O’ahu Beaches

Kawela Bay, has a 1000 ft wide mouth bordered by raised reefs, with the 2600 ft long crescent beach curving round between the points. Reefs extend 600-1000 ft offshore of the points, with a 300 ft wide channel in between, and much of the bay floor being composed of deeper reefs and sand. Due to the presence of reef, waves tend to break well offshore generating surf breaks off the points, as well as small waves and generally calm conditions at the shore. Only larger waves generate a small shorebreak and a drift of water out through the channel.
Turtle Bay is a gaping 0.8 mi wide bay bordered in the east by Kuilima Point and the Turtle Bay resort. The bay contains a mixture of fringing reef, raised reefs, and beachrock along the shore, with three beaches occupying most of the bay shore. Beach 45, Turtle Bay West, extends for 2000 ft from the eastern tip of Kawela Bay to a section of raised reef, and protrudes slightly to the lee of a raised reef islet towards the eastern end. The beach is backed by a dense stand of casuarina trees, with beachrock outcropping along the center. Shallow fringing reef extends 600 ft off the western end of the beach, narrowing to 300 ft by the islet. The reefs induce wave breaking, resulting in generally small waves at the shore, as well as inshore currents that flows east along the beach to exit past the islet. This is a little-used beach due to its difficult accessibility.
Beach 46, Turtle Bay, extends east of the raised reef section for 1300 ft to the beginning of a beachrock section of shore. The beach faces north out off the bay, with scattered fringing reef located off the beach. The reef induces some offshore surf, but allows waves averaging 3 ft to reach the steep sandy beach. Larger waves result in the occurrence of a heavy shorebreak on the sand and beachrock patches. The beach is backed by part of the Turtle Bay golf course and recreational facilities and has low usage.
Beach 47, Turtle Bay East, extends for 1300 ft along the eastern end of the bay to the base of the rocky raised reef off Kuilima Point. The beach is backed by resort cottages, with public access only at the eastern end. The beach is dominated by a near-continuous beachrock ridge, with the small beach located behind the ridge and receiving waves only at high tide or during periods of increased wave height. Due to the occurrence of beachrock, the beach is unsuitable for swimming, and only used for rock fishing. Body surfers and board surfers ride an assortment of small breaks off the beach and point.

O’AHU 48-49 KUILIMA COVE & KAIHALULU BEACH

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

48 Kuilima Cove 3 7 R+reef 500 ft

49 Kaihalulu west 5 8 R+beachrock/reef 1000 ft

50 Kaihalulu Beach 6 8 R+beachrock/reef 2000 ft

51 Kaihalulu east 6 8 R+beachrock/reef 2300 ft

Beach 48, Kuilima Cove, is one of the more attractive and popular beaches of O’ahu. The small, 500 ft long beach is located at the base of the quiet cove, which has a raised reef extending 600 ft offshore on either side, as well as reef outcropping much of the way across the bay mouth. The product is a heavily sheltered little cove with relatively safe swimming under calm conditions. However, when waves break over the reefs the water returns offshore via two rip currents located between the reefs to either side of the cove, with the eastern current flowing across the reef itself. The cove is also contained within the Turtle Bay Resort, with the hotel located on the western Kuilima Point, and a full range of beach facilities backing the well-groomed beach. The facilities are backed by the large hotel parking lot, which is open to the public. As a result the beach is popular with resort guests as well as locals.
Kaihalulu Beach extends east of Kuilima Cove for 1 mi to Kahuku Point, the eastern tip of the North Shore. The beach is backed by a strip of dense casuarina trees followed by the Turtle Bay resort golf course, with access only on foot along the beach or through the golf course. The beach can be divided into three sections based on orientation and dominance of beachrock. Beach 49, Kaihalulu West, begins immediately east of the cove and consists of an east trending 1000 ft long section of upper sandy beach fronted by continuous beachrock, forming a rocky and in places jagged shoreline. The beachrock is fronted by a generally shallow 600-1000 ft wide fringing reef, with a channel though the reef towards the cove. The reef attaches to the eastern end of the beach forming a sandy foreland. Waves are usually small at the shore, however a permanent rip flows out through the channel and intensifies during larger wave conditions. Due to the occurrence of beachrock, this beach is unsuitable for shoreline swimming.
Beach 50, Kaihalulu Beach, begins at the foreland and curves to the east for 2000 ft as sandy high tide beach, which becomes increasingly dominated by beachrock to the east. Deeper fringing reefs extend offshore of the beach and cause waves to break in a variable pattern 300-1000 ft offshore, with a poorly defined channel in the center. Water tends to flows along the shore towards the center of the beach, and then offshore through the channel. Due to the presence of beachrock and rip currents, this is considered a hazardous beach and is unsuitable for swimming.
Beach 51, Kaihalulu East, is a 2300 ft long section of continuous beachrock, backed by a small high tide and storm beach and casuarina trees. Kahuku Point protrudes 1300 ft offshore and forms the eastern boundary of the beach and the North Shore, and is also the northernmost tip of the island. Fringing reef extends to the shore in the west and center with channels in between, causing waves to break up to 1000-1300 ft offshore and usually offshore of the point. Waves average about 3 ft at the shore where they break on the beachrock, making the beach unsuitable for swimming.
O’AHU
Windward shore
The Windward side of O’ahu is home to the island’s longest and most exposed section of shoreline. It begins at Kahuku Point and trends to the southeast for 28 mi to Makapu’u Point. There are 65 mi of shoreline consisting of 55 beaches that occupy 50% of the shore, the remainder being dominated by basalt outcrops. All the beaches are exposed to the northeast trade winds and waves, however protection resulting from the dominance of extensive fringing and barrier reefs and bays allow usually only small waves at the shore. The result is a series of generally low-energy narrow beaches along the shore that are often backed and replaced by seawalls and in some cases are dominated by beachrock. Most beaches are fronted by wide fringing reefs, with various surf breaks commonly found over the outer reefs. Beach access along the coast is varying, from excellent along the Kamehameha and Kalanianole highways, to difficult east of Kuilima Bay and along sections occupied by beachfront houses, to restricted on the Kane’ohe and Bellows military bases.

