Pu’u O Mahuka Heiau State Monument

Short easy hike with an obvious trail. Nice view of Waimea Bay and the cliff jumping rock.
How to get there: Turn right on the street before Foodland. The first street on the right. You will see a sign. Parking after you turn in.

A sacred temple above Shark’s Cove. Just ruins now but still worth seeing. And rumor has it human sacrifices took place here. Neat. There’s also a great view of Waimea Bay below.

This is an interesting historical site with beautiful views of Waimea Bay and the North Shore. It’s a good place to visit if you want to learn some history and enjoy the scenery.

This place is a hidden gem that me and my friend found randomly after a hike. It’s a sacred place and also has a short trail that leads to an amazing high view of Waimea Bay. It’s maybe 5 minutes long all around so either way you go just do the loop around. Be careful of peacocks walking on the road!

Awesome place to visit! This place is right up the hill from the Foodland in Pupukea so you have to stop if you are staying in the north shore area. Amazing views and great place for some culture and history. I wish that we had worn sneakers so that we could have went down some of the trails a little further. Go early in the day before it gets too hot.

Well worth a side trip if you’re taking in North Shore anyway.
As a history buff and a Tsalagi woman, I have a huge amount of respect for all sacred places and I love seeing these places being protected for future generations. We only moved to the island a year ago and I must admit, I have very little knowledge of Hawaiian history outside of what mainland history books say.
It was an interesting site and offered spectacular views of Waimea Bay. Like other reviewers have said, MIND THE LEDGE. The trails below the actual site are really overgrown and it would be easy to take a tumble.
As for the site itself, be respectful and keep off. We were lucky not to see anyone else while we were there – only met cars on the very tight roadway. Take it slow and you’ll be fine. It’s worth getting to the top.

Boy was it difficult to find this place. We drove around for about 20 minutes going down some dead end streets before we realized we had missed the small sign that was obscured by some vegetation take is the entrance to the winding road to the top. But it was worth the headache, because it was an awesome park. There’s ancient Hawaii history at the ruins of this Hawaiian temple as well as a great view of Waimea Bay from the end of the short trails.

If you like ancient and old Hawaiian history this is the place to visit. Above the Waimea beach sits this old heiau. This is a very sacred place so please don’t bring your unruly kids and let them climb on the lava rocks that are the old foundation of this heiau.
I got the chills walking around the dirt pathway around the area. Wear your old shoes as slippahs might not be the best choice. There are a few different trails or paths to follow. Just remember to not move or take any rocks. And do not go into the heiau rock formation.
Its free to park.
There are a few picnic tables under shade trees. The local chickens & hens may come and greet you. What you bring in, please take out.
The road to get there is a bit tricky. We missed the right hand turn at first. Drove all they way past it for like a mile!
This is a beautiful sight to see and visit when visiting North Shore Oahu.

Just go. you won’t be disappointed.

this site was a nice quiet place. It has some great views and some excellent pictures. The trails that go around the bluff are very rocky and uneven, so wear good shoes.

This is one of the greatest heiau to visit on Oahu next the Ulu po heiau in Kailua. Its not far up the road from the Pupukea Foodland.
The drive up is a lot better than back in the day when it was just a dirt road. Now its paved with a number of bone jaring speed bumps so its best to cruise the road because it does get narrow and you will have to go off to the side a bit if there are on coming cars.
When we got there it was hot and muggy. This is a really nice cleared out heiau with the exception of the lower part that’s really overgrown. We took the lower trail and followed it down and came to a fork. Take the left trail and it will lead you to the bottom left of the heiau that overlooks Waimea Bay. Really nice view. Just stay away from the edge or you’ll get a really nice view going over the cliff. You cant see where the ground ends because of the grass but the pucker effect will tell you its there.
The trail down was a little overgrown but like the other two reviews said it looked like a perfect place to get robbed, raped or murdered. How would they know unless they were robbed, raped or murdered in a perfect place. Then one of them goes on to say they were glad to see 10 burly bikers reading the signs. Really? What if you saw them on the trail? Would you still be glad? Dumb ass! Next time just stay home. I personally dont like that kind of stigma put on a beautiful place like this.
Another review says everyone should bring an offering even if your Hawaiian. With all due respect I would discourage this. Nobody wants to see a heiau lined with oranges, tangerines and a whole bunch of other offerings like we saw today. Really if everyone did that, the wall along the parking would be spotted with fruit. Leave that to the local practitioners that know what their doing. The one and only thing that you should bring to places such as this is your total and utmost respect and appreciation for what it is.

