Puu Ualakaa State Park

Windy drive up to the top, but the view is awesome. I used Google maps with the address listed on Unilocal,and it said I arrived like a half mile or so before actually arriving at the park. So keep driving until you actually reach the big state park sign. Then follow the signs for «viewpoint»

Great drive up the mountain that leads to a killer view of the Leeward side.
Bring hiking shoes if you want to get some exercise.
Definitely bring a camera

Amazing view. Free parking. Not too far from hotel.
A must go place for your visit. Come around dawn.

Whenever friends or family would visit me, I always made sure to take them here. You can pretty much see the whole half of the island including Diamond head. Sometimes you can see wild boar running around up there too.
Right below the gated area there’s grass so you could even sit and have a picnic if you wanted to. There’s also some covered area in case it rains. Not only is the view from here prime, but the drive up here as well.
The best part is that it’s never crowded (at least all the times I’ve been there).

I never knew about this fantastic place until I saw my friend, Maggie, «check in» on her Unilocal app… It is a MUST DO when you are visiting Honolulu!
This State park is located on Mount Tantalus via Round Top Drive. There is no admission fee!
There are 2 ways to get there: the long way and the shorter way:
First, enter from Makiki Street.
If you want the scenic (long) route, take the left road, up the hill and drive up Makiki Heights Road. You might wonder where you are… you may think that you’re lost… perhaps you are visiting a movie site… keep driving! You’ll get to the entrance and see the park’s sign!
The more direct path is going to the right when the road forks and drive up Round Top Drive. The first area is the picnic site. The second opening is the Lookout area with a paved pathway to the edge of the mountain. It’s amazing!
There are awesome views of Honolulu, Diamond Head, and «southern» and West Oahu! You might want a jacket because it’s a bit breezy here… oh — and remember to bring your camera!

My fiancé planned a picnic at the park. Perfect location! It’s not crowded on weekends which is great. Even if you don’t set up your own picnic blanket/​etc. They have 2 picnic tables available. Nice park to chill and walk around. Best thing about this location is that they have bathrooms. Also, they have a parking lot that fits a lot of cars which makes it easy. Definitely coming back here for more picnics.

This was our last stop on our «following in the footsteps of The Brady Bunch adventure»
We were staying in a house near by and drove up the winding road just as dawn approached.
Parking was easy as there was only one other car in the lot. The view was expansive and more tangible than the similar view we found at Diamond Head. We came for sunrise and watched it climb over the mountains in all its orange glory. It wasn’t as dramatic as Diamond Head, but less touristy. You could see Pearl Harbor and all of Waikiki from up here. The main selling point for me was that there wasn’t anyone with us besides another couple.
Pretty sweet indeed

If you are looking for some great hikes with amazing bird watching, Come up here and there are a few different hikes you can take from the park itself. Makiki valley trail or I forgot the darn name!
The trail is right outside of the park, by some persons driveway. I guess it’s popular because we passed some high school kids smoking pot along the way. Eh whatever.
I love LOVE love the White-​Rumped Shama and there are so many on this trail! It’s like they nest there. You can hear their beautiful song as you walk and it’s just an amazing walk.
I would do this again for sure.

Beautiful view!
January 4, 2016
When in Hawaii there are plenty of places that offer panoramic views of the city and the ocean but the lookout in Puu Ualakaa State Park was one of the best I’ve seen. We took Tantalus Drive and headed up a curvy, windy road to reach this state park. Luckily, we had my brother-​in-​law who is a local here in Hawaii drive us up here and is used to the sharp hairpin turns, the narrow and not-​so-​well marked roads. From the viewing platform, which is paved and is also wheelchair accessible, you can see amazing scenery of Diamond Head, Waikiki, Manoa Valley, downtown Honolulu, past Pearl Harbor, Punch Bowl Crater and across the whole length of Oahu Island. Up here is the best view of the city. The Pacific Ocean is the backdrop. Just awesome! I never got to see the Honolulu city lights and spectacular night views from this lookout because the trail closed around 7:00p, before it got dark and I’m not sure if there was anywhere else to park to get a good view of it. Heading down the same path the road turns to Roundtop Drive.
The little hike to the viewing platform is paved with concrete and has steel railings. The breeze up here was refreshing. Lots of photo ops, which was exactly what we did! There wasn’t a huge crowd when we came to visit. In fact, i don’t think it ever gets crowded. People don’t seem to stay long, they take their pictures admire the views and go. Wish we had time to do a little hiking here though, but the park closed at 6:45p. It’s still worth visiting. The parking is not very big but people come and go so you just have to wait for a spot to open up.
Parking is free inside the park and is equipped with restrooms, picnic tables, and a few trails to hike. Enjoy! Aloha!

