Oahu Beaches

SOUTH SHORE

The South Shore of Oahu commences at the 170 m high Makapuu Point and extends to Barbers Point 50 km to the west. In between is 90 km of shoreline containing 44 beaches that total 30 km in length. The remainder of the shoreline consists of basalt and tuff in the east, developed shoreline along parts of Manalua Bay, at Ala Wai boat harbour, Kewalo Basin, Honolulu Harbour-Keehi Lagoon, Honolulu Airport and Pearl Harbour in the centre and finally section of raised reefs along the Ewa-Barbers Point coast. Most of the shore is fringed by reefs average a few hundred meters in width which generally results in lower waves at the shore and numerous surf breaks out on the reefs. While the Waikiki beaches steal the limelight, there are other beaches to either end of the island that offer similar high tide reflective sandy beaches and wide reef-controlled surf zone, without the backing hotels and development.

OAHU 108-111 SANDY BEACH
No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

108 Kapaliokamoa 3 6 LTT 50 m

109 Wawamalu-Kaloko 5 7 R+beachrock 1600 m

110 Sandy Beach 4 7 R/LTT 500 m

111 Halona Cove 3 6 R+rocks 50 m

The 4 km section of shore between Makapuu Point and Koko Crater is the most exposed section of the South Shore. It faces southeast exposing it to both the prevailing south swell, as well as refracted trade wind waves. The shore is dominated by the 180 m high cliffs of Makapuu Point to the east and the steep slopes of 370 m high Koko Crater to the west. In between is a sloping coastal plain fringed along the shore by Wawamalu and Sandy beaches, with two small sheltered beaches to either end, totalling four beach (O 108-111). The Kalanianaole Highway provides direct access to the western three beaches.
Kapaliokamoa beach (O-108) is a low gradient 50 m long pocket of fine sand located in a 100 m deep cove that was formed when the Kapaliokamoa breakwater was constructed. The narrow entrance lowers waves to less than 0.5 m at the shore. This is a quiet little cove little used by the public. The outer section of cove is exposed to waves and a rip flows out of the cove during period of high waves.
Wawamalu-Kaloko beach (O-109) commences at Kaloko Point a low basalt point. The beach trends to the southeast for 1600 m as a crenulate rock dominated shoreline. It consists of a high tide and storm sandy beach fronted by continuous basalt boulders, with boulders and rock reefs also extending 50-100 m off the beach. As a consequence the beach is unsuitable for swimming and only used by rock fishers and surfers on the outer Irma’s and Pipe Little‘s breaks. The beach is backed by a low degraded foredune and an undeveloped park area, then the highway running 50-100 m inland.
Sandy Beach (O-110) is the first viewed by travellers driving east of Honolulu. It is located right on the highway, with a large car park and beach park facilities, and surf at the shore. All these combine to ensure the beach is heavily utilised by locals and visitors. It is part of Sandy Beach Park and patrolled by lifeguards, with two towers on the beach. The curving 500 m long beach receives waves averaging 1 m, which usually break along the southern half of the beach as a heavy shorebreak favoured by the more adventurous bodysurfers and bodyboarders. This beach has been the scene of numerous injuries and extreme care should be taken if swimming or surfing here. The lifeguard erect signs the length of the beach to warn of the potential dangers. The eastern half of the beach is fronted by basalt rocks and reefs with wave breaking over the reefs up to 100 m offshore and producing the Full Point and Half Point surf breaks favoured by board surfers. The wave flowing off the point and along the beach feeds a rip that runs out off the southern rocks.
Halona Cove (O-111) is a small 80 m deep, 100 m wide rocky cove located in the Koko Crater tuff 300 m west of Sandy Beach, with a jagged tuff rock platfrom in between. The highway climbs the slopes backing the cove, with car parks to either side. The cove contains a small sheltered 50 m long high tide beach at its base, which narrows to a 10 m wide patch of sand at the shore. Rocks and high rock platforms extend seaward either side, with backing slopes of tuff rising to 50 m. Waves are usually low at the beach, however a permanent rip flows out of the narrow entrance and increase in velocity as wave height increases. During low waves it is a popular sunbathing and swimming beach, however it become hazardous once waves exceed 1 m.

