O’ahu Beaches

Queen’s Beach, occupies a 1000 ft long section of straight, steep sandy beach located between two rock groynes. The beach is narrow in the east and widens to west, partly because of a greater set back in the seawall. The lifeguard tower is located at the center 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 300 ft off the western end. The left hand Cunhas surf break runs along the tapering edge of the reef, linking with Publics during larger swells. Due to the narrowing reef, waves average about 1 ft at the shore, with deeper water located closer to shore. As a result care should be taken when swimming off this beach.
Beach 132, Kuhio Beach Park, extends from the western Queen’s groyne to the beginning of the Waikiki hotels at the Sheraton Moana. The 2000 ft long beach is the most heavily modified on the island. Three groynes linked to two breakwaters occupy the first 1300 ft. The groynes and breakwater enclose two ‘pools’, each 600 ft long and 500-750 ft wide. These are followed by three basalt groynes along the western 600 ft. Along the breakwater section waves break outside or spill over the breakwaters and flow into a quiescent pool between the shore and breakwater. Within each pool the shoreline curves, widening towards each end and narrowing in the center. Lifeguard towers are located in the center of the eastern pool and towards the eastern end of the western pool. The beach has a moderate gradient and is either calm or has very small waves. The two ‘pools’ are the least hazardous section of Waikiki Beach, with the exception of near the breakwaters themselves, over which the waves break and signs are posted to warn of the deep holes and strong currents. Children sometimes play on these walls, which can be slippery and are hazardous. The western pool also has a gap in the breakwater through which waters flows offshore. Beyond the breakwaters the fringing reef widens from 300 ft in the east to 600-1000 ft in the west, and is the site of the Queen’s and Canoes surf breaks, both relatively easy collections of spilling lefts and rights, popular with inexperienced tourists. This open 600 ft long western section of beach is crossed by three basalt groynes. This section of beach is home to the beach boys and surf schools, and is used to teach tourists to surf because of its characteristic small spilling waves. This area is also used by locals and more experienced surfers who paddle further out. Tourist catamarans also land on the beach, making this one of the busier sections of Waikiki beach.
Beach 133, Waikiki Beach, begins at the end of the groynes and is the beginning of the hotel-backed section of shore, with the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Outrigger Waikiki, and Royal Hawaiian hotels backing the beach. The beach curves around to the southwest for 2000 ft, ending against a prominent groyne located at the western end of the Royal Hawaiian. The beach is moderately steep and receives waves averaging 1 ft, which in places reach the seawalls at the rear of the often-narrow beach. The beach is fronted by reef that widens from 600 ft in the east to 1600 ft in the west, with the shoreline protruding offshore to the lee of the wider reef. First Break is located over the outer reefs and works during larger swell conditions. There is a well-defined channel through the reef that is used by tourist catamarans based at the center of the beach. A persistent rip flows from the beach offshore though the channel. The beach is used primarily by tourists for sunbathing and swimming, and is patrolled by two lifeguard towers, with one at the eastern end of the beach, near the groynes, and the other towards the center.
Beach 134, Gray’s Beach, is a 1300 ft long section of south-facing beach located between two rock groynes, with the western groyne marking the boundary of Fort DeRussy Beach. The beach is backed by the Sheraton Waikiki, Halekulani, Outrigger Reef, and Outrigger Waikiki hotels. The beach has been eroded and now consists of two steep, narrow sandy sections located in the center against the western groyne, and two sections eroded back to the seawalls. A deep sandy channel extends south across the 1600 ft wide fringing reefs, and is used by tourist catamarans to land at the eastern end of the western section of sand. Over the reefs are the Pops, Paradise, and during larger swells the Threes surf breaks. The channel provides access to these outer breaks, and is also the site of a permanent rip.
Beach 135, Fort DeRussy Beach, fronts Fort DeRussy, a large military recreational facility. The southwest-facing beach extends for 1600 ft between the eastern groyne and a walkway across the beach leading to a floating jetty. The beach is up to 150 ft wide, with the sand coarsening and steepening to the east, possibly a result of varying sources of nourishment sand. The beach has two lifeguard towers that patrol the beach, as well as a walkway, concession stand, and grassy park located behind. The military Hale Koa Hotel is located at the western end of the beach. A channel has been dredged along the center of the beach and connects to the larger Gray’s Beach channel, with reef then extending for 1600 ft beyond. As a result of the reef, waves are generally small at the shore, however water does flow east into the channel feeding into the offshore flow of Gray’s channel and rip. The Fours surf break is located over the outer reefs and requires a solid swell and a long paddle.
Beach 136, Kahanamoku Beach, is a curving beach located between the floating jetty and a shore-paralleling groyne that extends 300 ft east of the Ala Wai breakwater and links to a submerged breakwater that trends north to the jetty. The south-facing beach curves around for 1600 ft, receiving increased protection from the breakwater to the west. The Hilton Hawaiian Village backs the eastern half of the beach, with the Hilton Lagoon behind the center and the parking area of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor backing the western end. Watercraft available for rent are located along the center of the beach, and canoes are also stored on the beach by local clubs. The often calm, low-gradient beach widens considerably in the center and links with the quiescent lagoon beach. The reefs lie 1600 ft off the eastern end, narrowing to the west as the beach curves offshore. A channel cuts through the western side of the reef and links with the jetty. While conditions are usually calm at the beach, a permanent rip flows out though the channel offshore of the jetty. The Kasiers surf break is located over the reef offshore.
Beach 137, Milo Tree, is a 150 ft wedge of sand located 300 ft east of Kahanamoku Beach between two perpendicular breakwaters that are part of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. The breakwaters have trapped sand forming a small beach that is fringed by 1000 ft wide reefs. Local surfers park in the Ala Wai parking lot that backs the beach and use the tree-shaded beach to paddle out to Kasiers and In-Betweens surf breaks and further round to the heavier Ala Moana Bowls break.