As I continued being toured by my family who lives in Hawaii, we came to this place. You never thought this place exist. It is so hidden that I thought we got lost. Almost going through a forest. As we continued driving up hill, we started seeing very nice views of Honolulu, Waikiki Diamond Head Crater, Pearl Harbor, Punch Bowl Crater (one view at a time). Much more, when we finally arrived to the top, truly this place offers a breathtaking panoramic views of the places I just mentioned (all in one). It was so nice even on a gloomy day. Next time around, I’d like to come back here maybe with more friends to show this place.
So far, I don’t remember paying any entrance fees or parking fees. We enjoyed the view. I wish I could’ve stayed longer to see the sunset. It was just gorgeous to be up there. Don’t miss out. If you like taking fantastic panoramic pictures of Honolulu landscape, visit this place. You won’t regret it.

Great short hike from ‘Ualaka’a Trail head to the rest spot. We decided to continue to lower Makkki Trail. Went about half way and turned back around due to time constraint. Will definitely be back to do the complete loop, 2.2 miles!

Absolutely beautiful viewpoint. What a treat to have a free, natural place of beauty accessible to locals and tourists alike. I believe there is a trail for a hike, but we skipped that since we were mainly there for the sunset and it would’ve been too dark after sunset.
If you drive past the trailhead, you will find a parking lot. The parking lot is fairly shady. Please lock your cars and don’t leave valuables in sight. The lot is small as well so people do tend to double park especially around sunset time. From there, take a short walk down a pathway to where you will be looking at the Southern coastline of Oahu all the way from Diamond Head to Ewa Beach. We watched the colors of the sky change and transform from day to night and then watched the city lights illuminate the city below us. You want to come at sunset for the best view, but just keep in mind that so does everyone else.
If you want to feel on top of the world (or, to be specific, on top of an island). if you want a serene place to enjoy natural beauty… if you want a pretty neat souvenir picture… Check it out. This is also known as the Tantalus lookout.

Amazing view of Oahu’s south coast. You can see from Diamond Head all the way to Eva Beach. It is a beautiful sight to take in at sunset. The 2 mile drive up is windy but it will be worth it at the top. Be careful not to have any valuables in the car when you are sight-​seeing, I heard there are break-​ins all the time. Don’t linger too long after dark either.
*Walk along the side of the walkway and sit on the grassy hill instead of staying trapped in the concrete hut with a bunch of other people.

This isn’t the name of the park. What happened is some jive turkey on Unilocal made this up, because he or she cannot pronounce Hawaiian words. Lame.
(They changed the name back to its original.)

Looking for a nice view? Search no further. This little park about halfway to the top of Tantalus has been featured in movies and is a popular tour destination for people visiting Hawai’i. It gets quite crowded in the summer around sunset, and this is understandably so. If you can catch the park empty, it’s a great place to relax, especially on the hill out front the main lookout area. This is also a great spot to come and take pictures with several beautiful tree tunnels and long stretches of road that aren’t frequently driven on. The park is closed from a bit past sunset. I wouldn’t suggest being up at Tantalus after dark anyway though; it’s full of goons.

Excellent view, all gained without any physical exertion. It was a nice break from our other hikes. The winding road up is hard on those who are easily car sick (me).
The parking lot is small, however, and I could see this getting packed with people during sunset. It was pretty sad to see all of the broken window glass in a few parking stalls. Could you imagine enjoying such a beautiful view only to come back to your car windows busted?

