How to See the 6 Lighthouses on Oahu
Maybe it’s the reader in me, but I have such a romanticized view of lighthouses. And I will never turn down the opportunity to see a new one!
So, when we PCS-ed to Hawaii, you better believe I Googled “lighthouses on Oahu” and was absolutely delighted to find out that there were 6 of them! Six new beautiful coastal views with historic structures looking out over the cerulean Pacific Ocean. I couldn’t wait!
Here’s how to find them:
Diamond Head Lighthouse
3399 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu
The Diamond Head lighthouse is located at the eastern end of Waikiki Beach. It still guides ships into the harbor at Honolulu after receiving first light on July 1, 1899.
This lighthouse is easy to view from a nearby park. However, the lighthouse itself is not open to the public. If you put “Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park” into your GPS, it will take you right to it. There are a couple of small parking lots nearby and plenty of parking alongside the road.
You can also see the Amelia Earhart Memorial Plaque in the parking lot at the lookout. This bronze plaque set in a large stone commemorates the first solo flight from Hawaii to California in 1935. It was the first time a pilot had successfully flown solo from Hawaii to the mainland.
Makapu’u Lighthouse
Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail, Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu
The Makapu’u lighthouse was first lit in 1909. Makapu’u Point is the first sight of land for vessels that travel from Central American and U.S ports to Honolulu. Since Makapu’u Point rises 647 feet above the ocean, the lighthouse designer, John Slattery, created a short tower that would keep the light as low as possible. This prevents it from being obscured by thick weather, but the tower is tall enough that pebbles can’t blow into the lantern glass. The result is a squat 46-foot tower that sits on a man-made ledge 395 feet above the water.
You can’t enter the Makapu’u lighthouse. However, there is a nice trail (with a large parking area) that leads to a viewing area above the tower. While the trail is considered a hike, it’s more of a really long, uphill, paved walk. Round-trip, the hike is about 2.6 miles.
(For more information about the hike to this lighthouse, check out this post: Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail: 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Hike.)
Barbers Point Lighthouse
End of Olai Stree, Kapolei
The first lighthouse erected at Barbers Point, a 42-foot tower, received its first light in 1888. It served to deter ships from the razor-sharp reef extending from the southwest tip of Oahu. This reef has grounded many ships throughout the years, including the deadly shipwreck of the brig Arthur, captained by Henry Barber in 1796.
The second and current lighthouse at Barbers Point, a 72-foot tower, was built next to the old one and received first light in 1933. The old tower was then torn down.
Like most of the lighthouses on Oahu, the tower itself is not open to the public. However, the grounds are open, and you are free to wander around and take pictures. There is a parking lot available, and it is a short walk along the beach to the lighthouse.
Aloha Tower
155 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu
The Aloha Tower, at Pier 9 in the Honolulu Harbor, is a retired lighthouse and one of the most recognizable landmarks on the island. It makes appearances in Hawaii Five-0, From Here to Eternity, Blue Hawaii, Aloha, and many more TV shows and films.
This 184-foot tower received its first light in 1926 and welcomed hundreds of thousands of passengers and immigrants to Oahu. By 1975, the tower was crowded out by tall hotel and business buildings. So, a new light on a metal pole was set up at the end of Pier 2, and the Aloha Tower light was retired.
Nowadays, you can visit the Aloha Tower Marketplace for shopping and dining. However, as of 2026, the observation deck is closed, and there is no expected reopening date.
Ka’ena Point Minor Light
Ka’ena Point Trail, Waianae
In 1919, the Bureau of Lighthouses placed an unmanned lighthouse on Ka’ena Point. Due to its remote location, the lighthouse fell victim to frequent vandalism. In 1990, erosion toppled the concrete lighthouse and it was replaced with a minor light (a light atop a metal pole).
This is one of the lighthouses on Oahu that you will have to hike to. The hike is 2.5 miles one-way (5 miles round-trip). But it’s fairly flat and easy, just long.
If you visit from November to April, you’ll see nesting albatross and pods of humpback whales!
(For more information on this stunning hike, check out this post: Ka’ena Point Hike: Trail Details, Parking Info, and More!)
Pyramid Rock
Palikilo Road, Marine Corps Base Hawaii
The Pyramid Rock Light was established on top of a natural rock formation at the northwestern point of the Mokapu Peninsula in 1941. It is not a traditional lighthouse, but a minor light mounted to the top of a concrete bunker. Painted with distinctive black and white diagonal stripes, this light is still operational and guides vessels into Kaneohe Bay.
While this minor light doesn’t require a hike, like the one at Ka’ena Point, it is only accessible to military I.D holders as it is located on an active military base (Marine Corps Base Hawaii – MCBH). The bottom is fenced off, so you can’t climb to the top, but you are welcome to enjoy the beautiful beach that it overlooks.
I’ve had such a good time seeing all of the island’s lighthouses while we were here!
If I was just taking a short vacation, I might make time to stop at the Diamond Head and Barbers Point Lighthouses. I would also make the hike to Ka’ena Point if I was here from December to May, not necessarily for the light out there, but to see the whales and nesting albatross!
I will always find lighthouses ruggedly romantic and the lighthouses on Oahu did not disappoint!