OAHU 112 HANAUMA BAY

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

112 Hanauma Bay 2 5 R+fringing reef 700 m
Hanauma Bay is the most picturesque and most popular beach on Oahu, and probably amongst the most popular beaches in the world. The circular bay occupies the partly eroded 190 m high Nono’ula Crater, with the side and rear slopes rising steeply to between 50-150 m. The curving 700 m long beach (O-112) occupies the rear of the bay and faces southeast out of the 400 m wide bay entrance between Palea and Pai’olu’olu points. Well develop rock platforms cut into the tuff extend back from the point to the beach, with the sheltered sandy carbonate beach linking the two side of the bay. The beach is paralleled by a fringing reef located 100-200 m offshore, with a shallow lagoon in between the reef and shore. Southerly swell waves and more easterly trade wind waves are reduced by wave refraction upon entering the bay and average less than 1 m at the outer edge of the reef. The waves break across the shallow reef, with very low wave to calm conditions at the shore. However all the water that moves across the reef return seawards through two permanent rips located to either end of the reef.
Because of the nature of the bay and reef it was declared a Marine Conservation District in 19xx, and the sounding area is part of Hanauma Bay State Recreation Area. In order to conserve the reef and beach the number of visitors is limited by the size of the 1500-space car park and an entry fee. It is also closed for maintenance on Tuesdays. In addition access to the rock platforms is prohibited owing to the hazardous nature of the exposed outer ends of the bay and the turbulent Toilet Bowl, a narrow cove on the northern side of the bay.
To maintain the ecology of the bay and safety of the visitors, all visitors must watch a video about the bay and how to safely swim and snorkel inside the reef. In addition two lifeguard towers are located on the beach.

OAHU 113-119 MAUNALUA BAY (EAST)

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

113 Portlock 2 5 R+fringing reef 400 m

114 Maunalua Beach Park (east) 2 5 R+fringing reef 200 m

115 Maunalua Beach Park (west) 2 5 R+fringing reef 300 m

116 Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park 2 5 R+fringing reef 300 m

117 Paiko Peninsula 2 5 R+fringing reef 1300 m

118 Nui Beach 2 5 R+fringing reef 800 m

119 Kawaiku’i Beach Park 2 5 R+fringing reef 1100 m
Maunalua Bay is an 8.5 km wide south to southeast-facing bay bordered by Kawaiha Point and 190 m high Nono’ulka Crater to the east, and the Kupikipiki’o (Black) Point to the west, at the base of Diamond Head. In between is a continuous shallow fringing reef located 1 km offshore in the east gradually narrowing to 300 m in the west. The reef effectively blocks all ocean waves from reaching the shore resulting in a very low energy narrow beach. The once near continuous sandy beach has been modified both in Hawaiian times with the construction of the Nui and Wailupe fishpond, and particularly more recently with the filling and development of the fishpond, the construction of beachfront houses along much of the beach, and the associated construction of seawalls along properties located too close to the shoreline. As a consequence today the beach can be divided into eleven section (O 113-123). Beaches O 113 to 119 are located along the 5 km of shore between Portlock and Wailupe Peninsula.
Portlock beach (O-113) today consists of a narrow 400 m long strip of low energy south-facing beach backed by a continuous wall and beachfront houses. The beach once continued south for several hundred more metres, but has now been replaced by houses and seawalls. The reefs lie 1 km offshore with usually very low wave to calm conditions at the shore. The Wall, Point, China Wall, Fingers and Poles surf breaks are all located 1-1.5 km south along the rocky foreshore and fringing reefs of Kawaihoa Point.
Maunalua Beach Park is a 600 m long park bordered to either side by the trained entrances to Kuapa Pond. The park is divided in two by a central section of seawall that partly enclosed a small rocky lined pond. The east part of the park has a 200 m long beach backed by a 50 m wide grassy park, then the highway with a small car park (O-114) at its western end. The western section of park (O-115) extends for another 300 m to the west. Most of the park shore has been replaced by seawalls, and a large car park fills most of the space. The park is used for launching boats, and has a canoe club located at the western end next to the channel.
Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park (O-116) is located on the western side of the 50 m wide channel. It is a protruding 300 m long grassy park bordered by a low energy beach. It has a small car park and toilet facilities, with another small channel lined with concrete jetties forming its western boundary. It has a steep narrow beach and usually very low wave to calm conditions. There is however deep water and tidal flow through the channel. The Turtles surf break is located 1 km offshore on the outer side of the fringing reef.
Paiko Peninsula (O-117) is a recurved spit that has formed by sediment moving eastward along the original sandy bay shore and building out then curving around into the once natural mouth of Kuapa Pond, and enclosing the Paiko Lagoon. Today the peninsula is covered in houses along its western half, with the eastern end and lagoon now included in the Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. The only public access is via a walkway off Paiko Drove. It is narrow and steep with usually low wave to calm conditions. The beach commences at the eastern tip of the peninsula opposite Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park and curves round to trend west for a total of 1300 m. All the way it is fronted by shallow 800 m wide reef flats, with the Paiko Drive surf break out on the edge of the reefs.
Nui Peninsula is a 300 m long infilled fishpond that is now covered with houses and separates the Paiko and Nui beaches. Nui Beach (O-118) commences on the western side of the old pond, and trends to the east, curving for the final few hundred meters to terminate against the eastern seawalls of Kawaiku’i Beach Park. The entire beach is backed by seawall-fronted houses. The beach is steep and narrow and in places replaced by the seawall and rock debris. The shallow frnging reefs extend 700 m to the south with usually low to no waves at the shore.
Kawaiku’i Beach Park (O-119) is a 300 m long beach park located on the highway. The grassy park has a car park, toilets and a shelter. It is fronted by a steep, narrow low energy beach and the shallow 600 m wide reef flats. The beach park is bordered by low rock groynes, both of which interrupt the easterly movement of sand along the beach, with offset and erosion on the downdrift (eastern) side of each groyne. The beach continues past the groyne at the western end of the park for a total of 1100 m, the reminder of the beach backed by seawalls and houses, and in places replaced by the walls.

