The Nuuanu Pali is a rocky, near-vertical cliff covered by thick vegetation that rises about 2,000 feet from the level ground on the windward side of the island of Oahu. About two million years ago, a catastrophic landslide caused half of the Ko'olau volcano to slide into the sea. The portion of the elevated terrain that remained is the Nuuanu Pali. On this site a reinforced concrete viewing platform was constructed that it is now called the Nuuanu Pali Lookout.

There is a historical fact attributed to the Nuuanu Pali. It is said that in the late 1700s, Kamehameha I, from the island of Hawaii, sought to unite under one rule all of the Hawaiian Islands. The battle for Oahu began with the arrival of Kamehameha's forces at Waikiki in 1795. The opposing force on Oahu was at that time under the leadership of Chief Kalanikupule. After numerous hard-fought battles, Kalanikupule's warriors were driven to the Nuuanu Valley and up to the cliff of Nuuanu Pali. The two waging forces fought with Hawaiian spears and Western firearms but Kamehameha had the winning advantage since he employed powerful cannons. The battle, called Kaleleka'anae (leaping of the fish), refers to the Oahu warriors who were forced off Pali's cliff. There were about 400 who died during the battle. With Kamehameha's victory on Oahu and the signing of an agreement with Kauai, his rule was solidified and he became the first king of the Hawaiian Islands.

From the Nuuanu Pali Lookout on windy days, you can feel what it is like to be blown away by the strong winds coming from the windward side of the island. Some people will tell you that if you fall over the cliff, the wind there is so strong that you would be blown right back up again ... this, however is not the case and visitors should not attempt to jump off the cliff. It does get quite chilly at the lookout during winter and it would be a good idea to have a jacket ready. The view from this cliff at the top of Nuuanu Valley is unsurpassed. Here, one can see a panoramic view of Oahu's windward side. It has been said that Mark Twain once called this view the most beautiful in the world.

Clearly visible from afar to the left is the Mokoli'i Island which was nicknamed "Chinaman's Hat" since it almost resembles the typical headgear used by a Chinese farm worker. The Ulupa'u crater, which according to geologists erupted during the same period as Diamond Head and Punchbowl, is similarly visible on the other end at the far right. Right thru the middle part of the scenic sight is Kaneohe which is one of Oahu's largest suburbs. Clearly seen from the lookout is its business sector and the many beautiful beachfront homes, as well as the homes located further inland.

Kaneohe was earlier noted to be one of the island's most productive agricultural communities. If one looks slightly to the left of Kaneohe most of the Ho'omalihia Botanical Garden can be seen. Within this botanical garden are found tropical plants from around the world, including many which are unique to Hawaii. To the right of Kaneohe one can see another suburb called Kailua. Further out is the Mokapu Peninsula which once supported a thriving Hawaiian community that stocked large saltwater ponds with fish. The Kaneohe Marine Corps Base now occupies the whole peninsula and continues to manage these ponds as a protected wetland habitat for endangered water birds.

Along the same line of sight but nearer to the Nuuanu Pali, is the Kapa'a Quarry. This quarry is the main source of crushed rock aggregates needed for Oahu's construction industry. Ancient Hawaiians mined nearby sites to make stone adzes or cutting tools. Also clearly visible from the lookout is the H-3 Freeway which snakes through the valley below. This newly built highway that is visibly seen stretches between the vicinity of the entrance to the marine base and the entry point to the tunnels built through the Koolau mountain range. Beyond the land mass you can see all of Kaneohe Bay. Its lagoon is home to almost every kind of shallow-water reef coral found in the islands. The bay is protected from offshore waves by Hawaii's only barrier reef. Within the bay and close to Kaneohe is Mokuolo'e or "Coconut Island," which during the 1800s was a favorite resort of the Hawaiian royalty. Researchers from the University of Hawaii have since been working at the Institute of Marine Biology which was set up in this small island.