O’AHU 52-58 KAHUKU POINT-KALUAHOLE

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

52 Kahuku Point 4 6 R+beachrock/reef 800 ft

53 Hanaka’ilio West 5 6 R+beachrock/reef 2300 ft

54 Hanaka’ilio East 6 7 R+beachrock/reef 2600 ft

55 Kalaeuila 5 7 R+beachrock/reef 1000 ft

56 Puanui 4 6 R+beachrock/reef 1300 ft

57 Ke’awa’awaloa 6 7 R+beachrock/reef 4300 ft

58 Kaluahole 6 7 R+beachrock/reef 2300 ft
To the east of Kahuku Point is a 3 mi long section of sand and beachrock shoreline that is the most difficult to access on the island. The Kamehameha Highway cuts across the northeast corner of the island and lies 1 mi inland, with no public vehicle access to any of the seven beaches in between. The backing land is partly undeveloped, some being protected by the James Campbell Wildlife Refuge or bordered by the Turtle Bay, The Links, or Kahuku golf courses.
The seven beaches, numbers 52 through 58, represent a transition in the nature of the coast from the more exposed high-energy North Shore beaches. The western Hanaka’ilio beaches, numbers 52 through 54, face due north, while beaches 55 through 58 face northeast directly into the trade winds. Most of the beaches are dominated by beachrock along the shore, with fringing reef extending a few hundred meters offshore.
Beach 52, Kahuku Point, is a curving 800 ft long north-facing sandy high tide beach, fringed by continuous low tide beachrock and bordered by two arms of raised reef that extend 1000 ft offshore of either end. The reefs leave a 300 ft wide opening through which waves reach the beach. As a result, most waves break over the outer reefs with generally small waves at the shore. While the water is often calm at the shore, a weak rip flows out through the channel and intensifies during larger wave conditions. The beach is backed by a 600 ft wide zone of degraded vegetation followed by the Turtle Bay golf course.
Beach 53, Hanaka’ilio Beach West, extends due east of Kahuku Point and can be divided into two sections. The western section is a slightly curving 2300 ft long sandy beach, with beachrock increasingly exposed to the east. This beach ends at a protruding section of wider beachrock that is fronted by a 300 ft wide shallow and exposed reef. Scattered fringing reefs 600-1000 ft offshore and cause waves to break, resulting in waves averaging about 3 ft at the shore. Beach 54, Hanaka’ilio Beach East, continues east for 2600 ft to the rocky Kalaeuila Point. This beach is dominated by continuous beachrock with sand restricted to the upper high tide beach. Variable reefs and rocks extend 300 ft offshore, with deeper fringing reef beyond. While the rocks and reefs result in smaller waves at the shore, the dominance of rocks make the shore unsuitable for swimming. The beach is backed by a degraded zone of vegetation and is undeveloped and difficult to access.
Beach 55, Kalaeuila, is located on the eastern side of Kalaeuila Point, a 600 ft long section of irregular and jagged raised reef. The 1000 ft long beach consists of two curving sandy sections separated by a slightly protruding 300 ft long central outcrop of beachrock, with high tide sand running behind. The beach is backed by a 300 ft wide zone of semi-stable sand dunes, with aquaculture ponds beyond. Fringing reefs extend 1000 ft offshore producing a wide surf zone and generally small waves at the shore. A strong rip runs out through the eastern side of the reefs.
Beach 56, Puanui, occupies the next small embayment to the south. The shore is a curving 1300 ft long sandy beach with beachrock outcropping to either end and in a few patches along the beach. Partly vegetated 300 ft wide dunes followed by aquaculture ponds back the beach, with a drainage ditch for the ponds located at the rocky southern end of the beach. Low tide beachrock dominates the shore, and there is a parallel band of reef 150 ft offshore that grades into more irregular reefs extending 1000 ft offshore. The reefs and rocks lower waves to less than 3 ft at the shore, however a current flows north to the lee of the inner reef, before turning and flowing offshore off the northern end of the beach as a strong rip.
Beach 57, Ke’awa’awaloa, begins on the southern side of the drainage ditch and trends to the southeast for 0.8 mi to a slightly protruding section of beachrock backed by a second drainage ditch. The beach consists of a strip of high tide sand that is fronted by a continuous outcrop of low tide beachrock, with scattered reefs extending 600-1000 ft offshore. Waves are variable along the shore, exceeding 3 ft in places, and break on the exposed jagged beachrock. In addition, the inner reef channels water into longshore currents that feed two permanent rips flowing out through the reefs and surf. The beach is backed by the old airfield, which now houses the ponds. A second drainage ditch crosses the northern end of the beach.
Beach 58, Kaluahole, begins at the mouth of the southern drainage ditch and curves to the southeast for 2300 ft to Lori Point. The drains and ponds are associated with the James Campbell Wildlife Refuge. The beach is backed by a zone of semi-stable dunes, and consists of a continuous sandy beach, with beachrock outcropping along most of the intertidal zone. Waves break over fringing reefs that extends 600 ft off either end of the beach, with deeper reefs located near the center. The water flowing off the reefs feeds a central rip current.