OAHU 120-123 WAILUPE-WAIALAE-KAHALA BEACHES

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

120 Wailupe Beach Park 2 5 R+fringing reef 1400 m

121 Kahala Hilton 3 6 R+fringing reef 300 m

122 Waialae Country Club 3 6 R+fringing reef 400 m

123 Waialae-Kahala 2 5 R+fringing reef 1800 m

The Wailupe Peninsula, an infilled fishpond, marks the approximate centre of the Maunalua Bay shoreline. To the west of the 500 m long peninsula is 3.8 km of shoreline that extends to the eastern side of Black Head. The fringing reef continues offshore narrowing from 500 m off the peninsula to 300 m at Black Head. The once continuous beach is now divided into four beach sections (O 120-123) by structures and a channelised stream crossing the shore. Much of the shore is backed by houses and tourist facilities, with two small beach parks for public access.
Wailupe Beach Park (O-120) is small beach park located on the western side of the peninsula, with the 10 m wide channelised Wailupe Stream separating the park form the seawalled peninsula. The small grassy park has a car park and toilets and extends west for 200 m, with the next 900 m of beach backed by houses, and the final 300 m long section by the Waialae Country Club golf course and terminating at a 100 m long basalt groyne that marks the boundary with the Kahala Hilton. A small channelised stream drains the golf course and crosses the western section of the beach. The park beach is a very low energy narrow, eroding, rock-littered strip of sand and rocks. Most of the 1400 m long beach is backed by makeshift low seawalls and rock debris. Then entire system is fronted by shallow reef flat that extends 500 m seaward to the outer reef edge. The Wailupe surf break is located on the outer reefs off the peninsula.
The Kahala Hilton (O-121) occupies a 300 m long section of the shore, with basalt groynes extending 100 m seaward at either end of the beach. The beach has been nourished and averages 20-30 m in width and is backed by a row of coconut palms and the resort. The groynes and beach are all kept in a manicured state, with a pontoon floating just off the beach. This is the nicest beach on Maunalua Bay, but open only to the hotel guests. A 50 m wide channel has been dredged along the front of the beach, which links to a wider channel to the west. During high waves a westerly current flows along the channel.
The Waialae Country Club occupies a large area of the land located between the highway-H-1 and the shore. The club abuts the shore along the western end of Wailupe Beach and along a 400 m long section of beach (O-121) between the western groyne of the Kahala Hilton and Waialae Beach Park. The beach is fronted by a 100 m wide dredged channel, which links with the natural channel through the reef in front of Waialae Stream. This beach has the narrowest reef in the bay permitting slightly high waves to reach the shore where they maintain a 10-20 m wide sandy beach. The beach is backed by the large building and facilities associated with the country club.
Waialae Beach Park (O-122) straddles the channelised Waialae Stream, which include a low concrete groyne extending 200 m offshore into the 100 m wide channel. The channel trends south then southeast through the 500 m wide reef. The small beach park provides parking and toilet facilities on the eastern side of the channel. The Kahala Beach section extends west of the canal and park and is backed by houses all the way to Black Head with three public access tracks between the houses to the beach. The entire beach is 1.8 km in length and narrows to the west where it becomes increasingly backed and finally replaced by seawalls. The reefs gradually narrow from 500 m in the east to 300 m where they link with the basalt rocks on the tip of Black Point.

