Mākaha (Hawaiian for "fierce",[3][4][5] or "savage",[6][7][8] pronounced [maːˈkɐhə]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaiʻi, United States.

It is a town located along the Pacific coast, west of the Mākaha Valley, and at the foot of Mt.

In the Hawaiian language its name means “fierce” or “savage”, which refers to the group of bandits who were based in the Mākaha Valley.

200 years later, it was converted into a luakini, where human sacrifices were dedicated to the god Kū – a typical progression indicating Mākaha now supported a large enough population to have its own chief.

Mākaha is the last town going northbound on the leeward side of O'ahu, and is a part of Honolulu County.

It is located at the bottom of the Waianae Mountains, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Mākaha Valley to the east.

Ka'ala, which is just east of Mākaha and is the highest point on the island of O'ahu at 4,020 feet.

You would want to follow Farrington Highway northbound on Oahu's west shore until you pass the neighboring town of Waiʻanae.

Mākaha Beach Park in the town center is located on 84-369 Farrington Hwy, Makaha HI 96792.

One of the most popular events still held at Mākaha is Buffalo's Big Board Contest, an annual surf contest named in honor of Mākaha lifeguard and surfing legend Richard “Buffalo” Keaulana.

In these waters, Buffalo not only invented some of the most outrageous methods of surfing, but also raised his world champion son Rusty.