A forested state wayside on Round Top Drive above Makiki with a lookout over southern Oʻahu, from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor, including downtown Honolulu and Mānoa Valley. It is also the start of the 1-mile ʻUalakaʻa Loop Trail.
Why we love it
It gives you the whole city in one frame, Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor, without a crowd or a reservation.
What to expect
The drive up Round Top Drive winds through forest above Makiki, then opens at a small parking area and a short walk to the lookout. From the railing you see Diamond Head, Waikīkī’s hotels, downtown, Mānoa Valley and Pearl Harbor in one sweep. Late afternoon light is lovely, but gates close at 6:45 p.m. in winter, so you will not catch city lights after dark. Spend 20 minutes at the lookout, or add the shaded 1-mile ʻUalakaʻa Loop. Cars sometimes get broken into here, so take valuables with you.
Know before you go
- Paid parking
- Since March 1, 2026, non-residents pay $7 per vehicle, run by Pro Park, Inc. Credit card only, no cash.
- Gate hours
- Winter hours (from the day after Labor Day) are 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Summer hours from April 1 run to 7:45 p.m.
- Trail
- The wayside is the trailhead for the 1-mile ʻUalakaʻa Loop Trail.
- Instead of Lanikai
- We list this lookout instead of the Lanikai Pillbox, where 2026 parking limits in a residential neighborhood make access hard to recommend.
Photo: The Eloquent Peasant via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