OAHU 124-126 KA’ALAWAI-DIAMOND HEAD

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

124 Ka’alawai Beach 4 6 R+fringing reef 900 m

125 Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park 4 6 R+fringing reef 800 m

126 Diamond Head Beach Park 4 6 R+fringing reef 100 m
The southern side of Diamond Head between Black Point and Diamond Head Beach Park faces due south into the predominate southerly swell. Then coastline is relatively steep, with a series of narrow beaches (O-124-126) along the base all fronted by 300-400 m wide irregular fringing reefs which produce a number of good surf breaks.
Ka’alawai Beach (O-124) commences against the western base of Black Point and trends to the west for 900 m, all the way backed by houses occupying the lower slopes of Diamond Head. The only public access to the beach is via Kulamanu Place at the very eastern end. This leads to a small sandy section of beach bordered by the basalt rock of the point to the east and extensive slabs of beachrock to the west. The beach receives wave averaging about 0.5 m which surge up a 10-20 m wide moderately steep sandy beach alternating with outcrops of beachrock. Fringing reefs extend 300 m offshore with the Black Point, Kaiko’o, Mahoney’s and Browns surf breaks all located out on the reefs and point off the eastern end of the beach. The waves breaking off the point area and gaps in the reef maintain two permanent rips flowing out though channels in the reef.
Then 30 m high Kuilei Cliffs extends along the southern side of Diamond Head wedged in between the road and shoreline. This area is a beach park with parking up on Diamond Head Road and a walking track down to the shore. The moderately steep 10 m wide beach (O-125) hugs the shoreline alternating with beachrock outcrops, while irregular fringing reef extends 300 m offshore. There are a number of good surf breaks on the reefs including Cliffs and Lighthouse, the lighthouse located on the cliffs at the western end of the park. Waves are lowered to about 0.5 m at the shore. Because of the gaps in the reef water converges and flows out though the channels as permanent rips, with three well defined rips crossing the reefs.
Diamond Head Beach Park (O-126) is a small 100 m long park and beach located immediately west of the lighthouse and wedged at the base of the 30 m high cliffs between the road and the shore. There is no direct access to the park, other than walking round the rocks from Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park. The beach is narrow, with the cliffs behind and beachrock outcropping along most of the shore. T he reefs continue alongshore averaging 400 m in width, with the Suicides, Graveyards, Zeros and Winches breaks out on the outer reefs. Two well define channels cross the reef to either end of the beach and help maintain permanent rips.