O’AHU 138-139 ALA MOANA

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

138 Magic Island 2 5 R+breakwater 1000 ft

139 Ala Moana Beach Pk 2 5 R+fringing reef 3900 ft

Ala Moana Beach Park is a large park extending for 4200 ft between the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and Kewalo Basin, the two major small boat harbors of Honolulu. The eastern end of the park is bordered by the 2300 ft long western boat harbor jetty and has been heavily modified to develop the Magic Island section of the park, while the main Ala Moana beach extends west to the lee of fringing reef. This is a popular park, particularly with locals. The park is located across from the Ala Moan Center, near downtown Honolulu.
Beach 138, Magic Island, is a man-made ‘island’ and lagoon, constructed in the 1960’s between Ala Moana Beach and the boat harbor wall. The appendage consists of a 1600 ft wide beach park, with the artificial beach located at its southern extremity. The beach is sheltered by a curving breakwater with five small gaps in the breakwater to permit water circulation. Most waves break outside the breakwater resulting in very small waves and calm conditions at the beach. The beach curves for 1000 ft to the lee of the breakwater, with a low seawall behind the large grassy park that is covered with coconut trees. A lifeguard tower is located at the center of the beach. While the beach is sheltered, waves break against and over the breakwater.
Beach 139, Ala Moana Beach Park, begins on the western side of Magic Island and initially curves to the north before reaching the original shoreline and trending west for a total of 1600 ft. The beach is backed by a continuous seawall, followed by a road and the large 150 acre beach park that offers a wide range of facilities. The beach is patrolled by four lifeguard towers spread along the beach. The beach itself is of low gradient and crenulate and widens to the west, fronted for its length by a 300 ft wide dredged channel that connects to a narrow offshore channel flowing against Magic Island. Waves are generally very small with calm conditions at the shore, which is relatively safe closer in, apart from the deeper water. The eastern rip, however, is hazardous and care should be taken when swimming along this part of the beach. Shallow fringing reefs extend 1600 ft offshore to a number of surf breaks including Tennis Courts, Concessions, Big Rights, Straight Outs, Marineland, Shallows, and Rennex. The Kewalos and Shark Hole breaks are located just to the west of the park.

