Kilauea Lighthouse
4.6(3.8K)google
4.4(242)yelp
Historic BuildingCoastBird WatchingPhoto Spot
Overview
The Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse, also known as Kīlauea Light, is a lighthouse located on Kīlauea Point on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi in the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.
Practical Info
MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
SunClosed
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeDecember through April is premier for this northern promontory. As a national wildlife refuge, the craggy cliffs surrounding the historic 1913 lighthouse host the largest nesting colony of pelagic seabirds in Hawaii. Touring between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM lets you spot albatrosses, frigatebirds, and migrating whales.
Getting TherePerched at 3580 Kilauea Rd, Kilauea. Private vehicle transport is required; exit Kuhio Highway (HI-56) onto Kilauea Road and drive to the ocean bluffs. The refuge strictly mandates advance timed-entry reservations via Recreation.gov, which grants vehicle access to the organized, on-site paved lot.
Travel Tips
- Operated as a National Wildlife Refuge, this site requires advance timed-entry reservations via Recreation.gov; ticketing is entirely digital, and the facility remains closed to all public traffic on Sundays, Mondays, and federal holidays.
- The prominent peninsula features constant heavy maritime wind and zero sun canopy, requiring broad-brimmed hats; bird colonies nest across distant cliffs, making high-powered binoculars essential for viewing.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- The refuge is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds like albatrosses, driving a zero-tolerance federal drone ban across the coastal airspace; unauthorized drone operation or disruptive hardware prompts equipment seizure and federal fines.
Reviews
Positive
- The white historic lighthouse on a volcanic peninsula surrounded by the vast Pacific and thousands of sea birds offers stunning views.
- As a national wildlife refuge, staff provide professional binoculars to spot albatrosses and frigatebirds, offering great educational fun.
- The walking paths are smoothly paved, public restrooms are spotless, and multilingual ecological panels are beautifully detailed.
- Tickets cost around ten dollars (free with National Parks Pass); enjoying a historic landmark, seabirds, and top order is high value.
Heads up
- It is only open a few days a week with short hours and requires advanced online booking; walk-in driving tourists easily get turned away.
- Tourists can only view the exterior from behind safety fences; entering the historic lighthouse itself is banned, limiting activity depth.
- The parking lot at the summit entrance is quite small; peak hours in the narrow single-lane access road make waiting frustrating.
- Being on an exposed peninsula, there are zero indoor storm shelters; sudden tropical rainstorms leave tourists completely soaked.