Lydgate Beach Park

Lonely Planet review

Families flock to the clean, safe, conveniently located Lydgate Beach Park, with calm waters in a large seawater pool protected by a stone breakwater. It's ideal for shallow swimming and beginning snorkeling. Beware of the open ocean beyond the pool, where currents are strong. Amenities include changing rooms, rest rooms, showers, drinking water, picnic pavilions, lifeguard and ample parking. The Eastside paved coastal path runs through the park.

In 1994 thousands of local volunteers helped build the enchanting Kamalani Playground at the northern end of the park. This massive 16,000-sq-ft wooden castle has swings, slides, mirror mazes, a suspension bridge and other kid-pleasing contraptions. At the southern end of the park, the Kamalani Kai Play Bridge is reason alone to stop here. Another community-built, giant wooden labyrinth with spiral slides, confounding ramps and stairs to nowhere, plus kid art strewn throughout, this fanciful bridge fosters serious playtime. When we visited, construction was under way for soccer fields.

To get here, turn makai (seaward) on Kuhio Hwy between the 5- and 6-mile markers.