O’AHU 140-141 SAND ISLAND STATE PARK

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

140 Sand Island Lagoon 2 5 R+breakwater 300 ft

141 Sand Island Beach 4 6 R+beachrock/fringing reef 2600 ft

Sand Island is a low 1100 ft island that shelters Honolulu Harbor. The island has been partly reclaimed and heavily modified and developed to house industrial and port facilities. These modifications include the construction of seawalls surrounding all the northern and western shore, as well as part of the southern ocean shore. The entire southern shore is located within Sand Island State Park, a large developed park that offers two beaches, numbers 140 and 141. The park is accessed through the industrial area and is primarily used buy locals.
Beach 140, Sand Island Lagoon, is located along the seawall-fronted eastern side of the south shore. The beach has been developed in a 300 ft long gap in the seawall, with three detached rock breakwaters running parallel to the shore 150 ft off the seawall. The 300 ft long sandy beach curves around between the boundary seawall and to the lee of the breakwaters. The breakwaters lower waves to less than 1 ft at the shore, resulting in a relatively low-energy and often-calm beach. However, off the beach waves break heavily on the breakwaters and a current flows between the seawall and breakwaters. The beach has experienced some erosion since development, with some rocks exposed at the shore. In addition, the erosion to the lee of the seawall has resulted in a 150 ft long westerly extension of sand that has formed a quiet tidal pool immediately west of the beach. The beach is backed by the large shady park, with the parking lot 300 ft to the north.
Beach 141, Sand Island Beach, begins midway along the south shore at the western end of the seawall. The beach continues to trend to the west and then southwest, and is fronted continuously by 1000 ft wide fringing reefs that narrow to the west. The beach is coarse and steep, with beachrock and garbage rock outcrops increasing to the west both on the beach and in the inner surf zone. The ‘garbage rock’ is comprised of lithified garbage, a relic from when this part of the island was a garbage dump. A deep channel and accompanying rip runs out through the reef, exiting to the right near the embayed section just east of the main parking lot. This section of the beach is potentially hazardous due to the steep beach, extensive beachrock, variable reef topography, heavy surf, and rip. There are a number of surf breaks out over the reefs.

O’AHU 142 KE’EHI LAGOON BEACH PARK

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

142 Ke’ehi Lagoon beach 2 3 R+channel 1000 ft
Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park is a 100 acre beach park located between the Nimitz Highway and Ke’ehi Lagoon. The lagoon is a large area located between Honolulu Airport and Sand Island, and was used in the past as a seaplane runway. The beach park is located at the northwest end of the lagoon, 2 mi from open ocean and adjacent to the channelized mouth of Kapalama Stream.
Beach 142, Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park, is a curving 1000 ft long very low energy sandy beach that faces southeast into the lagoon and down one of the seaplane runways. The beach receives only wind waves generated within the lagoon, which maintains a low, narrow beach. The beach has a grassy border, with three sets of canoes usually stored on the beach. There is a bathroom facility at the eastern end of the beach and a parking lot located behind a grassy ridge. The large park and playing field extends north of the beach. The beach is primarily used by canoe clubs, fishers, and the occasional swimmer.

PEARL HARBOR - BARBERS POINT

To the west of the Pearl Harbor entrance is 13 mi of south-facing shoreline that fronts a 5-10 ft wide coastal plain extending north from the coast to the H-1. The first 1 mi of coast are occupied by the Iroquois Point Naval Reserve, followed by the 2.5 long beachfront community of ‘Ewa, the 2 mi long One’ula and White Plains beach parks, and finally the abandoned Barbers Point Naval Air Station, which occupies the last 3 mi of coast. The station is in the process of being taken-over by the state. Finally, in the southwest corner of the island is the Barbers Point industrial area, which includes the westernmost 1 mi of the South Shore and 2 mi of the Leeward Shore. The entire shoreline is relatively difficult to access and underused in comparison to other parts of the island. This can be expected to change in the coming years, particularly as the Barbers Point base is redeveloped and more communities spread west along the H-1.

