Pali Lookout is located on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. It is an impressive stop that looks out over the island giving great views of the coast, the mountains, and the highway tunnels below. There is a small fee for parking at the Pali Lookout, but the drive from the main highway is short.
The Pali Lookout is located along Highway 61 (the Pali Highway) on Oahu. There is an exit for the lookout, and the parking area is just a quarter mile from the main road. When we visited, we paid the parking fee using a QR Code on a sign, so look for that when you park. It is just a short walk to the overlook. We have included more specific directions below.
The overlook takes in the north side of the island near Kaneohe Bay. The view includes the mountains, which are cliff-like in this area, as well as the city of Kaneohe. A botanical garden and a large veteran’s cemetery are also visible. On the right day, clouds linger along the cliffside, and the green of the cliffs is breath-taking. There is also plenty of wind as you stand on the crest. Some say you can lean into the wind and still stand, but it wasn’t quite that windy when we visited.
It was raining on the day we stopped, so we enjoyed the misty clouds, but we didn’t get to view the mountains or the ocean quite as well as we had hoped. The Pali Lookout is a great spot for gorgeous views on Oahu. We have a full post of things we did on Oahu to help you plan a trip to Hawaii.
Directions
- From Waikiki, take the H-1 Freeway and head west.
- Continue onto the Pali Hwy (Hwy 61)
- Take the Pali Lookout exit onto Nu’uanu Pali Dr.
- Park in the parking lot and walk up to the lookout.
The viewpoint is open to visitors from 6 AM to 6 PM, and there is plenty of free parking for residents and a $7 parking for non-residents. For more info, visit here.
