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While staying in Waikiki, we took a little road trip and explored the northern side of the island. We found the beautiful natural wonderland of Ka’ena Point State Park.
We came to the “end of the road,” a pretty secluded and quiet area. This was much different from the touristy, heavily trafficked areas in Oahu.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share personal photos of our adventure. You might want to go there too!
Getting There
Whenever we travel, we like to drive around and explore. So, we took the H1 until it turned into Route 93, and stayed on that road until it eventually ended.
You’ll see signs that you’ve come to a dead end. We also saw areas that were blocked off to vehicles.
Let’s say we got to Ka’ena Point by running into it. You’ll find it by traveling as north and west as you can in Oahu until the road ends.
It’s located in Honolulu County, and you’ll need a car. I don’t know of any shuttles that go there.
You could take public transportation to a nearby stop, but then you’ll have to walk the rest of the way. We certainly didn’t see any bus stops in the area.
Visiting Ka’ena Point State Park
The state park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. We visited in the afternoon in the fall, and it was totally free to visit.
This is a secluded area that leads to the natural area reserve and is made up of two sections.
You have the Mokule’ia Section, which is a part of the north shore. This area is rocky with sand dunes, and swimming is at your own risk.
Then you have the Keawa’ula Section, which is the west side of Oahu. You might find people surfing over here.
We saw a few things while exploring the area. It was quiet, calm, and refreshing.
Beautiful Beaches
After driving around, we stopped to walk along the water. As far as wildlife, we saw many birds, but you can find turtles, seals, dolphins, and whales in the Pacific.
We found a vast stretch of sandy beaches and rocky areas. Beautiful views and fresh Pacific air whipped around.
A couple people wandered around, and some people fished. So, we got out of the car and walked around a bit.
With the waters crashing against the blackened lava rocks, it was peaceful. I could have sat here all day and wished we had our camper van to stay here.
Ka’ena Point Trail
We saw part of the Ka’ena Point Trail. This is one trail that I’ll have to return to hike.
We didn’t plan on hiking on our visit, so I wasn’t prepared. But, I heard that it was a pretty adventurous one!
It follows an old railroad bed and dirt road. It runs 2.5 miles with scenic coastline views.
Finding Kaneana Cave
After taking pictures at the beach, we found an interesting place to explore. We found a cave by driving around.
There were no signs to directing us to it. And it’s on the side of the road before reaching the beach area.
We saw people looking lost on the side of the road. Then we stopped to see what was going on.
From traveling, we know to look for the signs of a point of interest. When we see other people looking around with their mouths open, something’s up.
But we probably would have stopped anyway because we like to explore, and the area looked interesting.
We parked across the street in a small parking area. Be sure to lock your car.
Then, we crossed the street and walked past the barrier. The big opening to the cave is hard to miss.
Exploring Kaneana Cave
I don’t know if you’d say we explored Kaneana Cave. Let’s just say we found it and walked inside.
We didn’t go far because I wore regular sneakers that day. Like all caves, you’ll need to be careful with your footing because of the water and rocks.
We saw people going further in and exploring the top. They were climbing the rocks above. I don’t know how safe that is, especially in regular street shoes.
We didn’t go too deep, but the people wandering inside came right out. So, it must not go too far back.
As water dripped from the ceiling, it felt cold inside. The cave blocked us from the wind gusts outside.
It’s a small cave that’s thousands of years old, but full of history.
Travel Notes
This area is a historic sacred land and a wilderness sanctuary. As with visiting any place in Hawaii, you’ll want to respect it by leaving it the way you found it.
When we drove around the area, some places were blocked off. You’ll want to heed no trespassing.
Because it’s a secluded area, we didn’t find many people crowding around. So if you want to explore without all the tourists, this is a nice, quiet escape.
To drive past the gated areas, you need to have a recreation pass on your vehicle. It’s not a 4-wheelin’ adventure area.
Final Thoughts
Finding Ka’ena Point State Park was one of the highlights of our trip. It’s a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature in Oahu.
I plan to go back and do some hiking and more exploring. I’m hoping to find more caves there too.
More Travel Adventures
I have more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- For staying around Waikiki, check out things we like to do.
- See my post on things to do in Honolulu, too.
- For exploring beyond Honolulu, see my post on Oahu.
- The Diamond Head Crater hike has nice views and is in the northern Oahu area.
- The Makapu’u Lighthouse hike is also on the north side of Oahu, where we saw breathtaking views along the way.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: April 9, 2025
