Ka‘Ena Point — Attraction in Oʻahu

Although the Ka’ena Point is the most distant point of interest from the Waikiki hotels it should be on the to-do list of every Oahu visitor staying for more than 2 nights. It well worth of driving more than one hour from Waikiki. Beautiful views. Great chance of seeing beached Hawaiian monk seals year round and, in the winter, having fun watching nesting albatrosses. Two ways to get to the westernmost tip of the island either from the north side or from the southwest side. Both require about an hour easy hike. I personally prefer the latter as it provides better views toward the base of the Wai’anae Mountains. Get of the freeway H1 West and continue all the way to the end of the road where you find a big parking lot. The entire tip of the island is fenced off to prevent dogs, feral cats, rats, and mongooses from depredating the seabird nests and seeds of native plants. Get plenty of water and sunscreen and treat this special place...

Solid walk on level ground from the North Shore car park, 45 mins each way, there and back. The is wind at your back on way out, but in your face but cooling on the way back. The cliffs are so impressive as you walk, and the sea is always active. The point is a beautiful nature area with sea bird nests all through the dunes, protected from predators with a fence across the whole point from sea to sea. Seals love rolling in the rock pools. The southern side ocean is calm while the north side is windswept. It's a great experience and very rewarding walk of about 6...

Fantastic hike, but make sure to go early and take lots of water as it gets hot really quickly. There were so many fantastic, scenic views along the way, including ancient lava formations, arches, caves, and more. When you get to the point, it is a sanctuary for albatrosses and you can walk through and see lots of baby birds in the nesting grounds. The beach is made up of coral that has bleached and washed ashore, which is incredibly beautiful but also really sad to see firsthand the impact of warming oceans and pollution. Definitely a must-see while...