach resorts near the Sheraton and it was a little over a 2 mile walk to get here. Afterwards we took one of the buses that go down Diamond Head RD (I believe it was his 21) back to the resorts. $3 a ride, or $7 for a day pass on the bus.