The park spans the southeast Oahu coastline between Sandy Beach and Makapuu — a stretch that has drawn visitors, surfers, and hikers for decades. It’s now formally managed and protected as a state park.
The Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail is the primary access point. It’s a paved, 1.2-mile out-and-back trail that climbs to a panoramic overlook above the lighthouse. Popular at sunrise. Free admission as of 2026. The trail is well-maintained and accessible to most fitness levels, though the final stretch has a real grade to it.
Why This Coastline?
The Ka Iwi Coastline has been under conservation pressure for years. Heavy tourism left its marks — rental cars crossing sand dunes for informal parking, bonfires trampling ground that holds real archaeological weight.
The cultural stakes here are high. Many historians and Native Hawaiian practitioners believe this stretch of southeast Oahu is where the first Polynesian voyagers made landfall on the island. That’s not a footnote. It’s the reason the area’s protection has been a long-running priority for local advocates.
The Ka Iwi Coastline had already been designated a conservation area before the state park status came through. The DLNR designation formalized those protections and gave the area the management structure needed to enforce them.
What the Designation Changes
State park status means the area is now subject to DLNR state park rules, with staffing, enforcement, and a framework for handling access. The park includes plans to expand its boundaries further over time.
The Kaiwi designation is a good outcome for one of Oahu’s most ecologically and culturally significant coastlines. The formal state park status gives DLNR the authority and funding mechanisms to manage access, maintain trails, and protect the land in a way that a loose conservation designation couldn’t.
If you’re planning a visit, the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail is your starting point. Go early — sunrise crowds at Makapuu are real, but the views at first light are hard to argue with. Check the DLNR state parks page for current hours, parking details, and any fee or reservation requirements in effect.
Explore More of Oahu
More guides to Oahu sights, activities, and adventures.
Breezy trade winds are in place with windward and inland showers expected tonight and early morning through Monday. South-facing beaches have high surf through Saturday evening—avoid them if rough water concerns you. East-facing shores will see building swell Sunday as Tropical Storm Fausto approaches. Tuesday and Wednesday the storm moves in with heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough seas on the windward side. Forecasters are still narrowing down the exact track, so check updates this weekend. By Thursday normal trades return.
Leeward beaches work through Monday if you stay clear of the high surf. Plan indoor activities or protected bays for Tuesday and Wednesday when the storm passes through.
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Trade winds are bringing showers to the windward side and inland areas, mostly at night and early morning through Monday. South-facing beaches have high surf through Saturday—avoid them if you're not comfortable in rough water.
Tropical Storm Fausto arrives Tuesday and brings heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough surf on east-facing shores through Wednesday. The storm is moving fast, so rain won't linger in one spot for days. Forecasters are still narrowing the track, so watch for updates this weekend. Impacts could shift depending on whether it passes north or south of the islands.
Leeward beaches work through Monday if you avoid the high surf. Plan indoor activities or protected bays for Tuesday and Wednesday when Fausto moves through.
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Voice
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Right now you've got breezy trade winds with showers mainly at night and early morning on the windward and inland sides. Conditions stay stable through Monday with the same pattern—showers mostly after dark, trades during the day.
High surf is running through Saturday at 6 PM on south-facing beaches. Starting Sunday, east-facing shores will see advisory-level surf building as Tropical Storm Fausto approaches from the southeast. Tuesday and Wednesday the storm moves near the islands with heavy rain and gusty winds on the windward side. It's moving fast at 15 miles per hour, so rain won't sit in one spot for days, but forecasters are still refining the track—updates this weekend will clarify the exact impacts.
Stick with leeward beaches through Monday if you're comfortable in the current surf. For Tuesday and Wednesday, plan indoor activities or protected bays on the lee side while the heavy rain and wind move through.
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Voice
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Breezy trade winds this morning with scattered showers on the windward side and inland—mostly at night and early morning. South-facing beaches have high surf through Saturday; skip them if rough water makes you nervous.
Tropical Storm Fausto moves near the islands Tuesday through Wednesday with heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough surf on the east-facing shores. The storm's moving fast, so rain won't linger in one spot. The exact impacts depend on whether it tracks north or south—forecasters are still pinning down the track, so check updates this weekend.
Plan leeward beaches or protected bays through Monday. Once the trades return to normal Thursday onward, conditions settle back to typical.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
Created with AI from this HawaiiGuide page and read by a computer-generated voice. Double-check fees, hours, and reservations on the full page before you head out. Hawaiian pronunciation is tricky for synthesized speech and a few words may land slightly off; mahalo for your patience as we keep refining.
Mele and Kani are computer-generated voice options chosen for clarity and warmth.
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