Stunning Lookouts in Oʻahu You Can Drive To

Dreaming of jaw-dropping island views without the hike? Oʻahu offers stunning drive-up lookouts with panoramic coastal and mountain vistas.

The view over Honolulu from Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa, also known as Tantalus — Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Credit: Ryan Tishken

Our island home of Oʻahu is packed with stunning scenery, and some of the most awe-inspiring views await at its lookouts — perched along coastal highways and hidden in lush state parks.

These lookouts offer sweeping views — some made famous by blockbuster films, others steeped in history as battle sites and many shaped by the ancient geological forces.

In this post, we share our local recommendations for the best drive-up lookouts on Oʻahu.

1. Diamond Head Lookouts
2. Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside
3. Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside
4. Hanauma Bay Lookouts
5. Lānaʻi Lookout
6. Halona Blowhole Lookout
7. Makapuʻu Lookout
8. Lāʻie Point State Wayside

1. Diamond Head Lookouts

The closest drive-up from Waikīkī, with the bluest coastal views.

📍 3483 Diamond Head Rd, Diamond Head
🕒 Open: Daylight hours
🎟️ Cost: Free

Two people posing by the Amelia Earhart Marker at one of the Diamond Head Overlooks on Oʻahu. — My sister-in-law and nephew taking in the view from the Amelia Earhart Marker.

Diamond Head Road Lookout, also known as Kuilei Cliffs, is easily accessed from Waikīkī along the cliffside road that circles Diamond Head’s foothills. The viewpoint offers sweeping views of Oʻahu’s south shore and the grand waterfront homes of the Kāhala neighborhood. At the last of three parking areas along the road from Waikīkī, a memorial honors Amelia Earhart, the first person to fly from Hawaiʻi to the mainland USA in 1935.

INSIDE TIP: The lookouts on Diamond Head Road are about 1.5mi (2.4km) from Kapiʻolani Park, an easy 5-minute drive or a 30-minute walk (uphill). There’s also a bike path, making it a an excellent route for a hoverboard tour or e-bike ride.

2. Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside

High above Honolulu, it showcases the city in all its glory.

📍 Nutridge St, Honolulu
🕒 Open: 7am-7:45pm (Apr-Aug) & 7am-6:45pm (Sep-May)
🎟️ Cost: Free

Honolulu by night, as seen from Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside, also called Tantatus. — The evening view from Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside (Tantatus). Credit: Ryan Tishken

Tantalus Lookout at Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside crowns an extinct volcanic cinder cone and is known for its connection to Elvis Presley — the 1961 movie Blue Hawaiʻi filmed at its grassy picnic area. A winding 20-minute drive from Waikīkī via Round Top Drive brings you to epic views stretching from Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) to Downtown Honolulu. On-site signage highlights the area’s unique history.

Our group of four picnicking at Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside Park, also known as Tantalus Lookout, on Oʻahu. — Taking my Dad for a picnic at Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside Park.

3. Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside

A mountain vantage point with dramatic views of valleys, cliffs and ocean.

📍 Nu’uanu Pali Dr, Kāneʻohe
🕒 Open: Daily 6am-6pm
🎟️ Cost: Parking from $7 per vehicle

Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside on Oʻahu.

Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside (Pali Lookout) offers sweeping views of East Oʻahu, including Kailua, Kāneʻohe and Mokoliʻi Island (Chinaman’s Hat). Perched at 1,200ft (365m), it’s named after the pali (cliffs) of the Koʻolau Range. The summit is a sacred site where the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu unfolded — a pivotal moment in Kamehameha I’s quest to unify the Hawaiian Islands. His victory secured control of Oʻahu and its people.

INSIDE TIP: Bring extra layers, the summit can be up to 10 degrees Celsius cooler thanks to the tradewinds.

4. Hanauma Bay Lookouts

Overlooks the clear waters of a marine sanctuary and its coral reefs.

