Beach sights in O'ahu
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Waikiki Beach
The 2-mile stretch of white sand commonly referred to as Waikiki Beach runs from Hilton Hawaiian Village in the west to Kapi'olani Park in the east. Along the way, the beach changes names and personalities. In the early morning, the surprisingly quiet beach belongs to walkers and joggers. Strolling down the beach toward Diamond Head at dawn can actually be a meditative experience.
By midmorning it looks like a normal resort beach - body-board, surfboard and catamaran concessionaires and lots of beached bodies. By noon it's challenging to walk along the packed beach without stepping on anyone.As the beachfront developed, landowners haphazardly constructed seawalls and offs…
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Malaekahana State Recreation Area
Swimming is generally good year-round here, although there are occasionally strong currents in winter. This popular family beach is also good for many other water activities, including bodysurfing, board surfing and windsurfing. Kalanai Point, the main section of the park, is less than a mile north of La'ie and has picnic tables, barbecue grills, camping, rest rooms and showers.
You'll feel all sorts of intrepid pride when you discover the wild and rugged beach, just north of town, in the Malaekahana State Recreation Area. A long, narrow strip of sand stretches between Makahoa Point to the north and Kalanai Point to the south with a thick inland barrier of ironwoods.
Moku'…
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Makua Beach
It is difficult to award such a presumptuous title as most beautiful beach, but few would be faulted if they preferred Makua Beach, an undeveloped stretch of coast where scenery and cultural significance intermingle. A perfect arc of white sand is backed by the pyramid-shaped mountains of the Wai'anae Range. This is the site of many traditional Hawaiian burials at sea, including that of beloved musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, aka Braddah Iz.
Locals crawl out of their nine-to-five lives on holiday weekends to absorb the sun and spirit of the beach. The powerful shorebreaks are popular with body-boarders and high surf waves appear in winter and spring. Spinner dolphins are …
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Sunset Beach Park
Sunset Beach Park is the bikini queen of all North Shore beaches. Leggy white sands, perfect proportions of sea and sky and a nearly golden halo of sunlight. In winter, the beauty becomes a beast with monster waves and challenging breaks that make it a classic winter surfing destination. Come summer, the shoreline begins to smooth out and the waves mellow. The beach has rest rooms, showers and a lifeguard tower.
The tremendous surf activity causes the slope of the beach to become increasingly steep as the season goes on. Backyards is a complete reef break off Sunset Point at the northern end and draws a lot of tow surfers as well as top windsurfers. There are strong curre…
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Sans Souci Beach
Sans Souci Beach, also known as Kaimana Beach because of its proximity to the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, Sans Souci attracts sunbathers and swimmers keen to avoid the main tourist scene. Despite being by itself, it also has a lifeguard station and outdoor showers. Many residents come to Sans Souci to swim their daily laps out to a wind sock marker and back.
A shallow coral reef close to the shore makes for calm, protected waters and provides reasonably good snorkeling. More coral can be found by following the Kapua Channel as it cuts through the reef, although if you swim here beware of currents that can pick up. Check conditions with the lifeguard before venturing ou…
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Fort DeRussy Beach
Connected by a footpath to Kahanamoku Beach, Fort DeRussy Beach is one of the least-crowded Waikiki beaches and borders 1800ft of the Fort DeRussy Military Reservation. The water is usually calm and good for swimming. When conditions are right, the beach is used by windsurfers, boogie boarders and board surfers. There are two beach huts, open daily, which rent windsurfing equipment, boogie boards, kayaks and snorkel sets.
In addition to lifeguards and showers, you'll find an inviting grassy lawn with palm trees offering some sparse shade, providing an alternative to frying on the sand.
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Kahanamoku Beach
Fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Kahanamoku Beach is protected by a breakwater at one end and a pier at the other, with a coral reef running between the two. It's a calm swimming area with a gently sloping sandy bottom. It was named for Duke Kahanamoku, a surfer and swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal in the 100m freestyle in 1912, and went on to become a Hawaiian celebrity and legend.
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beach
The beach fronting Bellows Air Force Base is a long beach with fine sand and a natural setting backed by ironwood trees. The small shorebreak waves are good for beginner bodysurfers and board surfers.
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