Mermaid Caves on Oahu

The Mermaid Caves are on the western side of Oahu near Nanakuli Beach. Parking is available at this and other beach parks in the area. The caves are a feature within the lava rock shore, so make sure you have shoes that can handle the wet, rocky terrain.

Use Caution

Any kids visiting the mermaid caves should probably be at least 10 years old. I want to call out early that while this is an amazing destination, it does require some planning. Natural forces that formed this attraction are still present and can be precarious.

This is a great destination that most should be able to handle if they’re over about 10 years, decent swimmers, and have the necessary footwear to walk across the rocks.

These caves do fill up with water when the tide or swell is high, so be prepared to not enter if ocean water is high or rising.

Positively Gorgeous

The caves a spectacularly gorgeous. I’m convinced the reason they aren’t in a movie is it would be difficult to get cameras in and time filming with the tides.

Mermaid Caves is an absolutely fitting name. The light rays filtered through the rock ceiling shine deep into the glorious blue pools.

The pools themselves are deep and the hidden beach awakens both wonder and a sense of being on your own adventure.

Beach Hidden under Lava rock

The Mermaid Caves were formed by ocean water waves eroding the side of the rock cliffs and leaving an overhanging ceiling. Once deep enough under the rock, a sand beach was formed.

The beach is secret for a few reasons.

The caves will only fit a few swimmers at a time. This area could quite easily become too crowded.

Additionally, it does take some work to get there — most anyone could, but you’re going to want to have the right gear.

Once you drop through the hole in the roof the waves are lapping at the beach underneath the rock.

Travel To the Mermaid Caves

Very easy to get to this area Oahu. Arriving on the local bus would also be an option.

Driving

The Mermaid Caves are on the West Side of Oahu, which tends to get less traffic than many other locations on the Island. Take the H1 Freeway around Pearl Harbor and continue toward Ewa Beach – eventually, this turns into Highway 93. Take the highway to Nanakuli Beach Park or any of the other beaches in the area.

There aren’t any turns until you get to the parking lot.

Parking

Since this side of the island is less crowded, you should have no problem parking in the lots dedicated to the local beaches.

Walking to the Caves

You should be able to drop a pin on a maps-app exactly where the caves are, and have the app lead you correctly. I never leave my phone in the car, so I’d recommend taking yours even if you know exactly where to go (Pro Tip: Have a waterproof bag for your phone.)

From the parking lot of Nanakul Beach take the sidewalk towards the ocean and once you get to the lava rock cliffs turn right and begin walking on the cliffs themselves. Make sure you have appropriate shoes for this portion.

The mermaid caves are about even with the second home lot.

H2  FAQ

Are the Mermaid Caves Safe?

Caution is warranted. It’s a good idea to know when the tides are going to be going out and time your visit around that. Also, any children should be at least 10 to 12 years old and anyone entering the caves should be a competent swimmer.

Knowing when the tides will be going out can help you plan the timing of your visit. Additionally, anyone entering the caves should be a proficient swimmer and any minors should be between the ages of 10 and 12.

How were the Caves Made?

They were created by the forces of erosion they are the waves tunneled under the tall lava-rock cliffs. At some point, this rock roof will likely crumble, but that does not seem imminent.

Why are the Caves Secret?

Many reasons. The real answer is they aren’t published, but not necessarily secret.

The caves aren’t advertised since there isn’t a business tied to them. Many natural landmarks in Hawaii are equally secret and social media is exposing those locations to more explorers.

Also, since caution is warranted, there are plenty of families that skip this attraction.

Is there a Ladder into the Mermaid Caves?

Sometimes there is a ladder placed here, but nobody can guarantee there will be one on any given day. Before entering the cave, you should make sure you’ll be comfortable climbing back out.

Cautions

Be cautious here! Knowing when the tides will be going out can help you plan the timing of your visit. Additionally, anyone entering the caves should be a proficient swimmer and any minors should be between the ages of 10 and 12.

Summary & Nearby Attractions

The Mermaid Caves are gorgeous. As long as conditions allow and your entire party feels up to the task, I definitely recommend a visit.

The lighting inside is majestic. You feel like you’re in a movie automatically beginning an adventure.

As long as everyone is capable of handling them, the Mermaid Caves will be a memorable visit for everyone.

Nearby Attractions

On the western side of Oahu there are many other things to see and do. I’ve seen whales and dolphins over here. Depending on the time of year, the beaches may be calmer over here than on other sides of the island. Since you’re already likely in swimming attire, I’d recommend spending a few hours at one of the beaches over here.

