Puu Pehe (Sweetheart Rock) | Go Hawaii

Pu‘upehe

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Pu‘upehe

What: An iconic Lānaʻi landmark between Mānele and Hulopoʻe Bay
Where: A short hike from the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi
 
One hundred and fifty feet off the southern coastline between Mānele and Hulopoʻe Bays, the iconic Pu‘upehe rises majestically 80 feet out of the water. Besides being a picturesque natural landmark, Pu‘upehe is also steeped in Hawaiian folklore.
 
Legend tells of two lovers, a Hawaiian maiden named Pehe from Lāhainā and a young warrior from Lānaʻi named Makakehau. He was so taken with her beauty that whenever he laid eyes upon her they would mist up in tears. Hence his name: Maka (eyes) Kehau (mist). He took her back to Lānaʻi and hid her in a sea cave at the base of Mānele’s cliffs.
 
One day while gathering supplies he noticed a storm brewing and started back, only to find Pehe drowned by the surge of the storm waves. Stricken with grief, Makakehau gathered his beloved in his arms. He wailed out to the gods and his ancestors to help him climb the steep rock island where he eventually buried her. He then jumped from this 80-foot summit into the pounding surf below.
 
To get to Pu‘upehe you can take a short hike from the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi southeast past Hulopoʻe Beach and the rocky tide pools. Hike up the path along the rocky cliffs for about 15-20 minutes and you’ll soon overlook this Lānaʻi landmark. Sunsets here can be especially romantic with dramatic views of Hulopoʻe Bay. You may even spot the spinner dolphins that frequent these waters perched atop this scenic lookout.