O’AHU 59-64 KAHUKU-MALAEKAHANA BAY

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

59 Kahuku 5 6 R+beachrock/reef 4200 ft

60 Makahoa Point 4 6 R+beachrock/reef 1300 ft

61 Malaekahana Bay 3 5 R/LTT+fringing reef 6600 ft
Lori Point marks the beginning a section of more accessible Windward coast beaches that continues to Kualoa Point, 12 mi to the southeast. Throughout most of this section the highway runs close to the shore and provides good access to many of the 29 contained beaches. Extensive fringing reefs parallel the coast the entire way resulting in reduced and variable wave height at the shoreline. The first 2 mi between Lori Point and Goat Island contains three beaches, numbers 59 through 62.
Beach 59, Kahuku Beach, is a 0.8 mi long northeast-facing sand and beachrock beach located between Lori Point and Makahoa Point beach. The raised reef of Lori Point borders the north end, with beachrock outcropping for several hundred meters along the protruding center of the beach, and a smaller beachrock outcrop bordering the southern end. Fringing reef lies 300 ft offshore of the northern few hundred meters of beach, and widens to 600-1000 ft to the south. A deep channel flows offshore of the southern sandy section of beach and more immediately offshore of the southern beachrock outcrop. During periods of larger waves, deeper reefs cause waves to break up to 1600 ft offshore, intensifying the rip in the channel. The entire beach is backed by a partly vegetated foredune followed by the Kahuku golf course, resulting in restricted public access. The Seventh Hole surf break is located over the reefs to either side of the southern channel.
Beach 60, Makahoa Point, extends from the beachrock outcrop for 1300 ft southeast to the base of Makahoa Point, a section of raised reef that extends another 1300 ft to the southeast. The narrow, sandy high tide beach is fronted by continuous low tide beachrock followed by a channel, with fringing reef lying 300-600 ft offshore. The channel, located between the reef and shore, flows northward into the main deeper Kahuku Channel and associated rip current. The right hand side of the Seventh Hole break runs along the edge of the reef on the southern side of the channel and directly off the beach. The beach is backed by a 300 ft wide degraded foredune followed by the golf course in the north, with undeveloped land backing the point in the south.
Beach 62, Malaekahana Bay, is a curving 0.8 mi wide east-facing embayment, bordered by Makahoa Point and the sandy foreland to the lee of Moku’auia or Goat Island, with the channelized Malaekahana Stream crossing the northern end of the beach. Between the points the bay shore curves round as a continuous 1 mi long sandy beach. The bay is partly sheltered by fringing reef and rocks that extend out to Kihewamoku Islet located 1 mi offshore, resulting in generally small waves at the shore. These maintain a narrow continuous bar along the base of the beach that extends to the beginning of the Sate Park. From the State Park boundary to the foreland, beachrock and shallow inshore reefs lie just off the beach, further reducing wave height at the shore. The ruins of an old jetty are located along this section. A permanent rip flows south along the beach before turning offshore at the beginning of the southern reefs. The best surf is located over the reefs that extend into the bay south of Makahoa Point. Most of the beach is backed by a continuous 30 ft high, vegetated foredune and beachfront houses followed by the highway, with public access found at a small northern Kahuku section of Malaekahana State Park, as well as at the larger main park that occupies the entire southern foreland. This is a large shady park with extensive parking and picnic and camping areas.

O’AHU 62-64 LA’IE BAY

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

62 Kalanai Point 3 5 R+fringing reef 1300 ft

63 La’ie Bay 4 5 R+channel 3300 ft

64 Hukilau Beach Park 3 6 R+fringing reef 1600 ft
La’ie Bay is a 1 mi wide east-facing bay bordered by Goat Island and the 0.5 mi long La’ie Point and associated islets. La’ie Bay is backed by Malaekahana State Park in the north and La’ie town to the south, with the highway passing close to the center of the bay. The fringing reefs and islets to either side of the bay allow considerable variation in the nature of the surf and shoreline, resulting in the 1 mi long bay beach being divided into three sections as beaches 62 through 64.
Beach 62, Kalanai Point, occupies the northern section of La’ie Bay and extends for 1300 ft. The entire beach is sheltered by Goat Island and the associated fringing reefs that extend up to 1600 ft offshore of the northern end of the beach and narrow to less that 300 ft at the southern end. These result in small waves at the shore and a relatively sheltered narrow, sandy beach. The beach is backed by the well-vegetated dunes followed by the park and park facilities.
Beach 63, La’ie Bay, is the main beach and occupies the center of the bay, curving for .5 mi between the bordering fringing reefs. The beach faces due east out of the bay and is fronted by relatively deeper inshore waters, with some reefs located up to .5 mi offshore. Kahawainui Stream crosses the northern end of the beach, however is usually blocked. Smaller waves pass across the outer reefs unbroken and arrive at the shoreline as moderate waves that break and surge up the moderately steep beach. However, higher waves break directly across the bay entrance. This part of the beach is also part of the Hukilau Beach Park, which provides a public parking lot, but no facilities. This the most popular section of the beach due to its accessibility, parking facilities, and the usually clear sandy beach.
Beach 64, Hukilau Beach Park, occupies the southern section of the bay. The beach is fronted by a shallow 300-600 ft wide fringing reef with deeper scattered reefs beyond, resulting in smaller waves at the shoreline and a reduced beach size. This section is backed by continuous beachfront houses. A right hand surf break runs along the northern side of the fringing reef close to shore.

O’AHU 65-67 LA’IE

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

65 Laniloa Beach 3 6 R+fringing reef 2600 ft

66 Laniloa South 3 6 R+fringing reef 2000 ft

67 La’ie Beach Park 4 5 R+fringing reef 2000 ft
La’ie town extends for .5 mi to either side of La’ie Point. Beginning just south of La’ie Point is a 1 mi stretch of continuous sandy shoreline that extends until the low dunerock bluffs at the southern end of La’ie Beach Park (Pounders Beach). In between are three beaches, numbers 65 through 67, divided by subtle sandy forelands.
Beach 65, Laniloa Beach, begins against the southern base of the 50 ft high dunerock of La’ie Point and curves gently to the south for 2600 ft to a subtle sandy foreland. The narrow beach is backed by continuous beachfront houses followed by the highway. The beach is fronted by shallow fringing reefs 600-1600 ft offshore, resulting in small waves at the shore. Beach 66, Laniloa South, continues south of the foreland for 2000 ft to the next eroding foreland. This eroding beach is backed by a seawall and beachfront houses, with much of the beach replaced by the seawall. The retreating shoreline has a exposed beachrock reef 100-150 ft offshore that runs parallel to the shore for the length of the beach, forming a shallow lagoon between the reef and shore. Beyond the beachrock fringing reefs extend for another 600 ft. The Polynesian Culture Center, known locally as PCC, is located across the highway from the beach. The surf breaks on the fringing reefs are also known as PCC.
Beach 67, La’ie Beach Park (Pounders Beach), is a curving .5 mi long beach located between the southern seawall-edged foreland and a 300 ft long section of cliffed 5-10 ft high dunerock. A deeper sandy channel extends offshore of the beach, with fringing reefs to the north and the channel extending south to Kokololio Beach. The deeper water allows larger waves to reach the shore and produces a shorebreak known as Pounders on the moderately steep beach. The small beach park, located directly off the highway, has a parking lot and grassy reserve, but no facilities. A stream flows across the northern end of the beach, with the ruins of a jetty just beyond.

O’AHU 68-69 KOKOLOLIO BEACH PARK

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

68 Kokololio Beach Park 4 6 R+fringing reef 1600 ft

69 Kokololio South 4 6 R+fringing reef 1600 ft

Beach 68, Kokololio Beach Park, begins on the southern side of the dunerock outcrop and curves to the south for 1600 ft to a subtle sandy foreland formed at the beginning of a reef-fringed section of shore. The beach is fronted by a deeper channel that extends across La’ie Beach Park and trends east out towards deeper reef located 1600 ft offshore. The channel allows waves averaging about 1 ft to reach the shore, where they surge up the moderately steep, narrow breach. The beach is eroding in places, undermining some of the trees. The beach is backed by a 15 ft high foredune followed by the 1600 ft long grassy beach park that includes a large parking lot and a range of facilities, with the highway beyond.
Beach 69, Kokololio South, extends immediately south of the beach park for 1600 ft to the beginning of an eroding section of shore, and is fronted by beachrock followed by a 300-600 ft wide fringing reef. Waves are lowered by the reef resulting in a narrow beach that ebbs to the south along the beachrock, eventually giving way to a continuous seawall. The entire beach is backed by beachfront houses.