The town of Maili is a little further along Highway 93 – from there to the end of the highway are many lookouts and beaches to see an incredible sunset.

You can take an easy hike to the Maili Pillbox or visit the Wainae Harbor.

After the caves, if you’re hungry, check out Spinners Cafe, the Spice House, or grab shave ice at Dan’s Maile Shave Ice.

• King Kamehameha Statue in Hawi

Hawi Hawaii

Hawi is an eclectic town on the Northern tip of Big Island, about an hour drive from Kailua-Kona. Hawi features many small shops, art boutiques and a farmers’ market. Once tied to the sugar industry, this town was almost abandoned, but over the last 20 years, Hawi has become a vibrant scene for art and culture.

Hawi has about 1,100 residents, but the area feels bigger with other nearby towns and tourists seeking a more relaxed and authentic destination.

When the Iron Man competition originates in Kailua-Kona, Hawi is the turn around point for the 112-mile biking portion of the race.

Experiences & Destinations in Hawi

First – the Statue of King Kamehameha!

It is just past the Hawi in the town of Kapaau.

If you go to Hawi, my recommendation is to visit the King Kamehameha statue first. He was Hawaii’s first monarch to rule all the Hawaiian Islands as one. This is the first of these statues made and while some more prominent statues exist in elsewhere in the islands, if you’re close by it will be a great experience to reflect upon this leader.

Located on Highway 270 and Hospital Road, it is probably easiest to set your GPS to Kings View Cafe when you leave for Hawi.

Hawi Restaurants and Coffee Shops

• Nakahara Store: Like many other small markets in Hawaii, the groceries are helpful, but the to-go prepared is amazing. You’ll have a great trips to Hawi if you take the food to go and dine outdoors somewhere close. Saturday & Sunday borders on luxury prepared food with Nakahara’s hot and juicy Char Siu Pork.
• Kohala Coffee Mill
• Bamboo Restaurant
• WowWowz Shave Ice
• Mi Ranchito
• Kohala Rainbow Cafe
• Kohala Food Hub – local, fresh produce is a refreshing treat.

Heiau – Hawaiian Temples

A Heiau is a Hawaiian Temple. There are many in the area of Hawi, that I recommend looking at including.

• Puukohola Heiau
• Mookini Heiau

Historical Buildings

With the sugar and other industries dating back a few hundreds years, there are a couple historical buildings in the area including:

• Kohala District Courthouse
• The Bond District, which is the former homestead of Ellen & Elias Bond. It was established in the mid-1800s.
• A. Nanbu Hotel-Holy’s Bakery – which has been on the National Register of Historic places since 1899.
• James M. Hind House
• Ackermen Art Gallery is in a building established in 1900.

Art in Hawi

Hawi has many art offerings.

The King Kamehameha statue

I’ve already recommended the King Kamehameha statue. This was actually the first of 2 statues built and then there are many other statues that mimic this one. Originally this status was meant for Honolulu (where?!!) but it was lost at sea when traveling from Italy to Hawaii, so second statues was commissioned. After the Honolulu statue was delivered, fishermen were able to retrieve this statue and decided to place it at King Kamehameha’s hometown.

Kohala Artists’ Cooperative

Displays the work of local artists and is a great way to find art inspired by one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Ackerman Galleries

Gary Ackerman is one of the pioneers of the art scene in Hawi.

His gallery features Abstract, Still Life and Landscape Paintings as well as magnificent sculptures.

Ackerman Galleries is currently only taking appointments to visit the gallery, but is very welcoming and you should not hesitate to get in touch.

Wishard Art Gallery

The gallery of Harry Wishard displays other local artists as well – highlighting many colorful paintings of Hawaii mountain and beach scenery.

Also offers sculptures, antiques and other collectibles.

Alert! Some websites show The Wishard Art Gallery as being permanently closed. The gallery isn’t answering their phone at the time of writing but the answering system does still say the gallery is open 11-4 daily.

Other Art destinations

• Bamboo Restaurant contains an art gallery
• Elements Jewelry & Fine Crafts

Other Hawi Destinations of Interest

• Lokahi Garden Sanctuary: Wide variety of attractions: vacation rentals, spa, and farm tours.
• Aloha Man’s Beach Essentials

Getting to Hawi

Much of the trip is along 35 miles per hour roads, so put on a podcast or your favorite tunes, and enjoy the relaxing drive to Hawi.

