Hālona Blowhole
Honolulu, HI
A lava tube in the sea cliff that shoots spray skyward when swells run, at a lookout on Kalanianaʻole Highway. Whales pass in winter; the small car park turns over quickly.
Hālona Blowhole is a rock vent on the coast at Hālona Point in southeastern Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, near Hanauma Bay. Waves are forced through a submerged tunnel in the rock and shoot up through an opening in the cliff edge. Before each spout you hear a gurgling sound, caused by air being pushed out of the tunnel.
How high the water rises depends on the surf. Lonely Planet says that sometimes there is hardly anything to see and sometimes it is a real show; Wikipedia gives up to about 30 feet (9 m) with wind and a rising tide. In winter, visitors come to spot humpback whales and green sea turtles from Hālona Point.
From the parking area you look down into Hālona Cove. According to Wikipedia, the Ka Iwi Channel below has one of the most dangerous currents in the world, and the small cove is only used for swimming when the sea is calm.
- Nearest town
- Honolulu, HI
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 21.2826, -157.6770
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually December–February. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–June and September–November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
© Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
© Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Diamond Head State Monument
© daryl_mitchell from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0ʻIolani Palace
Campsites nearby
- Waimanalo beach parkCampsite4 mi from Hālona Blowhole
- Ke'ehi Lagoon MemorialCampsite14 mi from Hālona Blowhole
- Kahana campgroundCampsite23 mi from Hālona Blowhole
- Kalaeloa Beach ParkCampsite25 mi from Hālona Blowhole
All campsites in Hawaii · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Hālona Blowhole?
Hālona Blowhole is in Honolulu, HI, at GPS 21.2826, -157.6770. It is about 35 mi from Haleiwa.
Can you camp near Hālona Blowhole?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Waimanalo beach park, about 4 mi away; within 25 mi there are 4 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Hālona Blowhole?
Hālona Blowhole is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore.
What is there to see near Hālona Blowhole?
Places worth a stop nearby: Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (1 mi), Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail (2 mi), Diamond Head State Monument (8 mi) and ʻIolani Palace (12 mi).
When is the best time to visit Hālona Blowhole?
The most pleasant months are usually December–February. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–June and September–November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)