View source for Makapuʻu

{{Short description|The extreme eastern end of the Island of Oʻahu in the Hawaiian Islands}}
[[File:Makapuʻu Beach.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Makapu{{okina}}u Beach]]
'''Makapu{{okina}}u''' is the extreme eastern end of the Island of [[Oahu|O{{okina}}ahu]] in the [[Hawaiian Islands]], comprising the remnant of a ridge that rises 647&nbsp;feet (197&nbsp;m) above the sea. The cliff at Makapu{{okina}}u Point forms the eastern tip and is the site of a prominent lighthouse.  The place name of this area, meaning "bulging eye" in [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], is thought to derive from the name of an image said to have been located in a cave here called ''Keanaokeakuapōloli''. The entire area is quite scenic and a panoramic view is presented at the lookout on Kalanianaole Highway (State Rte. 72) where the roadway surmounts the cliff just before turning south towards leeward O{{okina}}ahu and [[Honolulu]].
The Makapu{{okina}}u area is reached approximately {{convert|2|km|mi|sp=us}} east of [[Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii|Waimānalo Beach]] on Kalanianaole Highway (State Rte. 72) or from the Honolulu side (south shore; [[Hawaii Kai, Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i Kai]]) travelling east along the same highway beyond [[Sandy Beach, Hawaii|Sandy Beach]]. The Makapu{{okina}}u Point State Wayside Park, a {{convert|38|acre|adj=on}} roadside park, is about midway up the draw on the right-hand side coming from Hawai{{okina}}i Kai.
Features of special interest in this area include:
* '''[[Sea Life Park Hawaii]]''' – A large commercial park and aquarium featuring displays and shows of Hawaiian marine life.
[[File:A153, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, Makapu'u Point, lighthouse, 2007.JPG|thumb|right|Makapu{{okina}}u Point lighthouse]]
* '''[[Makapuu Point Light|Makapu{{okina}}u Point Lighthouse]]''' is a {{convert|46|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}}, active [[United States Coast Guard]] [[lighthouse]] established in 1909. Construction for the lighthouse was prompted by the grounding of the [[Steamboat|steamer]] ''Manchuria'' in the predawn hours on August 20, 1906 on the reefs off Waimānalo. The lighthouse was automated in 1974 and its keepers quarters demolished in 1987, but the remnants are still visible. The lighthouse contains a roughly {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} French Fresnel hyper-radial [[lens (optics)|lens]], the largest lens in use in the [[United States]].<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/makapuu.htm National Park Service - Inventory of Historic Light Stations -  Hawaii Lighthouses - Makapuu PointLight]</ref> The lens is able to magnify and intensify the illumination of a single electrical 1,000-watt, 120-volt light bulb. It was damaged by a vandal firing a bullet at it, but the lens is still in service as it is no longer reproducible. A popular day hike along the access road to the lighthouse begins at a parking lot located south of the Makapu{{okina}}u lookout on Kalanianaole Highway. A second trail leads from the remnants of the keepers quarters to the lighthouse, but it is off limits to the public. The lighthouse itself is also off limits to the public and is protected by three locked gates.<ref>[http://starbulletin.com/96/05/20/news/story1.html Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Silent Sentinel of Makapuu Point]</ref>
* '''Makapu{{okina}}u Point State Wayside''' is part of the eastern end of O{{okina}}ahu encompassing '''Makapu{{okina}}u Head''' and the lighthouse at '''Makapu{{okina}}u Point'''.  A paved road, open to the public for foot traffic only, leads out to the Makapu{{okina}}u Lighthouse. The trail is roughly {{convert|1.75|mi|km}} long and rises mostly heading towards the south along the land-side of the ridge and curves around ''Pu{{okina}}u o Kīpahulu'' (southern end of the ridge), then traverses the ridge  bearing right towards the lighthouse, which is closed to the public. A trail leads up from the former Coast Guard residential area to a summit from which the islands of [[Molokai|Moloka{{okina}}i]] and [[Lanai|Lana{{okina}}i]] may be seen across the [[Hawaiian islands channels#Kaiwi Channel|Kaiwi Channel]]. On particularly clear days, the island of [[Maui]] can be visible. Of interest to hikers visiting the wayside park is the possibility of seeing [[Humpback whale]]s in the waters offshore between the months of November and April. A telescope is available to the public at the summit lookout. There are so-called [[blowhole (geo)|blowholes]] along the rocky shore below Makapu{{okina}}u Head which are sometimes active.
* '''[[Mānana]] Island''' is a {{convert|63|acre|adj=on}} offshore [[volcanic cones|tuff cone]] known as '''Rabbit Island''' because of its resemblance to a large rabbit's head rising out of the sea and because it was once inhabited by introduced rabbits after a rancher released them there. The island is now a protected bird sanctuary and thereby illegal to land there unless you have permission from the Hawaii Department of Land Natural Resources.
* '''Kāohikaipu''' – A low volcanic islet off Makapu{{okina}}u Beach Park; also a State Bird Sanctuary.
[[File:A182, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, southeast coast from Makapu'u point, 2007.JPG|thumb|right|Makapu{{okina}}u Beach from Makapu{{okina}}u Point]]
* '''Makapu{{okina}}u Beach Park''' and '''Kaupō Beach Park''' – All of the rocky shoreline and pocket beaches between the sea cliffs at Makapu{{okina}}u Point and the State Research Pier (Makai Pier) are beach parks open to the public. Wave conditions at Kaupō (western end) are more suited to young beach-goers and poor swimmers. '''Makapu{{okina}}u Beach''' is a popular body-surfing beach, but the shore break can be dangerous.
* '''Makai Pier''' – A long, concrete pier built by the [[Hawaii|State of Hawai{{okina}}i]] to support marine research efforts in the Hawaiian Islands. This pier houses several commercial marine engineering firms and HURL (Hawai{{okina}}i Underwater Research Laboratory).
* '''Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline''' - The coastal area that extends from Makapu{{okina}}u Point Wayside to Sandy's Beach. Included in this section is '''Pele's Chair''' rock formation and the beach/swimming spot that shares the same name.<ref>[http://www.oahu-for-free.com/maps/map-of-oahu/driving-and-hiking-oahu-map-of-peles-chair.html Pele's Chair - Oahu for Free]</ref>
*
<gallery mode="packed" heights=120 widths=120>
File:Makapuʻu Beach.JPG|Makapu{{okina}}u Beach and Waimānalo Bay
File:Makapu'u Point.jpg|Makapu{{okina}}u Point and lighthouse from Makapu{{okina}}u Beach
File:Ka Iwi 2.jpeg|View of the Ka {{okina}}Iwi wilderness area from trail to Makapu{{okina}}u Point summit
File:Rabbit Island.jpeg|"Rabbit" Island: the emerging lop-eared rabbit is swimming to the right
File:Makapuʻu Point Hawaii.JPG|The islands across Makapu{{okina}}u
</gallery>
== See also ==
* [[List of Hawaii state parks|List of Hawai{{okina}}i state parks]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Hawaiiansurf}}
{{Protected areas of Hawaii}}
{{coord|21.3097|-157.6573|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-HI|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Makapu'u}}
[[Category:Landforms of Oahu]]
[[Category:Tuff cones]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Oahu]]
[[Category:Beaches of Oahu]]
[[Category:Cliffs of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Oahu]]