Hawaii, HI : Nuuanu Pali State Wayside

Nuuanu Pali State Wayside

Hawaii

Honolulu County

Honolulu

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Address Nuuanu Pali Drive Honolulu, HI 96817

Directions
From Waikiki, take H-1 to the Pali Hwy, and follow for 5 miles. Road to Pali lookout is on the right.

Description:
Cutting through the Koolau mountain range, leading Honolulu visitors to the beautiful windward side of the island is the Pali Highway. Above the Pali highway lies the Nuuanu Pali lookout. Nowhere can you get more expansive views of the windward side of the island than up on the Pali lookout which offers breathtaking views of the Koolau Mountains, Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman's Hat and Mokapu Peninsula. The Pali has a long and varied history. It is believed to be the home of Kamapuaa, a Hawaiian demi-god who is half-man and half-pig. It is also up here at the Pali lookout where in 1795, King Kamehameha and his invading army pushed the Oahu defenders over the mountain’s sheer cliffs, thus becoming the new ruler of Oahu. In 1897, when the first Pali Road was being built, 300 skulls were discovered at the bottom of those same sheer cliffs.

Before the Pali Road was built visitors wanting to see the windward side of Oahu had to take a foot trail (later widened for horses) through the Nuuanu Valley, traveling along sheer cliffs and sliding down into the valley on the other side. This small trail was paved and became the Old Pali Road which was used up until the 50’s when the current Pali Highway was built. The nearby Old Pali Road still lies to the right, below the lookout’s railings. It is a small road that hugs the cliffs, providing an interesting trail leading downhill for a mile and allowing for even more views of Kaneohe Bay and Kailua. Along the trail grow Banyan trees, Guava trees and other tropical plants, slowly covering up the last remnants of the Old Pali Road, taking back the land; the buzz of traffic from the Pali tunnel below can be heard, and is somewhat strange amidst the tropical forest.

When visiting the Pali lookout, it's a good idea to bring a sweater, as it can be very windy there. Up on the Pali lookout, the trade winds relentlessly funnel through, ensuring cooler temperatures and bad hair days. Although perched amongst the cliffs, the lookout is paved and wheelchair accessible, but there are no facilities However, with stunning views of windward Oahu, interesting history and legends, the Nuuanu Pali State Wayside is easily a must-see. Just be sure that while driving on the Pali Highway you have no pork in your car as this is bad luck and considered an affront to Kamapuaa!

Written By: Shiromi Arserio

Features
Parking | Shady Areas | Walking Trails | Wheelchair Accessible

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