Tantalus Lookout at Sunset - Oahu, Hawaii

The best lookout for viewing all of Honolulu and Waikiki, Tantalus Lookout is located within the Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park, and has views of lower Manoa Valley, Diamond Head, Waikiki and its beaches, downtown Honolulu, the airport, and the Waianae Mountain Range.

A quick 15 minute drive from Waikiki, Tantalus Lookout is one of the best places to visit, for both visitors and locals alike. There’s lots of parking at the top, and a concrete walkway that provides easy access to the best viewing spots. The image above shows Diamond Head with University of Hawaii in the foreground. It’s a cool place to have a picnic and watch the clouds roll by.

Location:

Located on Round Top Drive, you can either drive or take an Uber up the mountain. It’s about 15 minutes away from Waikiki. Along the way, you will see lots of forest, and a few viewpoints for stopping. You can choose to stop at them before arriving or when you are descending, depending how much time you have and if it will be dark. There’s a parking lot at the top and a few stalls very close to the viewpoint park. If going later in the afternoon, you might consider bringing a rain jacket or something to protect against a little passing shower every once in a while.

I always used to go up here when I was younger. Sometimes just to ride my bike. A few times to do the hikes that surround the area. Other times just to watch the view. Here are some of my photos from a sunset back in 2015.