What a beautiful, peaceful State monument! There is a spectacular view of the ocean and North Shore and it was OPEN! Didn’t expect that with the Federal shutdown, but it’s a State monument, so no worries! A place to enjoy the serenity and quiet and beauty of Hawaii Nei! Careful driving over the concrete drainage; my car hit bottom there!

First thing first, this is a heiau, a sacred place not another tourist destination. Please be extremely respectful when visiting. Please do not enter the heiau, touch or move the stone wall. Admire but do not touch. Please do not litter, trashcans are located to the left fo the parking lot.
With that said, the road up to the heiau is now paved with multiple speed bumps.
This is quite different from the numerous times I’ve visited in the past where I literally had to 4×4 it by driving in and out of deep potholes and praying I don’t get stuck.
It get pretty hot up there so bring your sunblock or an umbrella. Walking down the left path of the heiau you’ll come to the first lookout point with an amazing view of Waimea bay.
Again, please be respectful when visiting this amazing historic site.

Great side trip on the north shore. Views of Waimea Valley, Waimea Bay, and the Waianae Mountain Range can be yours if you follow the right trail and watch your step. The Heiau is ok to look at but the gem is the views.

This site is federally recognized and preserved quite when comparing to the captivated drawing on the explanation board for tourists (and locals) to peruse. There is a short hike on the red dirt path makai (ocean) side of monument where you walk about 4 – 5 minutes through the brush and find a magnificent view of Waimea Beach!

I am so confused about this place. Made the drive up based on the stellar reviews — and the road is definitely of questionable driveability. I went to three different lookout spots — one straight across from the parking lot and the two to the right after you follow the dirt trail. None of them gave me a clear view of the North Shore and I would have gotten much better pictures just staying on the freeway along the coast, without having to traipse all up this scary road. As one other reviewer mentioned, this is TOTALLY the perfect spot to get robbed, raped or murdered. Never have I ever been able to perfectly click on the one starred description of «Eek! Methinks not» rating — until now.

This place is peaceful and fascinating.
Be sure to carefully go to the ledge (and I said CAREFULLY!- Kam Hwy is RIGHT BELOW!) and look down to your left to Waimea Valley and ahead of you to WAIMEA BEACH PARK, the sound carries upwards, so you can literally hear people on the beach below!
The road is rugged to get there. Be prepared for some off roading to get there!

Genuine Hawaiian culture. I am a locally born and raised haole, but I really enjoyed showing my children a religious, cultural place like this. I have told my family about the heiaus in Hawaii and how they are sacred places. As an agnostic, it is good to show them that there are other religions besides all the bible thumpers. It is good to show respect for others and their ways and this is how I am teaching my children tolerance and understanding. BTW there is an awesome view of Waimea bay just down the dirt trail!

Pretty Easy to fine but the road gets narrower and narrower as you get into the state park so be careful !
Has a great view of Waimea Bay (if you want to walk 5 – 10 minutes around the park)
Should stop for a break there if you are traveling up north shore !

Easy to find. Right up Pupukea Road (where Foodland and Starbucks is in Waimea).
The site is beautiful, although there are homeless people camping behind it. Its fine. Take the path around the heiau and you’ll find a beautiful view of Waimea Beach and Sharks Cove.
FYI: ALWAYS BRING OFFERINGS TO HEIAU’S especially if you are Hawaiian. Respect your ancestors and the sacred sites.