The park has spectacular views that I believe are worth thousands of dollars :) You gotta be wealthy to own a property in Tantalus, really nice looking houses. You have a great view of the city especially the ocean too.
Parking is free but there are only like 8 stalls right by the lookout. The other parking lot has more stalls, park there and walk over so you not fighting over the stalls or go earlier for the lookout stalls for the sweet sunset pics.
There is is the ualakaa trail is right near the entrance to the park. I tried hiking along the trail to find the hidden treehouse everyone been posting on social media. Sadly I couldn’t find it. Next time I’ll embark on my quest to find that treehouse and swings: P

Beautiful view, no walking needed, drive straight up to the lookout. See the entire view of Waikiki.

The view from the top is alone worth the stop. The park itself is rather small, with a couple of picnic tables and a little walk through some fairy tale like trees (or, as my friend called them, «eerie» like in Little Red Riding Hood)… which you’ll miss if you park in lot #2 instead of lot #1. But, it’s a great little park at the top of the mountain, and like the rest of the parks (other than Diamondhead), it’s free.
Bottom line: Get your aerial view of the city here. You can see Pearl Harbor, the city, and the mountains with ease.

The view is breathtaking!
Driving up to the state park was worth the trip in itself. It’s such a gorgeous drive. Prior to reaching the Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park, you will pass the trail and picnic area. Keep driving all the way up and that is where the viewpoint is. Parking is limited at the viewpoint. There is ample parking at the picnic area so a local suggested parking there and walking to the viewpoint. It’s a very short walk. I highly recommend bringing a blanket and laying on the grassy area at the viewpoint. It’s such a beautiful place to sit and take it all in. There are clean restrooms at the trail, which was very nice.

I honestly can’t think of a better viewing point to see all of Honolulu from. Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park has all your visiting tourist favorites, picnic areas, massive lookouts, lots of parking. If you’re ever feeling like you’re bored of usual city and ocean views you get from being on flat land, make the scenic drive up Mt. Tantalus and find the huge sign that welcomes you to this state park! You’ll see amazing panoramic views of the entire city, and you can make a day of it by bringing your lunch picnic essentials!
The only thing that worries me is the sign that asks visitors to prevent theft and break-​ins by hiding or taking all your valuables with you out of the car! I actually have seen a limousine get broken into on one of my trips here here, yikes! My advice to you guys, park in a visible area, don’t leave cameras, wallets, money, cell phones lying around in the car and you should be okay. I’ve been here many times and it’s never happened to me (knock on wood) but your own discretion is advised.
What better place to take your visitors to see all of Honolulu though? :)

Even though I live at the bottom of this wonderful park– I have only been there five times.
I have only driven twice up there though… Rest, I was with others.
It is a wonderful relaxing beautiful VISTA. It is one of the few places that is truly a wonderful view that is only possible in HI.
No– there isn’t a Starbucks around the corner — well any store for that matter.
Going to the bathroom before going up the big hill is well advised.
Picnics are wonderful. Listening to an acoustic guitar, ukulele or even a pitch perfect violin only makes the experience so much more wonderful.
I recommend not taking those that have vertigo or a afraid of heights. Just saying– the drive up there can be difficult for the faint of heart. The room is dangerous as it is unmarked in some areas and really caution is needed driving. Locals know the road but every now and then someone takes the turns too quickly and can give others a jolt of shock driving.

It was cloudy, misty, super windy and very crowded up here today. It’s always a nice drive going up Roundtop Dr. doing all the switchbacks making me believe I’m a drift car racer. (Only in my dreams!)
The parking lot was full at 6:20pm with 3 cars waiting, including me, for a slot to open. One finally did and I took it just in the nick in time to get a better view of the sunset.
Mog P. was clinging to me like white on rice although wearing a super thick UW sweat shirt but she was still freezing. It made it hard to take pics, but I managed.
When you come here once it is enough to persuade you to come more often where there is much less noise, where you can breathe and think, where you can release tension if only for a moment. A moment to gather oneself, turn around, drive back down and face the world again rejuvenated with new energy. Bring it!

The view is amazing, I’ve never been there when it’s been crowded and the drive makes the trip fun.
Once you enter the park, follow the signs to the left to park closest to the lookout platform. It affords you a commanding view all the way east and west of the coastline of south Oahu. Great spot to take some sandwiches and relax for a little while, just remember to clean up after yourself. No one wants to see trash flying around this, or any, public park.
After you leave the park, turn left instead of heading back the way you came up. The winding road takes you through the Tantalus area of Honolulu and back down through some great forest areas. There are a few stops along the way to grab some incredible photos.

