Free Stuff to do after Snorkel with Turtles

After that, lunch or breakfast at Liko’s (walk to it) on the water or Kona Brewing Co (short drive).

• About 1 hour.

The rest of this guide is all free stuff you can do.  Pile on the sunscreen early and often.  All parking is free except the Pali Lookout.  If you enjoy the free guide, we’d appreciate you tossing us some love on your favorite review site, or sharing our website with your friends.  You may have to pick and choose, there is a lot of stuff here!

After some food goto Lanai Lookout, only a couple of minutes from the Snorkel with Turtles departure point >> Directions link.

It is the first pull out right past Hanauma Bay (about 20 parking spots).  Park there. Take some great pics down the coast. Okay, this part is weird, but it is super

cool.  From the pull out, cross the road (be careful!) to the mountain side (makua) of the road, walk down to the small valley, jump the guard rail and descend to the bottom of the gulley.  There is trash there from dummies, but this is the right place.  When you get to the bottom of the gulch you will see a lava tube that goes under the road (yes, that is right, under the road).  Use your phone light to get through it.  You’ll pop out with a cool view of the ocean.  You can explore a bit there.  Any rocks that are wet are dangerous, as waves are coming over them.  Just keep your eyes on the ocean. You are not in Disneyland, and the ocean can bite you if you don’t respect it.  Also, this is not a state trail, not maintained, and does require some scrambling.  Not suitable for people with mobility issues.  You need to be aware of traffic.  That being the case, locals know about it and we do it all the time, it is super cool.

• Just the lookout (15 min)

• With the lava tube (1 hour) if you explore

This is the view of the Lanai lookout parking lot, you can see it coming

This is what the turn out to Lanai Lookout looks like,hard to miss but not labeeld

This is the view from the Lanai lookout parking lot towards the gulch, you will be descending down right past the sign facing away from the camera in this picture.  Yes, it is a bit sketchy, be safe!

Keep going down that road and pull out an Halona Blowhole Lookout (bigger parking lot), about a half a mile.  May want to take the steep walk down to the beach on the right side as you face the ocean.  That beach is known locally as Eternity Beach (from the movie Here to Eternity) or Cockroach Cove. There are “Danger, do not go past this point” signs, which everyone ignores.  But realize it is a bit of a climb over rocks. Swimming and rock jumping into the water (but no lifeguards, so be careful).

• Just the lookout and blowhole (15 min)

• Hike to the water and swimming (30min to hours)

 Halona Blowhole turn out sign

This is the sign that is universally ignored

This is why people are ignoring the sign, it is cool down there

Right past the blowhole is Sandy’s Beach Park.  There are two sets of restrooms there and a sandy beach.  I usually just stop for the restrooms, and go to the second one a little further down and away from the crowds.  The crowds are there mostly for the body surfing, and the young local kids love to hang out here.  You might also find a food truck if you are hungry.

This is the view from Halona Blowhole to Sandy’s beach where you can find restrooms and fresh water showers.

Keep going another couple miles down the road Directions Link and pull out at Makapu’u Point Lighthouse trailhead.  You may need to park on the road if busy.  At this point you have two options.  Hike the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail, or, our favorite, the short hike (about a half mile) down the Kaiwi Shoreline trail to Alan Davis beach.  At the beach keep going on the right side as the trail comes to Pele’s Chair (the big rock formation).  Here you can jump off the not too high rocks and swim or snorkel (we can rent you gear if you need it) in a great little spot that is about 4-7’ deep depending on the tide.  Don’t dive!  It may be too shallow.  Lots of fish here and you are close up since it is shallow. That little area is protected from ocean swells by a natural breakwater.  Additional exploration along the undeveloped coast is possible.

• The lighthouse trail (about 1 hour)

• Alan Davis beach (1 hour, more if swimming and snorkeling)

This is the parking lot for the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail, same one as for Kaiwi Shoreline trail.

The two trails split right near the parking lot.  Down for Alan Davis, up for Lighthouse.

Another 300ft down the road at the very top of the hill is a pull out for Maka’puu Lookout.  You should definitely stop here for amazing views and some whale watching down to the beach hundreds of feet below.  Take a picture, it is a great spot.

• (15 minute stop)

Pullout sign for Makapuu Lookout. Just wait if no parking, it is a short visit for all

Be sure to get a group shot here, it is quite a view

Next recommended stop is Bellows Field Beach Park 6 miles past Makapu’u lookout.  This is a huge sandy beach area with easy swimming and great sand.  It also has trees set back from the beach a bit because by this time you are probably getting a lot of sun.  Swimming is good here, but not so much on the snorkeling, but that is relative to the great stuff you’ve already done.  There are restrooms and showers here as well, and that might be all the reason you need to stop.

• (30 minutes for pics)

• (1hr plus if swimming)

Keep Hwy 72 through Waimanalo and eventually to the Pail Highway Hwy 61. If you want to take a right, you can explore Kailua town. A right on Hwy 61, the Pali Highway takes you back to Honolulu town.  At the top of the Pali road look for the signs for the Pali Lookout and spend a few more minutes there again enjoying great views.  Pali Lookout on map.

• (15 min stop, but a solid half hour from Bellows)

From there, keep going on the Pali (61) back to Honolulu side.  If it is dinner time and you want a recommendation for good Hawaiian food use Google to goto the Highway Inn directions near downtown.  I LOVE the smokin’ moco there, but the fish is really good too.  You can try some poi and lau lau if you are brave.  The Village Pub is also there, a nice little walk in spot where they will sell you 4oz pours of local beers and 2 oz pours of wines.  I like it because you can try and few and still drive.  And finally, we have a little dive shop across the street, Honolulu Scuba Company, if you want to stop in and say hi, or thank you for the best day ever!

Walking directions from Highway Inn

• 30 minutes from the Pali Lookout to the Highway Inn

Also, you could do the whole thing in reverse and rent snorkeling gear at Honolulu Scuba Company. $24 for the whole day and you can still finish with Highway Inn and Village pub after dropping off your gear.  You’d miss the tour we sell, but that’s okay, we want you to love Hawaii just like we do.  Please treat it with respect, malama kai, or care for the ocean, and malama a’ina, care for the land.

This free guide is brought to you by Snorkel with Turtles.  If you have enjoyed it, consider booking with us or sharing with your friends.  Aloha!