The area consists primarily of older houses, smaller apartment buildings, and side streets.
The valley heights have hiking trails owned by the state for public use, and are mostly underdeveloped; a non-profit conservation organization, Hawaii Nature Center, has a small property providing conservation education and work opportunity to local schools students.
Punahou school was opened in Makiki on July 11, 1842, with the mission of educating missionary children, on a land grant of 200 acres from Governor Boki near the site of Kapunahou water spring.
[1] Makiki is also the site of the Claus "King of Sugar" Spreckels Victorian-style mansion near Dole Street, which was later refurbished and converted into the St. Louis Alumni Clubhouse.
"[3] Central Union Church on Beretania and Punahou streets was cornerstoned on December 2, 1922 (completed in 1924), on property that belonged to the Dillingham homestead.