Prior to moving to the west side of Oahu I was a townie for 9 years. Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park was literally in my back yard (a quick 10 minute drive up the «hill). Funny what you take for granted when proximity to such vistas are so convenient.
The road to Pu’u Ualaka’a State park is uphill switch backs on Round Top Drive. Be cautious when driving up (and down) Round Top Drive since it’s a residential area people driving out of their driveways onto the road as well as a growing population of bicyclists who train on this hill. Through the years I’ve even seen a few adventure seekers coming down FAST on skateboards and rollerblades. You literally cannot miss this park since it is at the end of the road.
There are a few spots on the right side of the road (going up) where you can turn off and park on the side to enjoy unobstructed views of the city. But don’t limit your experience to that — drive all the way up to the park. The gate to the park closes at 7:45 pm.
Once you get to the park you’ll notice signs to a picnic area, hiking trail and alas the scenic view. Pictures of the mountains to the sea and as far as the eyes can see do not do the place justice. There’s such a serenity that surrounds the place that you can’t help but whisper when coming up here. It’s extremely peaceful despite the tourists and locals who frequent the park. It’s a surreal feeling knowing just below the scenic, quiet vista lies a town bustling with activity and traffic gridlocks.
Bring a blanket to spread on the grass and a snack/​meal if you want to enjoy this town treat a bit longer. It’s kinda fun locating landmarks and seeing how tiny everything is from this viewpoint.
Parking is free and plentiful (with the rate Oahu is developing amenities such as free parking is a valuable commodity).

Nice view at the lookout.
Lovely picnic areas.
Ualaka’a trail is a short (~0.5 miles) trail that leads out of the park and connects to Makiki Valley Loop Trail.

–great place for picnics with your fam or ratchet friends. They have picnic tables dispersed around the area. I only saw a couple so claim your table early or set up shop on the grass
–a supposed hiking trail is available but we haven’t taken it yet. Just keep in mind that it is an option though
–bring an umbrella, shade is sparse here
–great photo opportunities. You have a great view of Diamond Head and neighborhoods all around you. You can easily judge people from up here.
–an overall well maintained park

Puu Ualakaa is one of my favorite parks on Oahu. This park is often reference in the Unilocal reviews for Mount Tantalus because it is home to the famous lookout that everyone stops to take pictures of. The drive up to the park is beautiful, the drive down is beautiful, the lookout is beautiful… everything is so: SIGH: beautiful. My favorite route to Puu Ualakaa is via Tantalus Drive to Round Top Drive. It is such a fun drive! I took my hubby up to Puu Ualakaa park for our anniversary because he had never been there, and I wanted to wow him. We packed a cooler (wine, cheese, crackers, fruit) and our pup, and we headed out for a beautiful picnic at the park.
The park has lots of beautiful grassy areas, which provide a beautiful backdrop for any occasion. Some areas are shaded, some are sunny, either way, you are up on a beautiful mountain taking in the beautiful sights. What’s not to like? You can also set up a picnic in the grassy area in front of the lookout. I would recommend you bring an umbrella if you are going to do that though, because the sun just beams down on you up there. For the romancers, it’s not ideal to picnic in front of the lookout if you want some privacy because there are always people at the lookout.
There are lots of feral cats at this park, so be aware. I went there one time and was yelled at by a man who was feeding the feral cats because my leashed dog was keeping them away. Uuuuuhhhh… I don’t think you’re supposed to feed feral cats, but that’s on him. My pup and I happily walked away. I don’t want to get cat-​scratch fever anyway.
Either way, this is such a beautiful park and the drive up is a treat in and of itself!

This place provides a great view of the city and Diamond Head! The drive up the mountain is very twisty and a bit dangerous (since often you can’t see if another car is coming down, and they usually are coming down pretty fast!) so I am glad we went in the afternoon. I cannot imagine going up this road at night or in the rain. How do the people who live here deal with this road?!
Once you make it up the mountain and turn into the park, stay to the left and follow the signs for the lookout. Then you will get to a small parking lot where you can see everyyyyything. There weren’t very many people when I went so I was able to take a lot of pictures: D
The drive up there is pretty short, maybe 10 minutes, so I would recommend making the trip :)