Kilauea Point
The lighthouse on the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian islands, with sea cliffs and turquoise water under it.
North shore • The lighthouse • Sea cliffs
Explore → Get Early AccessWhy Visit
The point runs out from the north shore and ends in a lighthouse, and the water below it is the clearest turquoise on the island. It is the northernmost land in the main Hawaiian chain, which you feel standing on it: nothing between you and Alaska.
A Little History
The lighthouse went up in 1913 to guide shipping between Hawaii and Asia, and its clamshell lens was among the largest of its kind. The headland around it is now a wildlife refuge, which is why the cliffs are thick with seabirds rather than houses.
Worth Knowing
Everything here is a viewpoint rather than a walk. Come for the light rather than the distance: the point faces north, so the sun crosses it all day and the water changes colour hour to hour.
The Point
The lighthouse, the headland, and the cliffs on either side.
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Where to Stay on Kauai
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- Go when the sun is high. The turquoise under the point only reads properly with light straight down on it
- Bring something with a bit of reach. The birds are on the cliffs rather than beside you
- Check the refuge is open before you drive out. It keeps its own hours and they have changed more than once
Frequently Asked Questions
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