O’AHU 143-144 IROQUOIS POINT NAVAL RESERVE

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

143 Iroquois Point 3 5 R+fringing reef 5000 ft

144 Iroquois Beach 3 5 R+fringing reef 4200 ft

Iroquois Point Naval Reservation occupies the land on the western side of the Pearl Harbor entrance, and includes both harbor and ocean shoreline. Two beaches, numbers 143 and 144, are located along the harbor entrance and adjacent ocean shore.
Beach 143, Iroquois Point Beach, is part of a 1 mi long curved spit, formed by wave and tide-deposited sand moving into the western side of the harbor entrance. The 1000-1300 ft wide spit is now developed for military housing and backed by the Iroquois Lagoon. The beach extends for 5000 ft along the southeast-facing side of the spit. The beach initially faces southeast before turning to trend north for its final 2000 ft into the 1600 ft wide harbor entrance. The southern end of the beach is eroding and replaced by a 1000 ft long seawall. This more exposed section is fronted by a 1000 ft wide fringing reef, and receives refracted ocean waves averaging less than 1 ft. The beach is backed by a foreshore park and rows of housing. The low-energy northern arm of the beach is backed by 300 ft wide dense vegetation followed by houses. Waves are generally small along the beach but generate a northward longshore current, with the deep harbor channel and other strong tidal flows located off the beach.
Beach 144, Iroquois Beach, begins at the seawalls on the southern sandy point and trends due west for 4200 ft to the fence at the end of the Pu’uloa Rifle Range that marks the boundary of the Naval Reserve. The beach faces south across a 1000 ft wide shallow fringing reef flat, with waves averaging less than 1 ft at the shore where they maintain a steep, narrow beach. The beach is backed by houses in the east and a park and the rifle range to the west.

O’AHU 145 ‘EWA BEACH

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

145 ‘Ewa Beach 3 5 R+fringing reef 1.5 mi
Beach 145, ‘Ewa Beach, begins at the ‘Ewa Beach Park and is bordered to the east by a fence that crosses the beach marking the boundary of the Iroquois Point Naval Reserve. The beach park fronts the first 600 ft of beach, with the beach continuing west for a total of 1.5 mi and ending against a continuous section of low raised reef. The beach faces south-southeast and runs relatively straight to the rocks. The beach is fronted by 600 ft wide shallow sand and reef flats, which lower waves to about 1 ft at the shore. The waves maintain a steep, narrow beach with considerable beachrock, reef, and sand flats located along the base of the beach, and surf extending out across the reef flats, and variable currents flowing across and off the reefs. The Haubush left is located off the beach, and there are numerous breaks across the variable reef topography, while the Seawalls break is located off the rocky section. West of the park, houses and many seawalls front the beach, resulting in the beach narrowing in places to just a few meters. Public access paths are located between the houses every few hundred meters, and a drainage canal crosses the center of the beach.

