Lanai Attraction Guide
Kahekili's Leap is a dramatic Lanai cliffside at Kaunolu, tied to warrior traditions, ancient village remains and remote coastal views.
Kahekili's Leap is a rock ledge on Lanai's south shore. It was here where King Kamehameha's warriors proved their bravery by leaping 80 feet (24 m) into the ocean below. This is a steep rock face, but what adds to the challenge is the fact that the rocks at the base extend about 15 feet (4.5 m) outwards and the water is only about 10-20 feet (3-6 m) deep and the ocean bottom rocky.
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Kahekili's Leap is located at the Kaunolu Village Site on Lanai's remote south coast. From Lanai City, visitors generally travel west toward Kaumalapau Harbor, then use rough unpaved roads toward Kaunolu. The map point is kept at the current page coordinates for the cliffside area. Road conditions can be rough and unsafe after rain, so visitors should use a proper vehicle, check current access and avoid the trip in poor conditions.
Kahekili's Leap is located at the Kaunolu Village Site on Lanai's remote south coast.
The site is tied to stories of Kahekili, the Maui alii who controlled Lanai in the late 1700s, and to warrior traditions connected with courage and cliff diving.
The National Park Service describes the leap as about 63 feet into roughly 12 feet of water, with a rock shelf near the base.
No. Visitors should treat the site as a historic and cultural landmark. The cliff, shallow water, rock shelf and remote setting make jumping extremely dangerous.
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly recommended because the route to Kaunolu uses rough, unpaved roads. Wet weather can make the road unsafe or impassable.
