The Nuʻuanu Pali lookout watches over the cliffs of the Ko’olau mountains

On Oahu’s Windward coast, the Nuʻuanu Pali lookout watches over the cliffs of the Ko’olau mountains. The Koʻolau Range is a name given to the fragmented remnant of the eastern or windward shield volcano of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972, and is truly one of the best viewpoints on Oahu to gaze out across the landscape. The Pali Pass provides panoramic vistas looking out toward Chinaman’s Hat and Kāneʻohe Bay. To clarify, Kāneʻohe Bay is the largest sheltered body of water in the main Hawaiian Islands. This reef-dominated embayment constitutes a significant scenic and recreational feature along the windward (northeast) coast of the Island of Oʻahu. The largest population center on Kāneʻohe Bay is the town of Kāneʻohe.

The Pali Pass claimed its spot in Hawaiian hsitory in 1795 when it become the site of a massacre where King Kamehameha defeated the island’s warriors by forcing them off the treacherous cliff top to their deaths. Suggestion: you’ll need a tripod or be able to grip the railing because it can get extremely windy — and consider another layer of clothing because it can be chilly. Aloha.