📍 7445 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Honolulu
🕒 Open: Wed-Sun 6:45am-1:30pm
🎟️ Cost: Parking from $3 per vehicle

A sign at one of the Hanauma Bay Lookouts, with a beautiful view over the bay below. — Signage at one of the lookouts at Hanauma Bay. Credit: Bryan Shelmon

Formed within a volcanic cone, Hanauma Bay was declared a protected marine life reserve in 1967. Several lookouts near the parking area offer bird’s-eye views of the crystal-clear bay, home to tropical fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles and thriving coral reefs. Parking is limited (rates apply), but if available, you can check out the lookouts without a reservation. Entry reservations are required to access the bay itself.

INSIDE TIP: The visitor center on-site helps to educate visitors about the underwater inhabitants of the bay.

5. Lānaʻi Lookout

A rugged coastal stop with crashing waves, sea cliffs and distant islands.

📍 8102 Kalaniana’ole Hwy, Honolulu
🕒 Open: Daylight hours
🎟️ Cost: Free

The views from Lānaʻi Lookout on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. — Lānaʻi Lookout. Credit: Ryan Tishken

While driving along the southeastern tip of Oʻahu, make a scenic stop at Lānaʻi Lookout. This striking viewpoint overlooks wave-eroded rock formations shaped over thousands of years. Located within along Kalanianaʻole Highway, it’s a perfect place to pause and photograph the ocean, cliffs and neighboring islands of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. From December to May, migrating whales can also be seen along the coastline.

INSIDE TIP: Arise early in the morning and come here to watch the sunrise.

6. Halona Blowhole Lookout

A striking sight: waves blast through lava rock, sending sprays skyward.

📍 8483 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Honolulu
🕒 Open: Daylight hours
🎟️ Cost: Free

One of the smaller sprays, as seen from the Halona Blowhole Lookout. Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani

Halona Blowhole Lookout sits along Kalanianaʻole Highway on Oʻahu’s southeast coast, about a 20-minute drive from Waikīkī. This natural wonder was formed by volcanic eruptions over centuries. On windy days, the blowhole shoots water high into the air, powered by pressure building in the lava tubes below. The lookout also offers distant views of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, along with Sandy Beach, Oʻahu’s popular bodyboarding spot.

INSIDE TIP: Nearby Halona Cove featured in the iconic movies From Here to Eternity and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

7. Makapuʻu Lookout

On Oʻahu’s southeast coast, it offers gorgeous views of ocean and islets.

📍 10035 Kalaniana’ole Hwy, Waimānalo
🕒 Open: 7am-6:45pm (winter)/7:45pm (summer)
🎟️ Cost: Free

An aerial view of Makapuʻu Lookout on Oʻahu. — Makapuʻu Lookout. Credit: Ryan Tishken

At the easternmost tip of Oʻahu, Makapuʻu Lookout invites a pause, offering photo opportunities and a paved hiking trail to Makapu’u Lighthouse — ideal for breaking up a road trip. Panoramic views span Mānana Island (Rabbit Island), towering sea cliffs and the endless Pacific Ocean. Watch birds glide above the shoreline and, from December to May, spot humpback whales as they migrate along the coast.

8. Lāʻie Point State Wayside

An oceanfront setting with Pacific views and an interesting offshore arch.

📍 End of Naupaka St, Lāʻie
🕒 Open: Daylight hours
🎟️ Cost: Free

Lāʻie Point State Wayside in the background, a man on a red Harley-Davidson in the foreground. — Lāʻie Point State Wayside. Credit: Joleen Booth & Julian Lawson

Lāʻie Point State Wayside, tucked away on a residential street in Lāʻie on Oʻahu’s North Shore, is a scenic spot for watching waves crash along the rocky coastline. Between December and May, visitors might catch sight of migrating humpback whales breaching and spouting offshore. Lāʻie Point is also a famous film location, featured in the 2008 romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall during the cliff-jumping scene.

INSIDE TIP: Stop at Lāʻie Point State Wayside to see the offshore island with a hole in the center that creates a photogenic sea arch.

In summary, we encourage you to explore Oʻahu’s stunning lookouts, where coastal and mountain views await — just a short drive away, no hiking required.

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