O’AHU 70-72 HAU’ULA

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

70 Kila Channel 4 6 R+channel/reef 2000 ft

71 Hau’ula Beach Park 3 5 R+fringing reef 1600 ft

72 Hau’ula 4 6 R+channel 2000 ft
The small town of Hau’ula extends for 1 mi along the Kamehameha Highway, with the Hau’ula Beach Park located between the highway and shoreline in the center of the community. To either side of the park are two deep channels cutting through the fringing reef. Beaches 70 through 72 are located along the shoreline and are backed by the highway.
Beach 70, Kila Channel, is located at the northern end of Hau’ula, beginning at the end of the seawall. The Kila Channel extends all the way to the shore, with the waves reaching the edge of the highway at high tide. The channel is 300 ft wide at the shore, with fringing reef to either side. The channel trends south before turning east through the reef, with more reef located up to .5 mi offshore. Waves break over the northern reef that extends partway across the channel and the southern reefs, resulting in small waves to the lee of the reefs and small surging waves to the lee of the channel. There is a small left hand surf break over the edge of the northern reef.
Beach 71, Hau’ula Beach Park, is located to the lee of a continuous 1000 ft wide section of fringing reef, and has shallow water off the beach and generally small waves at the shore. The beach protrudes slightly to the lee of the reef before narrowing to the south where a seawall has been constructed to protect the bathroom facilities in the center of the park. Shoreline erosion has undermined a number of trees along the shore. Although the reef shelters the beach, there is a gap at the southern end of the reef through which water flows into the deep Hau’ula Channel.
Beach 72, Hau’ula, begins on the southern side of the fringing reef and curves for 2000 ft south to the lee of the deep, sandy Hau’ula Channel. The channel is bordered by shallow reefs extending 1000-1600 ft offshore on either side. The curving beach is narrow and eroding and is fronted by a 150 ft wide fringing reef. The entire beach is backed by seawall-fronted houses followed by the highway, with a drain crossing the southern end. Due to the channel, waves average about 1 ft at the shore and surge up the steep beach. As the waves breaks over the bordering fringing reefs water flows towards the shore before turning sideways into the channel, where a permanent rip is maintained flowing offshore out of the channel. During periods of larger waves this becomes a very strong and dangerous rip current.

O’AHU 73-77 MAKAO-KALUANUI-PUNALU’U

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

73 Makao Beach 3 5 R+fringing reef 3000 ft

74 Kaluanui Beach 3 6 R+channel/reef 2900 ft

75 Punalu’u Beach Park 3 5 R+channel/ reef 4700 ft

86 Punalu’u 3 5 R+fringing reef 2300 ft

77 Kula ‘Ahuili 3 5 R+fringing reef 2600 ft
Makao Beach marks the beginning of a 3 mi long section of continuous sandy beaches that continues to Kahana Bay, all fronted by 1600 ft or more of wide fringing reef, with the highway hugging the shoreline along much of the coast. Waves break well offshore, with generally small waves and wind waves lapping against the eroding shoreline, which in places has been replaced by seawalls.
Beach 73, Makao Beach, begins at the edge of the Hau’ula Channel and trends to the southeast for 3000 ft to a prominent southerly inflection in the shore. The narrow beach is fronted by a continuous 1300 ft wide fringing reef, with shallow seafloor between the shore and reef. Waves break over the edge of the reef with generally small waves at the shore. In the North, water flowing shoreward over the reef drains through a channel close to shore into the Hau’ula channel. The beach is backed by the highway and beachfront houses.
Beach 74, Kaluanui Beach, begins at the sandy shoreline inflection and trends to the south-southeast for 0.7 mi, past a sandy channel to a reef-induced protrusion in the shore. The beach is fronted by fringing reef that continues for 1600 ft offshore up until the channel, at which point there is a break in the outer reef allowing some small waves to reach the channel section of shore. The reef resumes on the southern side of the 1000 ft wide channel. Waves break over the reefs causing water to flow shoreward and then longshore towards the channel, before finally turning offshore as broad rips. The outer channel is blocked partly by patches of reef, causing the channel to narrow and the rip to intensify, particularly during periods of larger waves.
Beach 75, Punalu’u Beach Park, extends south of the inflection for 1 mi, and initially protrudes offshore before curving south to the lee of the 1600 ft wide Punalu’u Channel. The Punalu’u Stream crosses the beach near the center of the channel, forming a small sand and gravel delta. The fringing reef continues to parallel the beach 1600-2000 ft offshore, with a 1600 ft wide gap off the channel. Waves break over the reefs to either side of the channel before flowing shoreward and sideways into the channel, maintaining a permanent rip that exits the beach near the stream mouth and flows out through the channel. The beach park straddles the stream mouth and is wedged in between the eroding shoreline and the highway, with parking and bathroom facilities to the south of the stream. Care should be taken when swimming here due to the permanent rip that flows more than 1600 ft out to sea.
Beach 76, Punalu’u, begins at the southern end of the beach park where the fringing reef again attaches to the shore, and where houses once again back the beach. The beach trends to the southeast for 2300 ft to the sandy Makali’i Point. The fringing reefs extend 2000-2300 ft offshore and are continuous with the exception of a narrow 150-300 ft wide channel towards the eastern end of the beach that extends to within 300 ft of the shore. The protection of the reefs allows only small waves at the shore. The beach narrows and is replaced by a seawall that protects the backing houses to the lee of the channel. Water flowing shoreward off the reefs flows into two channels, the Punalu’u Channel and a smaller central channel, both of which are occupied by strong permanent rips.
Beach 77, Kula ‘Ahuili, begins at Makali’i Point and trends due south for 2600 ft into Kahana Bay. The fringing reef lies up to 2600 ft offshore and curves into the 1 mi wide outer bay mouth, before finally narrowing at the southern end of the beach. The beach is backed by a narrow strip of beachfront houses followed by the highway. Due to the easterly orientation of the fringing reef and the beach’s location within the bay, only small waves reach the shore. Water flows south along the beach towards the bay and has resulted in erosion of the beach, much of which is now narrow or replaced by seawalls.