Driving

Enjoy the drive and enjoy the scenery – you’ll be cruising along the ocean most of the way.

From Kailua-Kona: 1 – 1.5 hours

The drive is straight and simple. From Kailua-Kona, head North on Highway 19 until it merges with Highway 270 and then take this new highway as far as Hawi. There are interesting points to stop and see along the way.

From Hilo: 2 hours

Go West on Highway 19 until the junction with Highway 250, just after Waimea. Take 250 North until you reach Hawi and Kapaau.

Parking in Hawi

Should should be simple at the different destinations you visit and you shouldn’t have to walk too far to your various destinations. Of course, this is a gorgeous, refreshing place to walk around and explore after sitting in the car for the trip.

Hawi History

The Northern Tip of the Big Island was home to King Kamehameha – this was the inspiration for placing such a prominent statue of him in the area. There are different legends about his birth, but it is largely thought he was born in this area in 1758.

Hawi was involved in sugar agriculture with the Hawi Sugar Mill. This industry did not run as long running as in other parts of Hawaii: about 1880 – 1950. Prominent Pioneers in Hawi Agriculture inlcude the Akina and Hind families – expertly building sugar and cattle businesses.

Hawi Frequently Asked Questions

What Else should we do on the drive

There are plenty of swim spots along the way, and of course like at the different historic sites including various heaius.

How long does it take to drive to Hawi?

From Kailua-Kona, it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to drive to Hawi.
From Hilo, it is about a 2 hour drive.

Both Drives are along the ocean and GORGEOUS!

Are there Tours of Hawi?

There aren’t any official or sanctioned tours. We do recommend asking for ideas and talking with others in the area when you’re at the King Kamehameha Statue or Nakahara Store.

Hawi Summary & other places of interest

Hawi is difficult to summarize, it offers so much and has many other facets just waiting to be explored. History is prominent with government officials calling this area home.

Hawi did follow the main industries of Hawaii in the 1800 & 1900s and is know a relaxing town centered on art.

If planning a day excursion to Hawi, there are other areas to explore including both Kēōkea and Kapa’a Beach Parks. If you’d enjoy a refreshing hike, consider Pololū Valley Lookout and Honokane Nui Lookout.

Geology of Hawi

Here’s a little section on Hawi Geology if you want some extra credit.

As is usual in Hawaii, the ground is volcanic rock. The lava flows covering the island near Hawi and the Northern tip of the island range from about 10 to 150 feet thick. The soils that have formed as sediment has built up is only about 3 feet thick, but sufficient enough to support agriculture.

The Kohala Volcano where the lava flows originated to build the area around Hawi, is the only extinct volcano on the Big Island.

Any other volcano on the island could erupt. In fact that is happening currently in December 2022.

Tantalus Lookout

Tantalus Lookout is in the mountains above Honolulu and allows you take in the scenery of Southern Oahu and all of Honolulu – Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor. It is a walk-up attraction with additional nature hikes and picnic tables available. The site is wheelchair accessible since sidewalks connect the parking lot to the lookout.

This lookout fits perfectly into a full day at the beach. You can spend all day in the sand and waves, then drive up here for the sunset and then enjoy an evening at one of the many restaurants in Honolulu.

Sunsets!

Tantalus Point has become a popular sunset viewing destination. With the sun setting in the west, the sunset takes place over Pearl Harbor, illuminating the entire south-western sky of Oahu.

The lookout can get crowded during sunset time. Instead of trying to time the sunset perfectly, why not come up an hour before and have a picnic or short hike before the sunset?

With the 180-degree views sunrises would likely be good as well, but the park does not open until 7 a.m. There might a few times a year it’s possible to see, but infrequent.

You could still take in the sunrise on the viewpoint parking available before the entrance to Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park

The Views

Incredibly, you can see from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor. And the view of Downtown Honolulu is Spectacular.

You can see the view airport runway, and miles of the gorgeous, azure-blue ocean.

Unless you’re piloting an airplane, there is not a better view of this side of the island.

Wheelchair & Stroller Friendly

There is easy and accommodating access to Tantalus Point and it’s stunning panoramas.

Nature

Since the elevation of Tantalus Lookout and the surrounding area is is 900 feet and above, there vegetation is a bit different up here.

You’ll see plenty of birds as you hike around and the predominant tree is the Cook Pine which replaces palm trees in much of the mountains of Hawaii.

