Makapuʻu forms Oʻahu’s far eastern tip, where a remnant ridge rises 647 feet above the sea and ends in steep cliffs at Makapuʻu Point, creating one of the island’s most dramatic coastal landmarks. Its name, meaning “bulging eye,” is linked to an image once said to have been kept in a nearby cave. The headland is also known for Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse, established in 1909 after the steamer Manchuria grounded offshore in 1906. Today the area includes a state wayside park, sweeping views across the Kaiwi Channel, seasonal whale sightings, and nearby coastal features including protected bird islets, surf beaches, and the rugged Ka Iwi shoreline.