O’AHU 78-79 KAHANA BAY

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

78 Kahana Bay 3 3 LTT 3000 ft

79 Huilua Fishpond 1 2 R+sand flats 600 ft

Kahana Bay is a .5 mi wide bay located at the mouth of Kahana Valley, with the 1300 ft high steep ridges of Punalu’u to the north and the Crouching Lion to the south. The deep valley continues offshore and restricts fringing reef to the valley sides, creating a channel that is up to 2300 ft wide further offshore. Kahana Beach is located at the base of the bay, while Huilua Fishpond lies on the eastern side of the bay.
Beach 78, Kahana Beach, is a curving 3000 ft long fine sand beach that faces northeast down the bay and across the deep bay mouth channel. Despite its embayed location providing moderate protection, the deep channel prevents reef growth, allowing waves averaging 1 ft to reach the shore where they maintain a lower-gradient beach fronted by a continuous 100-150 ft wide low tide terrace. Waves break across the terrace and run up the beach, reaching the low crest at high tide. The beach is backed by a continuous shady beach park, with two parking lots and a camping area towards the western end. The Kahana Stream crosses the far eastern end of the beach. A small parking lot and seawall and boat ramp are located just past the western end of the beach, while the Kamehameha Highway borders its rear.

Beach 79, Huilua Fishpond, is at the site of an old Hawaiian fishpond located just past the mouth of Kahana Stream. The pond rock walls enclose a curving, very low energy 600 ft long north-facing beach. The beach is fronted by shallow sandy and rock flats between the shore and the wall, and is backed by private property followed by the highway.

O’AHU 80-83 MAKAUA-KANENELU
No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

80 Makaua 3 6 R+fringing reef/rip 2600 ft

81 Ka’a’awa 3 6 R+fringing reef 4300 ft

82 Kalae’o’io 3 6 R+fringing reef 2600 ft

83 Kanenelu 3 6 R+fringing reef 2600 ft

Pu’u Mahie Point marks the southern entrance to Kahana Bay, with the shoreline turning out of the bay and trending to the southeast for 7 mi to Kualoa Point. The shore is made up of eight near-continuous beaches backed by the steep slopes of the Crouching Lion and Pu’u Mahie Point to the north, followed by the deep Ka’a’awa Valley, and finally the low sandy spit of Kualoa Point to the south. For the duration of this stretch the Kamehameha Highway hugs the shore, with the exception of where beachfront houses are wedged in between the highway and shore. Much of the shore is eroding, resulting in the construction of seawalls and some groynes that have now modified the once-sandy shore into a mixture of narrow sand beaches, rocks, seawalls and groynes. During high seas and strong trades winds, the waves may wash across the highway in places and threaten the houses.
Beach 80, Makaua, begins at the tip of the seawall surrounding Pu’u Mahie Point and trends to the east-southeast for 0.5 mi to Ka’a’awa Point, backed all the way by seawalls and the highway. The beach is usually narrow and steep and in many sections has been replaced by the seawall. The fringing reef extends 1300 ft offshore, with a generally shallow sand and reef lagoon just before the shore. A deep sandy channel cuts through the outer reef and extends to within 150 ft of the shore approximately 600 ft west of Ka’a’awa Point. Water flowing over the reefs on both sides of the channel flows towards and out the 300 ft wide channel as a permanent rip. Due to the beach’s narrow and rocky condition, and the presence of the seawall and rip, this beach is generally unsuitable for swimming.
Beach 81, Ka’a’awa, begins at the low, rocky Ka’a’awa Point and bulges to the southeast. The beach is backed by steep slopes that ultimately rise to 2000 ft. The beach extends for 0.8 mi to a more southerly inflection that marks the beginning of the curve into Ka’a’awa Valley. The beach is fronted by continuous fringing reefs that narrow from 1600 ft in the north to 1000 ft in the south. Water flowing over the reefs moves longshore towards channels located on adjacent beaches. The beach itself is narrow and eroding, and in many places replaced by seawalls, including along the Swanzy Beach Park. Elsewhere, beachfront houses and their accompanying seawalls back the narrow beach. While the park provides good access to the shore and facilities, there is no safe access to the water or beach for recreation.
Beach 82, Kalae’o’io, extends from the inflection in the shore for 2600 ft as a curving sandy beach backed by the steep Ka’a’awa valley. The beach ends at a southerly inflection in the shore to the lee of a small inshore reef. The highway parallels the rear of the beach, with the Ka’a’awa and Kalae’o’io beach parks located off the highway to the north of Ka’a’awa Stream, which cross the middle of the beach. The beach parks and northern half of the beach are for the most part narrow and sandy with the exception of where seawalls have been erected for protection of the bathroom facilities at both parks, as well as around the mouth of Ka’a’awa Stream just south of Kalae’o’io Beach Park and around the mouth of a smaller stream on the northern side of Ka’a’awa Beach Park. South of Ka’a’awa Stream the beach has been completely depleted by a seawall that has been built to protect the adjacent. The beach is fronted by a deeper sandy channel, which is a continuation of the drowned Ka’a’awa Stream. The stream valley trends northeast and cuts through the outer reefs as a 600 ft wide channel. Water flowing over the reefs on either side of channel turns offshore to flow through the channel as a permanent rip.
Beach 83, Kanenelu Beach, begins at the inflection in the shore and trends southerly for 0.5 mi to Ka’o’io Point, backed all the way by the Ka’a’awa Valley. The highway parallels the rear of the beach, which is usually steep narrow and backed by seawall. Inner shallow reef fringes the beach, with a more extensive outer reef extending 1000-1300 ft offshore. The Kanenelu surf break is located on the outer reef off the beach.