City Lights

I’ve been complete focused on sunsets and the daytime view of the city, but you also get extraordinary views of the city lights at night… well almost.

The park closes at 7:45 (see the timing section below). There is a parking lot a little further down the drive, outside the park gates, and that lot is open 24 hours a day (this is the same place I recommend taking in the sunrise).

Alternative to Diamond Head

The most popular overlook in Hawaii is Diamond Head. Appearing to rise out of the ocean and towering into the air. Diamond Head is a distinct land mark and it makes sense that it gets many visitors and shows up in many photos of Honolulu.

But, as far as actual lookouts go, the views from Tantalus Lookout are a next level of amazing. You can see further and you can see more well known destinations of Hawaii.

Additionally, Tantalus Lookout is free to visit and the only additional planning needed is parking before the crowds show up or the sunset (no reservations needed!)

Are Drones allowed at Tantalus Lookout?

No, there is plenty of signage stating drones are not allowed and drones are not allowed in any Hawaii State Park.

If you do want to fly a drone, the scenic lookout on Round Top Drive outside the park entrance is still and ideal place to pilot drone and get the video footage you want.

Ideas to Plan the Perfect visit to Tantalus Lookout

I’ve put togethe a couple of ideas to make sure you take in a wonderful experience at Tantalus Lookout. Instead of driving for 20 minutes and being out of your car or 5, consider some of the ideas below.

Evening Combined End with viewing the sunset.

Picnic

You can get you spot early be visiting earlier and having a picnic. Grabbing some sandwich on the way up would work well. I’ve had many successful picnics catered by Subway’s drive-thru on my way to the destination.

You could also take this a step further and grab a cheap, portable BBQ at WalMart and have a BBQ with amazing views. Family and other travel companions would remember the BBQ at Tantalus Point for years.

Hike before Sunset

Another way to avoid parking congestion at Tantalus Lookout is to arrive an hour early and take in a short hike. You’ve got a few to choose from with the Ualaka’a Trail being the closest the parking lot.

Day Hike

There are a few trails in the area of Tantalus Point. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, visit during the day for a couple-hour hike in the cool mountain air.

Trails you can look into include:

• Nā Ala Hele Trail
• Ualakaʻa Trail
• Makiki Valley Loop Trail

Getting to Tantalus Lookout

It takes about 30 minutes to get from Honolulu to Tantalus Lookout – and that is if you’re in Waikiki and rush hour is just starting. You should be able to get here in about 15-20 minutes.

The direct route is to take Manoa Road and then Round Top Drive. If you don’t have a GPS, make sure to look at the directions closely in your hotel’s business center and print the directions.

Once on Round Top Drive, you’ll see the 24 hour viewpoint. If you’re within the park’s open hours, I recommend skipping this and going straight to the look out.

However, if you want to use a drone to get some aerial shots, this is where you should stop to do it.

You’ll see the Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park sign marking the entrance to the park. Pay special attention to the closing time on the bottom right of the sign. This changes depending on the time of year (and officials are consistent about locking park gates in Hawaii on time.)

Time to Visit

The park opens daily at 7 a.m. In the Summer, Tantalus Lookout is open until 7:45 p.m., and 6:45 p.m. in the Winter.

You’ll have plenty of time to see the sunset, but once the sun has set, I don’t recommend lingering very long- officials usually do not delay in closing the park up.

Also, as suggested above, if you’re trying to make the sunset, try to get here a bit earlier so you are not fighting for a parking spot.

Cautions

• Remember Drones are not allowed at Tantalus Lookout and Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside Park.
• Lock your car doors and cover any valuables. This is good advice everywhere. While Tantalus Lookout and Hawaii are safe, car break-ins do happen, especially if valuable items are easy to see in the car.

Summary

If you’re in Waikiki or anywhere on Oahu for a few days, Tantalus Lookout should be on your list of places to visit.

There so many additional layers to the experience you have: the higher elevation’s different climate, an easy hike with amazing views, and a new perspective of Waikiki (where you’ve likely been spending a lot of time).

You will have the chance to drink in so much of the tropical scenery and azure ocean. Tantalus Lookout is also a great place to view the city lights at night.

If you can’t get reservations to Diamond Head or just want something different, make sure to pay a visit.

And if you want to pack a full mountain day in, check out nearby trails to Manoa Falls and Lulumahu Falls.

• Tantalus Lookout: Majestic views of Honolulu & must of the south side of Oahu. One of the best places to see the sunset over Honolulu.