Incredible Nakalele Blowhole off Nakalele Point on Maui

Nakalele Blowhole

The Nakalele Blowhole at Nakalele Point is a popular destination on Maui for tourist who want to see this unique performance by Mother Nature.

The Nakalele Blowhole is actually a lava tube that shoots water greater than forty feet into the Hawaiian sky when the conditions of the Pacific Ocean waves are ideal.

After many years of constant surf pounding, the waves created an undercut and eventually wore away a lava shelf. A several foot wide hole developed. This process creates an amazing spectacle as the waves crash in and shoot straight up through the opening, called the Nakalele Blowhole.

Every wave that rolls in pushes water and air through the hole, creating the blowhole eruption that is similar to a geyser, like Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.

Sadly, a California man recently drowned as he got too close to the Nakalele Blowhole. 44 year old David Potts of San Anselmo, California was killed Saturday when a large wave pushed the tourist into the hole opening.

Witnesses state that the man briefly surfaced from the hole when the next wave rolled in, but then disappeared and was not seen again. After an extensive search that lasted for several days that included divers and helicopters, the body of David Potts was not recovered.

Blowholes are very popular to watch and several can be found across the Hawaiian islands. On Oahu, the Halona Blowhole is another popular tourist attraction.

Back in 2002, a teenager from California – Daniel Dick, also drowned when he fell into Halona Blowhole near Sandy Beach on Oahu’s East side.

The jagged lava rocks off Nakalele Point are amazing to see but can be very dangerous. Be sure to keep a safe distance from the Nakalele Blowhole and the strong waves that pound this scenic area.

The easiest way to reach Nakalele Point and see the Nakalele Blowhole is to drive along the Honoapi’ilani Highway (Highway 30) until you reach a parking lot about a half mile past mile marker 38.
From the parking lot, proceed to walk toward the ocean. You’ll arrive at a magnificent lookout, offering a fantastic view of the Nakalele Blowhole.

To actually reach the Nakalele Blowhole, follow a path approximately 200 feet down the hill.