O’AHU 84-86 KA’O’IO POINT-MOLI

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

84 Ka’o’io Point 3 5 R+fringing reef 3000 ft

85 Sugar Mill 3 5 R+fringing reef 1600 ft

86 Moli 3 5 R+fringing reef 1600 ft
Ka’o’io Point is located at the base of the steep 1600 ft high basalt ridge that forms the dramatic backdrop to the northern end of Kane’ohe Bay. The steep sparsely vegetated slopes extend for 1 mi to the south before trending southeast into the bay. Beaches 84 through 86 occupy a narrow coastal plain along the base of the slopes and are paralleled by the Kamehameha Highway.
Beach 84, Ka’o’io Point, begins immediately south of the seawall and basalt rocks that surround the base of the steep slopes, with a few beachfront houses wedged in between the highway and rocky shore. The beach trends south for 3000 ft and is backed continuously by beachfront houses followed by the highway. All of the houses have erected some kind of seawall or groyne, resulting in a narrow, irregular beach dominated by seawall and fronted by shallow sand and reef flats extending 2300 ft offshore. Waves are generally very small along the shore, with wind-generated waves also affecting beach dynamics.
Beach 85, Sugar Mill, receives its name from its proximity to the old sugar mill, which, although no longer operating, serves as a prominent landmark on the Kamehameha Highway. The beach continues south for 1600 ft between two seawall-groyne induced offsets in the shoreline. The beach is backed by seawall followed by the highway, with beachfront houses in between for the duration of the southern 1000 ft. Shallow sand and reef flats continue south as the outer reefs widen to 0.5 mi.
Beach 86, Moli, extends for another 1600 ft south of the southern groyne, as a near identical 1600 ft long beach offset and bordered by seawalls and groynes. The first 800 ft of beach are backed by seawall and highway, and often completely erode. The southern half is backed by seawall and highway with beachfront houses in between, and ends as the highway swings west to the lee of Kualoa Point. Offshore reefs widen to 5000 ft, with shallow sandy and reef flats in between and usually very small waves at the shore.

O’AHU 87-88 KUALOA POINT

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

87 Kualoa Point 3 5 R+fringing reef 3300 ft

88 Kualoa Spit 1 3 &+sand flats/reef 4900 ft

Kualoa Point is part of a large accumulation of marine sand that has been transported south from Ka’a’awa Point as well as inshore from the 1.2 mi wide reef that extends south beyond Chainman’s Hat. The sands have prograded the shoreline 0.5 mi south and 1 mi west into Kane’ohe Bay, the latter forming the narrow Kualoa sand spit, much of which is backed by Moli’i Fishpond. The barrier-spit is approximately 200 acres in area, making it one of the larger coastal deposits on the island. Today, the entire system is part of Kualoa Regional Park, the largest park on the Windward coast, and offers low-energy beaches, and extensive picnic, camping, and day facilities, as well as year-round lifeguard patrols.
Beach 87, Kualoa Point, begins at the southernmost of the Moli beach groynes and continues south to the low, sandy point as a relatively low-energy beach. The shallow sand and reef flats extend up to 1 mi east of the beach, linking with Chinaman's Hat and resulting in small waves and calm conditions at the shore. The beach is slowly migrating, which has resulted in the construction of detached breakwaters and seawall along parts of the beach, including around the point. As the point has eroded, the seawall has been stranded offshore as a low breakwater. The beach is low and narrow and prone to overwashing during periods of strong trade winds and larger waves. The extensive grassy park and facilities run the length of the beach, with the lifeguard tower at the tip of the point.
Beach 88, Kualoa Spit, begins at the point as the shoreline curves to trend west into the bay. The beach is well protected by the reefs, which, in combination with the shore’s southerly orientation, has caused a low narrow crenulate beach to form. The beach park extends halfway along the beach, which is in parts used by canoe clubs. The western half of the beach is backed by the densely vegetated narrow spit followed by the 1600 ft wide fishponds.

O’AHU 82-85 KANE’OHE BAY BEACH PARKS

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

89 Waiahole 1 3 R+sand flats/barrier reef 2600 ft

90 Kahalu’u 1 3 R+sand flats/barrier reef 300 ft

91 Laenani 1 3 R+sand flats/barrier reef 300 ft

92 Kane’ohe 1 3 R+sand flats/barrier reef 600 ft

Kane’ohe Bay is the largest bay on O’ahu and has a 6 mi wide opening between Kualoa Point and the Mokapu Peninsula, with 30 km of low-energy shoreline in between. The bay faces east into the trades but is sheltered by a near-continuous barrier reef, which lies 1-2 km offshore and eliminates nearly all ocean waves inside the bay. At the shore there are only small wind waves and tides, causing mostly low-energy rocky shore with a few pockets of sand and mush. There are only four small beach parks in the bay, beaches 89 through 92.
Beach 89, Waiahole Beach Park, is located directly off the Kamehameha Highway towards the northern end of the bay. The parks extends for 2600 ft along the shore, with only parts cleared of trees to allow access and parking in what is an otherwise undeveloped park. The beach is narrow and of dark sand, and is backed by the low grassy park area. Waves are usually small with calm conditions, and water is shallow off the beach.
Beach 90, Kahalu’u Beach Park, is located at the mouth of the Kahalu’u Stream, directly off the highway. Its shoreline marks the end of a larger regional park that extends west across the highway. The beach park occupies 300 ft of the shoreline and, together with the stream mouth, has been entirely surrounded by rocks and seawalls. The park now consists of a large gravel parking lot and a canoe club, but no beach.
Beach 91, Laenani Neighbourhood Park, is a small, developed park on the eastern side of the 2000 ft long Kahalu’u peninsula. The park lies 300 ft off the highway and is mainly used by locals who utilize the small boat ramp at the southern end of the park. The narrow beach is composed of sand and rocks and is backed by a seawall followed by a row of coconut palms and then the park, basketball court, and parking lot. Small boats are moored off the park where shallow water extends out into the bay.
Beach 92, Kane’ohe Beach Park, lies 1 mi off the highway in the southern corner of the bay, at the end of Waikalua Road. The sloping, grassy park has a playground, bathrooms, and a parking lot, which is also used for launching small boats across the narrow beach. Small boats are moored over the shallows off the beach, with a private jetty at the northern end of the 600 ft long park.

