Oahu: The Secret Kaniakapupu Ruins

Kaniakapupu: King Kmehameha’s Ruins - The King’s Ruins are of his summer retreat in the 1800s. In 1847, he held a 10,000 person luau. They are unmarked and require walking through private property, which is remarkable. It’s an easy walk and not far from the road; 20 minutes there and back. It’s your responsibility to be respectful to this unsupervised historical site and to not climb or or remove any part of the ruins. 

Directions to get here:

Driving either TOWARD or FROM Honolulu on 61, exit on Nu’uanu Pali Drive. Halfway, there will be two square watershed buildings (on your right if going TOWARD Honolulu, on your left if coming FROM), a large one first, and a small one second. The address for these buildings in Google maps is: Board of Water Supply, 4282 Nuuanu Pali Drive, Honolulu, HI 96817, United States. The path entrance is just a little arch in the jungle wall, opposite the large watershed, approx. 100 feet uphill. Note: it's not the driveway, but a little bit to the left. Once you found the path, follow it until you reach the fallen tree. It's been there for years, and won't be moved anytime soon. Climb over the tree, and take your first well-trodden left. (At the time of this writing, there were also several baby trails.) Follow that path through the bamboo until you see the ruins, a handful of minutes later.