Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
scramble down a moderate scree slope which is best left to those who are steady on their
feet.
The Olivine Pools
A little over four miles past the Nakalele Blowhole by mile marker 16 (if you've realized
that the math doesn't add up, it's because Honoapi'ilani Highway changes into Kahekili
Highway) are
the Olivine Pools.
The coastal panoramas from here are breathtaking, and
even if you never walk down to the pools, the views alone are reason enough to stop. For
most visitors, the whole point of coming here is to swim and bathe in the shallow tidepools
perfectly perched on a lava rock outcropping. On calm days when the wind is light and
the ocean is mellow and smooth, this can be one of the most serene perches you'll find
anywhere on the island. However, the ocean is rarely calm along this stretch of shoreline,
and winter can see 20-foot surf cascading over the rocky pinnacle. That makes swimming
in the pools exceptionally dangerous. A good rule of thumb is to sit and watch them for a
while and wait to see if any waves are crashing into them. If the ocean is calm and isn't
reaching the pools, then this is the safest time for swimming or wading. If waves are wash-
ing into the pools—even small ones—keep out. Visitors have been swept to their deaths
here.