O’AHU 93-98 KANE’OHE BAY MARINE CORPS BASE

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

93 Pako Beach 3 5 R+fringing reef 1000 ft

94 Pyramid Rock 6 6 TRB 2300 ft

95 Hilltop Beach 6 6 TBR+rocks 1000 ft

96 North Beach 6 6 TBR+beachrock 3900 ft

97 The Cove 6 6 R+beachrock/reef 600 ft

98 Fort Hase 4 5 R+fringing reef 3000 ft

Kane’ohe Bay Marine Corps Base occupies the entire Mokapu Peninsula, with 11 mi of shoreline enclosing the base and peninsula. The shoreline along the bay and western side is mostly structural seawalls, with rocky shoreline dominating the northern side near Mokapu Point. There are only six areas of sandy beach, numbers 93 through 98, totalling 2 mi. Due to the location of the beaches within the base, they are open only to military personnel and their guests. All the beaches on the Kane’ohe Bay Marine Corps Base are under the patrol of base lifeguards, with permanent towers located at Pyramid Rock and North Beach.
Beach 93, Pako Beach, is located on the west-facing side of the peninsula adjacent to the airfield. The 1300 ft long beach faces northwest across the 0.5 mi wide barrier reef. The beach extends from a jetty at the western tip of the peninsula, and initially trends north before bending northeast to the side of the airfield that has been constructed over the eastern half of the beach forming a seawall boundary. The beach is fronted by shallow reefs that have been dredged along the western jetty section and widen to 0.5 mi along the longer northern section. The beach is backed by casuarina trees followed by the facilities associated with the airfield.
Pyramid Rock is a 65 ft high pyramid-shaped headland that forms the western boundary of the North Beach section of the peninsula. This 2.5 mi long section of north-facing sandy shore is free of fringing reef and fully exposed to the forces of the trade winds and waves. Rock outcrops and the end of the airfield runway divide the shore into the four beaches, numbers 94 through 97.
Beach 94, Pyramid Rock, begins at the base of the headland and curves slightly to the east for 2300 ft to the northern end of the main base runway that extends 150 ft across the beach into the surf. The beach is exposed to trade wind waves averaging about 3 ft that break across a 150 ft wide surf zone, with permanent rips running out against the rock and runway, and at times a central beach rip. The beach is backed by a grassy foredune crossed by a footpath, with a parking lot and lifeguard tower towards the western end of the beach. Care should be taken when swimming at this beach due to the powerful surf and rips.
Beach 95, Hilltop Beach, is a 1000 ft long sandy beach located between the eastern side of the runway and a cluster of basalt rocks at the base of the 50 ft high dunerock hill for which the beach in named. This beach is known locally as Generals Beach in reference to the officer houses located on the hill overlooking the beach. The beach is well exposed to the trades and receives waves averaging over 1 mi, maintaining a 150 ft wide surf zone with usually 1 to 2 rips flowing out against the runway and boulders. The Boulders surf break is located off the boulders at the southern end of the beach.
Beach 96, North Beach, begins at the boulders and continues to the east for 0.7 mi to the raised reefs forming The Cove. The beach faces due north and is fully exposed to the trade winds and waves, with surf averaging over 3 ft and breaking across a 150 ft wide surf zone, and beachrock outcropping along the eastern end of the beach. The waves generate permanent rips against the western boulders and eastern beachrock, with usually 2-3 variable beach rips along the center. The beach is backed by a 30 ft high grassy foredune followed by the base golf course. There is a parking lot and access at the eastern end of the beach, with the lifeguard tower located next to the access path.
Beach 97, The Cove, is a 600 ft long section of shore east of North Beach. The shore consists of a narrow high tide beach located between the raised reef to the west and a small headland to the east, and is backed by a 30 ft high sloping seawall. The beach is entirely dominated by the beachrock and calcareous reef that outcrop along the beach and extend up to 150 ft offshore, inducing a permanent rip in the eastern corner. The reefs lower waves at the shore and under small wave conditions this is a popular beach for swimming in the tidal pools formed by the reef. However, waves breaking over the reefs induce strong currents and rips flowing out through channels, particularly against the point. The small parking lot and access path are located on the bluff overlooking the beach. The beach is in full view of the North Beach lifeguard tower.
Beach 98, Fort Hase, is located 0.5 mi south of North Beach on the eastern side of the peninsula. The 3000 ft long beach faces due east and is moderately sheltered by Mokapu Point and fringing reefs that parallel the beach 600-1000 ft offshore. In addition, inner reefs and a raised reef lie in the inner surf zone and increasingly in outcrops along the southern part of the beach. The beach is backed by a parking lot and shelter, but no other facilities. Under small waves and calm conditions this is a popular sunbathing and swimming beach. However, waves breaking over the reefs feed a permanent rip that runs out against the northern rocks.

O’AHU 99-100 KAPOHO POINT

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

99 Kapoho Point 5 6 R+beachrock/reef 1600 ft

100 Kailuana Place 4 4 R+seawalls 1000 ft

Kapoho Point is the southern boundary of a 2 mi long sand and Pleistocene beachrock barrier spit that begins at Fort Hase beach and extends from the Mokapu Peninsula across the shallow lagoon that separates the peninsula from the mainland. The point also forms the northern boundary of Kailua Bay and the Kawainui Channel, which drains the large Kawainui Marsh.
Beach 99, Kapoho Point, is located along the southern 1600 ft of the spit and consists of a low, narrow crenulate high tide sand beach fronted by a continuous strip of intertidal beachrock, with fringing reef extending 600 ft beyond. Waves break over rocks off the beachrock and wash over the rocks at high tide making it unsuitable for swimming. The entire beach is backed by beachfront houses, with public access at the northern end off Milokai Place.
Beach 100, Kailuana Place, is located on the southern side of the channel. The beach curves to the south for 1000 ft and is backed by seawalls and beachfront houses for its entire length, with no public access. The beach is partly sheltered by the point and channel shoals, with generally small waves at the shore that break across a combination of narrow beach and seawall and rocks.

O’AHU 101-102 KAILUA BAY

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

101 Kailua Beach 4 5 R/LTT 2 mi

102 Kailua South 4 5 R+fringing reef 1600 ft

Kailua Bay is a 2.5 wide northeast-facing sandy bay bordered by the low beachrock of Kapoho Point to the north and the steep basalt of Alala Point to the south, which rises to 260 ft behind. Between the southern end of Beach 100 and Alala Point is a continuous strip of white sand beach, divided into two by a southern drainage channel, which is usually blocked. Most of the beach is backed by beachfront houses with frequent access points, while the Kailua Beach Park backs the southern end of Kailua Beach and the entirety of Kailua Beach South.
Beach 101, Kailua Beach, begins at the end of the seawall that fronts Kailuana Place and curves to the south and southeast for 2.5 mi to the southern drainage channel. The shore is a continuous white sand beach exposed to moderate trade wind waves year round. These average about 3 ft at the shore where they generally maintain a 100-150 ft wide low tide terrace. Waves break over the outer end of the bar and flow towards the moderately steep beach, plunging at low tide. Waves 3 ft and higher usually generate small beach rips spaced approximately every 300-500 ft. These rips are often transitory and may migrate alongshore. The beach is backed by beachfront houses for most of its length, with the exception of the small central Kalama Beach Park and the southern 1300 ft, which lie within the larger Kailua Beach Park. In addition, there are several public access points along the beach. The Kailua Beach lifeguard tower is located at the southern end of the beach just north of the drainage channel.
Beach 102, Kailua Beach South, extends from the drainage channel, which is usually blocked, for 1600 ft to the base of Alala Point. The beach faces northeast and is partly sheltered by Flat Island and fringing reef located up to 0.5 mi offshore. This beach receives slightly smaller waves and is generally steep and reflective, with a narrow bar forming during periods of larger waves. The large beach park backs the entire beach, with a concrete boat ramp towards the southern end. The popular park has a wide range of uses, including sunbathing, swimming, bodysurfing, boogie-boarding, surfing, wind and kite surfing, kayaking, and canoe club residences.

