Halona Blowhole and Eternity Beach, O'ahu
By Dan Scroggins
The southeast corner of O’ahu is home to several beautiful scenic lookouts. One of the most popular is the Halona Blowhole. Besides the natural beauty of the rugged coastline and the views of Sandy’s there are several things about this lookout which make it so popular. The first most obvious is the blowhole itself. There is a lavatube in the rocky shoreline and when the surf is right, water will shoot up through this hole, sometimes as high as 20-30 ft.
As you walk towards the blowhole viewing area (left side of the lookout) there is a map on the ground which illustrates the three islands you can see (on a clear day) from O’ahu. The islands are Moloka’i, Maui and Lana’i. Halona cove, often called eternity beach, is off to the right of the lookout. This picturesque cove is frequently used for professional photo shoots as well as being a popular filming location.
Some of the scenes filmed here include 50 First Dates, Pirates of the Caribbean, a Nicki Minaj music video and most famously the famous love scene with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the movie From Here to Eternity. From the lookout I have spotted numerous turtles down in Halona Cove and if you are here from December-April be sure to scan the horizon for whales. Again, this is a popular lookout, we usually stop here early on our tours to avoid the crowds.
Made famous by the love scene in “From Here to Eternity.
You will often see turtles swimming in Halona Cove.
Tips for Visiting Halona Blowhole and Halona Cove
- Go early. The lookout is a small roadside parking area on the scenic southeast coast road, and it fills up quickly later in the day.
- Stay behind the railings. The rocks around the blowhole are slippery and waves can surge over them without warning; people have been badly hurt and killed after climbing down.
- Swim with care. Halona Cove has no lifeguard, and the surf and currents can be strong. Read our ocean safety tips before you go in.
- Watch for wildlife. Look for turtles in the cove, and from December to April scan the horizon for humpback whales.
Halona is a regular stop on our South Shore Tour and Circle Island Tour.