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Short answer: Parking at the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail is free, and there is no entrance fee. The lot is gated: it opens at 7am and closes at 6:45pm in winter (from the day after Labor Day) and 7:45pm in summer (from April 1).
The Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail is part of Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline on O‘ahu’s southeast tip. It is one of the easiest drives-and-hikes from Waikiki, and the only real catch for renters is the parking lot gate.
Makapuu parking hours
From the Hawaii State Parks page:
| Season | Hours |
|---|---|
| Summer (from April 1) | 7:00am to 7:45pm |
| Winter (from the day after Labor Day) | 7:00am to 6:45pm |
There is no entrance fee and no parking fee.
Sunrise hikes and the 7am gate
Because the gate opens at 7am, the lot is not available for a sunrise start. Plan a morning hike for after the gate opens, or a late-afternoon walk that leaves time to get back to your car before closing. Leave enough time to walk back down before the gate closes.
The trail
The trail is about 1 mile each way on a paved road to a lookout above the historic Makapu‘u lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is off-limits, but you can see it from the trail.
A small lot, and a separate overlook lot
The trailhead lot is small and fills on nice days. There is also a separate upper parking lot at the Makapu‘u Overlook. Hawaii State Parks occasionally closes the trail and both parking areas for a day of maintenance (for example on June 25, 2024), and it announces those closures ahead on its notices page.
As at any scenic pullout, leave nothing visible in the car. Rental cars are easy to spot.
Plan the rest of the drive
Makapu‘u is on the way around the east end of O‘ahu. If you’re heading on to the windward side, see Lanikai Beach parking and Kailua Beach parking. Doing Hanauma Bay on the same morning? It needs a reservation booked ahead. For the whole island loop, see how long it takes to drive around O‘ahu.
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Photo: Tmmistretta, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Researched and written by Neo Pecorro. Facts on this page were checked against Hawaii State Parks (DLNR), plus the other sources linked above. Hawaii rules change often, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Last updated: October 19, 2026.