O’AHU 103 LANIKAI BEACH

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

103 Lanikai Beach 3 3 R+fringing reef 2 mi
Beach 103, Lanikai Beach, is a protruding 1 mi long sandy beach that extends between Alala Point and Wailea Point. The beach has prograded offshore in the center due to wave refraction and the shelter afforded by the Mokulua islands, located 1 mi offshore with shallow sand and reef flats extending out to the islands. The islands and associated fringing reefs result in generally small waves at the shore. The beach has prograded up to 800 ft offshore, with steep slopes rising 600 ft behind. Today the slopes and barrier are covered by houses, with much of the beach replaced by seawalls and groynes, leaving less than 0.5 mi of sandy shore. The southern half of the beach is dominated by seawalls, with some patches of sand located between groynes. There are several public access paths off Mokulua Road, which parallels the rear of the beach. This is a popular beach with locals who use it for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and a range of watercraft, with many people paddling out to the Mokulua Islands from this point.
Flat and Mokulua islands, see beaches 180 and 181.

O’AHU 104-105 BELLOWS-WAIMANALO BEACH

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

104 Bellows Field Beach 4 4 R/LTT 2.4 mi

105 Waimanalo Beach 3 4 R 2.4 mi

Bellows-Waimanalo beach is a 5 mi long curving east-facing beach located between Wailea Point and the basalt rocks at the base of the eastern end of the Ko’olau Range. The beach is divided into two sections, Bellows Field Beach and Waimanalo Beach from North to South, with the military occupying the former.
Beach 104, Bellows Field Beach, begins at the tip of Wailea Point and extends for 2.5 mi to the south into Waimanalo town. The first few hundred meters have been subject to erosion, resulting in the construction of seawall to protect the end of the airfield. The seawall has separated a portion of the beach, leaving a 300 ft long pocket of sand adjacent to the point followed by a few hundred metres of seawall, after which the beach begins again, just south of the lifeguard headquarters. The beach then runs continuously to Waimanalo. The beach is relatively free of reefs and well exposed to trade wind waves, which average about 3 ft during the winter months. These maintain a continuous attached bar up to 150 ft wide, usually cut by rips every 300-600 ft with up to 30 beach rips spread along the beach. The rips sometimes maintain a shallow channel across the bar. The beach has a low gradient and is backed by eroding trees in places followed by the extensive facilities associated with the Bellows Field Beach Park, which include a range of accommodations and recreational facilities for military personnel. The beach is patrolled by base lifeguards with three towers located on the beach, two north of the Waimanalo Stream mouth and one between the stream mouth and southern boundary rocks.
Beach 105, Waimanalo Beach, begins at the cluster of dumped rocks that marks its boundary with Bellows Beach. The beach continues to curve to the south and then southeast for 4 mi before finally ending as the beach narrows against the basalt shore and seawalls to the south. The northern 2000 ft of beach are backed by Waimanalo Beach Park, with houses and the Kalona Beach Park to the south. Lifeguard towers are located at both beach parks. The highway parallels the rear of the southern 1 mi of beach. Wave height decreases slightly down the beach as a result of the outer fringing reefs trending in closer to shore. The lessening waves result in a shift from a low tide terrace to a narrower reflective beach with no bar to the south. This section of the beach is also experiencing erosion, particularly in the south where there are makeshift seawalls backing the narrowing beach. The Waimanalo Canoe Club is located at the southern end of the beach before the beach is totally replaced by seawalls fronting beachfront homes.

O’AHU 106-107 KAUPO & MAKAPU’U BEACHES

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

106 Kaupo Beach 3 4 R+fringing reef 4300 ft

107 Makapu’u Beach 4 7 R+rocks/rips 1000 ft

The southeastern tip of O’ahu and the Windward coast terminates at the 600 ft high Makapu’u Point. The last two beaches on the Windward coast are located at the base of the steep Ko’olau Range, which also terminates at the point.
Beach 106, Kaupo Beach, begins past the basalt rocks and seawall that separate it from Waimanalo Beach and trends to the southeast for 1 mi as a narrow crenulate beach with numerous rocks outcropping along the beach. The beach is crossed in the center by the Ocean Institute pier, which leads to a breakwater. South of the pier the beach curves for another 1600 ft before ending at the protruding 0.5 mi long section of low basalt shore that separates it from Makapu’u Beach. The highway parallels the rear of the beach, with a parking lot and facilities for the beach park located immediately south of the beach on the basalt section of shore. Shallow reefs and sandy seafloor extend 1600 ft offshore, with Rabbit Island and Black Island located 1 mi offshore also sheltering the beach. As a result, waves are generally small at the shore and maintain a steep reflective beach. There is a small right hand break off the southern point, while the larger Rabbit Island break lies 1 mi offshore on the western side of the island.
Beach 107, Makapu’u Beach, is located at the southern end of the basalt shore and curves for 1000 ft as a long, steep sandy beach, bordered to the south by the steep basalt slopes of Makapu’u Point. The beach lies south of the two offshore islands, permitting trade wind waves to reach the shore relatively unabated. As a result, waves average over 3 ft, commonly reaching a few metres in height. Makapu’u is a very visible and popular beach due to its location directly off the highway and the presence of a beach park and amenities. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards, with the tower located on the dune-draped slopes at the center of the beach. The beach is very popular for bodysurfing and boogie-boarding, with waves breaking over basalt reefs up to 300 ft offshore in addition to a heavy shorebreak during periods of larger waves. There is an outcrop of basalt in the center of the beach, which combined with the shorebreak can produce hazardous swimming conditions. A permanent rip runs out against the northern rocks, increasing in velocity during periods of larger waves.
OAHU