Lāʻie Point State Wayside is what it sounds like: a rocky point found at the end of a dead end street on Oʻahu. The rugged cliffs are beautiful, but what’s even more special is the view of Kukuihoʻolua Island with its rock arch. Turn around and there are also views of Pounder’s Beach and distant mountains. I’ll share my photos, some history, and how to get there.
Previously, Lāʻie Point was named Laniloa Point after Laniloa Beach, which is now known as Clissold’s Beach. Kukuihoʻolua Island didn’t always have its arch. It used to be caves until they collapsed in the 1946 tsunami. The arch expanded again quite recently, in 2016. Public access to the island is limited since it’s one of the O‘ahu Offshore Island Seabird Sanctuaries.
In Hawaiian folklore, Kukuihoʻolua and the nearby islands were once parts of a giant lizard defeated by a legendary warrior.
I kind of found this place by accident. I planned to sit on Kaʻaʻawa Beach reading a book, but when the rain started, it STARTED. So I jumped on another bus just to get out of the rain and ended up on a magical mystery tour of Oʻahu. On Google Maps, I saw a landmark in Lāʻie that was within walking distance of the bus stop and decided to see what it was… and this turned out to be one of my favourite views on the island. I stood there for a while just watching the waves.
How to get there
By car: Drive to Lāʻie Point State Wayside. It’s a dead end. Parking is limited. There are a lot of signs asking motorists to drive slowly on the street leading up to the point.
Public transport: Take the 60 bus to Kamehameha Hwy + Anemoku St. It’s a 0.5 mile walk to the point. There are no sidewalks once you leave the highway so watch out for cars.
I assume some tours stop here since there was a guide showing a few people around when I arrived.
Facilities
It’s just a residential area so there aren’t any facilities like toilets. The closest shops are in Lāʻie, near the bus stop.
Accessibility
The parking lot is smooth tarmac, but a wheelchair wouldn’t be able to go out onto the cliffs.
There are rocks and walls that it’s possible to sit on.
Safe travels! 💖
– Maria
Atlas and a Camera 