A state wayside high on the Koʻolau crest, about 1,200 feet up, looking down the windward cliffs to Kāneʻohe and Kailua. It is the site of the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu, where Kamehameha I’s forces drove Oʻahu’s defenders up the valley to the cliffs and won the island.
Why we love it
Fifteen minutes from downtown, you step out of the car into a wall of trade wind and the whole windward side opens below you.
What to expect
Park in the lot and walk a few steps to the stone viewing terrace. The cliffs drop away on both sides and the view runs from Kāneʻohe Bay to Kailua. The wind is the story here: DLNR says you can lean against it, so hold onto hats and phones. Clouds can roll over the ridge in minutes, so if it’s socked in, wait a bit. Most people stay 15 to 30 minutes. It is an easy stop on the way to Kailua or the windward coast, and a place of real history for Hawaiians.
Know before you go
- Parking fee
- Non-residents pay $7 per vehicle; residents park free. Commercial vehicles pay $15 to $50 depending on size.
- Hours
- Daily 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wind
- Winds are usually very strong at the railing. Hold onto loose items and keep children close.
- History
- This is where the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu ended, a turning point in Kamehameha I’s unification of the islands. Treat it as a place of loss.
Photo: Lukas via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
