Summary: Makapu’u Point is the easternmost point on O’ahu, sticking out into the ocean just north of the Koko Head State Park and Sandy Beach. From the parking lot below the point, it’s a nice walk up to the top, and offers a nice view of the lighthouse that sits below on the side of the cliff. And while it’s a nice climb to run up to the top, it’s also not very long of a run; starting down at Sandy Beach not only makes it a longer run, but will give you the chance to stop by Pele’s Chair along the way.
The Good: Good route that lets you make it as long or as short of a run as you want. The run from Sandy Beach to Pele’s Chair is, for the most part, just plain flat. The footing is fair to good for almost all of the route; you need to really get off the paths before it becomes unstable. And the views of the ocean are fantastic; in the winter, this is the run to make if you want to see whales. Sandy Beach is a great place to end; it not only has a nice place to change, but has cold water showers that are perfect for washing off that top layer of post-run scum.
The Bad: The paved trail leading up to the top of Makapu’u Point is, well, less than optimal. No, you won’t trip and fall off a cliff, but you will want to wind and weave your way around the many potholes and missing chunks as you plod your way up or speed your way down. The trail up Makapu’u Point can get crowded, which means more reasons to shuck and jive as you run, but that’s the only part; to and from Sandy Beach gets minimal traffic.
The Ugly: While this is a great place to run when it’s windy and cloudy, watch out when the winds die and the clouds vanish – it heats up quickly. A sunny morning run with no clouds and no winds would be a rough thing; if that’s what your day looks like, try the afternoon when you’re not going to get sunlight bouncing off the water at you.
Type of route: Mostly packed dirt, some stretches of looser sand and some paved.
Good to run in the rain? Definitely
Length: I did an 8.25 mile run, but you could probably scale it back to 7 with less wandering.
Options for the route: Not really. If you wanted to go nuts, start at Koko Head State Park, go up the stairs and then down to Sandy Beach and on from there. Of course, reversing it would mean going up the ridge to Koko Head — which would be rough.
Elevation change on the run: 703 feet.
Water used: About 2 liters.
Where to start: Wawamalu Park (here)
Where to park: Same
Point your car’s GPS towards: 8800 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, HI 96825
My Google Earth file: here
My Garmin file: here
Facilities
Water? Yes, but only at Sandy Beach.
Toilets? Yes, but only at Sandy Beach.
Medical care? No
Ranger / park folks? No.
Picnic areas? Yes. Sandy Beach, and at Makapu’u Point (though what you need to pack in, you’ll need to pack out)
A place to change afterwards? Yes, at Sandy Beach – the bathrooms there have a changing area (that aren’t scary). Cold water showers, too.
Rewards in the area: Kona Brewing Company’s Koko Marina Pub. Tell your running buddy that you want to go to the pub, but want to sneak in this 6 or 8 mile hilly run first — I doubt they’ll even flinch. Good, good food and super beer.
You’d run this route when…. it’s cloudy and windy and you’re in the mood to meander. Yes, this route can be a lot shorter if you run in a straight line, but really, where’s the fun in that. This is a fun run for what would otherwise be a meh kind of day.
My rating: 8
Music: At first I was thinking that it would need something that falls between Basement Jaxx and the Clash. But then I heard some 7 Seconds, singing 99 Red Balloons. That was about right. Not quite Stiff Little Fingers, but not Green Day, either.
Weather / Trail warnings (no) / Permits (not required)
More reading: here and here and here. Flickr: here and here. More photos: here State Park Info: here and here and here
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Will check out your “good, good food and super beer” recommendation. Tix for October.