OAHU 127-129 KALUAHOLE-SAN SOUCI

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

127 Kaluahole Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 100 m

128 Outrigger Canoe Club 3 6 R+fringing reef 80 m

129 San Souci Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 200 m
To the west of Diamond Head is the beginning of a coastal plan associated initially with the San Souci-Waikiki beach-barrier system. The system once extended as a continuous beach from Kaluahole Beach west to Waikiki and beyond. Today seawalls, groynes and other structures have divided the beach into 11 systems (O 127-137), many of which have been nourished with exotic sands from other islands and even other lands. The first 1 km of shore has three small beaches (O 127-129) occupying 350 m of the shore, the remainder replaced by seawalls.
Kaluahole Beach (O-127) is located at the southwestern tip of Diamond Head and while it is backed by houses can be accessed from the small Makalei Beach Park located immediately to the east. There is however no public parking for the park or beach. The 100 m long beach is steep and narrow, with low tide beachrock paralleling the shore, then fringing reefs extending 300 m offshore. The beach terminates against a protruding seawall. The Tonggs surf break is located out on the reef off the beach.
The Outrigger Canoe Club occupies a beachfront location in amongst the densely developed shoreline that extends east of San Souci beach. The 80 m long beach (O-128) is wedged in between the seawall fronting the clubhouse restaurant and a 50 m long groyne, the beach widening west towards the groyne. There is a public access path between the tall buildings that back the groyne. The beach is sheltered by the reefs that extend 400 m offshore, with a few small boats and canoes usually moored close to shore. There is a small channel and rip that heads southeast off the beach and maintains a seaward flow of water. The Ricebowl and Old Man’s surf breaks are located out on the reefs off the club.
San Souci Beach (O-129) occupies the shoreline at the eastern end of Kapiolani Park and is the eastern most public beach in the Waikiki beach system and has a lifeguard tower. The 200 m long beach is bordered by the Outrigger Canoe Club groyne to the east and the 100 m long side of the Natatorium to the west. The beach is up to 50 m wide, with the park and parking behind, then Kalakaua Avenue and the large Kapolani Park. This is a popular beach with locals and tourist who wander his far. The beach narrows east towards the groyne, where it is at times replaced by a seawall. Reefs extend 300 m offshore and usually lower the waves to less than 0.5 m at the shore. However there is a deep sandy channel and associated rip extending east of the beach and care should be taken if swimming off the beach in this area, as the rip flows out across the reef. Out on the reef are the Castles and Publics breaks, and further out on big days the Steamer Lane break.

OAHU 130-137 WAIKIKI BEACHES

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

130 Kapiolani Beach Park 3 6 R+fringing reef 200 m

131 Queens Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 300 m

132 Kuhio Beach Park 3 6 R+fringing reef 600 m

133 Waikiki Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 600 m

134 Grays beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 400 m

135 Fort Derussy Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 500 m

136 Kahanamoku Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 500 m

137 Milo Tree 3 6 R+fringing reef 50 m

The Waikiki beaches extend for 3 km between the western side of the Natatorium and the basalt breakwaters of the Ala Wai boat harbour. The once continuous curving beach can now be divided into at least eight sections (O 130-137) based on the location of seawalls, groynes, hotels and traditional named sections. Fringing reefs extends 500 m off either end, narrowing to 200-300 m in the centre. While this is the most famous and one of the most popular sections of beach in the world, it is also one of the most heavily modified and developed, with seawalls backing the entire beach, several rocks groynes and concrete breakwaters crossing and paralleling the beach, and nine major hotels located behind sections of the beach. In addition the beach sediment texture has been modified by sand nourishment from a range of sources, while the width of the beach is a function of both nourishment and the proximity to groynes. It ranges from up to 50 m at Kahanamoku Beach to no beach and exposed seawall along sections of Grays and Kapiolani beaches. The beach is a product of ad hoc development over the past century and is long overdue for a more coordinated plan of management and restoration.
Kapiolani Beach Park (O-130) is the ocean side of the large Kapiolani Park that occupies about 100 ha of the coastal plain between Diamond Head and Kalakaua Avenue. The beach park extends along the shore for 200 m between the Natatorium and a 50 m long rock groyne. However the beach consists of a 50-100 m long sliver of sand wedged in against the western groyne, with seawall exposed along the eastern half of the beach. Fringing reefs extend 300 m off the eastern end narrowing to 200 m in the west, with the lefthand Publics break running along the edge of the reef. The beach is relatively steep and narrows to the east, with a lifeguard tower located 20 m east of the groyne. A seawall and a walkway backs the beach, then a 100 m wide shady park that extends to Kalakaua Avenue.
Queens Beach (O-131) occupies a 300 m long section of straight steep sandy beach located between two rock groynes. The beach is narrow in the west widening to west, partly because of a greater set back in the seawall. The lifeguard tower is located in the centre of the beach, with the walkway and park behind the eastern half and sand extending back to Kalakaua Avenge behind the western half. The fringing reef continues to narrow to the west and lies only 100 m off the western end. The lefthand Cunhas surf break run along the tapering edge of the reef, linking with Publics during larger swell. Because of the narrower reef waves average about 0.5 m at the shore and deeper water is located closers to shore. As a result care should be used if swimming off this beach.