O’AHU 146-149 ONE’ULA-WHITE PLAINS-NIMITZ

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

146 One’ula Beach Park 4 6 R+fringing reef 3300 ft

147 White Plains Beach 4 6 R+fringing reef 2300 ft

148 Nimitz Beach 4 6 R+beachrock/fringing reef 7900 ft

149 Swabby 5 6 R+beachrock/fringing reef 1000 ft

To the east of ‘Ewa Beach is a 0.5 mi long section of low raised reef and beachrock, all backed by waterfront houses. At the western boundary of the rocky shore is the beginning of a 2.5 mi long relatively straight section of shoreline containing four near continuous beaches, numbers 146 through 149.
Beach 146, One’ula Beach Park, is a slightly curving 0.5 mi long sandy beach dominated by beachrock outcrops to either end, with a more sandy central section, though beachrock continues to outcrop the length of the beach together with several eroding pillar-boxes. The beach is relatively steep and narrow, with scattered beachrock and a sand, rock, and reef dominated surf zone extending up to 1000 ft offshore. The Empty Lots and Shark Country surf breaks are located over the reef. The trade winds tend to drive a current westward along the beach, which begins to flow offshore off the western rocks. This rocky section continues west for 0.5 mi to the beginning of White Plains Beach. The beach is backed by a large grassy park, with a parking lot and bathroom facilities to the west.
Beach 147, White Plains Beach, is located on military property but is open to the public. The beach begins at the end of the raised reef section of shore, with a fence crossing the beach just past the rock to mark the boundary of the military property. The beach then trends west for 2300 ft to a slight point where beachrock again dominates the shore. The steep white sandy beach is relatively free of rocks, with surf breaking across shallow sand, rock, and reef flats that extend up to 1300 ft offshore. The easterly trades drive a westerly longshore current that runs against the shore feeding into an offshore flow off the western protrusion. The beach park has a large parking lot, a shady reserve with shelters, a kiosk, and bathroom facilities, as well as a central lifeguard tower. There are numerous small surf breaks off the beach.
Beach 148, Nimitz Beach, begins on the western side of the slight point and is initially dominated by fringing beachrock. The beach is relatively straight for the eastern 8000 ft, at which point the entire beach is interrupted by beachrock on and just off the steep, sandy shore, with beachrock increasing in occurrence to the west. The beach, which includes two shelters but no other facilities, ends against a rough 150 ft wide groyne at the end of Coral Sea Road, through which it can be accessed. Towards the eastern end of the beach is an informal camping area among the casuarina trees. The entire beach is relatively steep with white sand and beachrock and the occasional eroding pillar box. Shallow reef and sand flats extend up to 1600 ft offshore, with waves spilling repeatedly across the reef. The Coves and Officers surf breaks are located off this section.
Beach 149, Swabby Beach, continues west of the rough groyne for another 1000 ft as a steep sandy beach dominated by near continuous beachrock outcrops on and just off the beach, including some linear sections angling offshore. This beach is unsuitable for swimming due to the dominance of rock. Coral Sea Road ends at the rear of the beach, which has no facilities.

O’AHU 150-152 KALAELOA-BARBERS POINT

No. Beach Rating Type Length

Shore Outer

150 Kalaeloa 4 6 R+beachrock/reef 2300 ft

151 Barbers Point East 5 6 R+beachrock/reef 1000 ft

152 Barbers Point Beach Park 5 6 R+beachrock/reef 300 ft
Barbers Point is part of a low, sandy coastal plain that forms the southwest corner of the island and the boundary of the South Shore and Leeward coasts. Beaches 150 through 152 occupy parts of the final 1 mi of the Shore.
Beach 150, Kalaeloa, is a straight 2300 ft long south-facing, steep sandy beach. The beach is bordered in the east by raised reef and beachrock-dominated shore, and in the west is by a southeast trending ridge of beachrock that continues offshore for several hundred metres as a submerged reef. The beach curves slightly against the protruding ridge and is somewhat sheltered in the western corner. Waves break well offshore over shallow reefs and the submerged ridge, and average about 1 ft at the shore, decreasing to the west. The entire beach is backed largely by undeveloped industrial land and lacks direct public access.
Beach 151, Barbers Point East, begins on the western side of the ridge and trends west before curving to the west-northwest for 1000 ft, fronted all the way by continuous low tide beachrock and reef. Waves break up to 1600 ft offshore and average 1 ft at the shore. Open industrial land extends to the rear of the beach, with no direct public access. A drainage channel forms the western boundary of the beach and separates it from the adjoining beach park.
Beach 152, Barbers Point Beach Park, is a small 300 ft long grassy park located on the western end of the low Barbers Point, with the Barbers Point lighthouse located at the tip, 600 ft west of the park. A covered drainage channel borders the eastern end of the beach and protrudes 100 ft across the beach and into the inner surf. The beach consists of a steep, narrow high tide strip of sand and is fronted continuously by jagged sections of raised reef, followed by the shallow reef flats that extend up to 1600 ft offshore. The beach park has a small parking lot and bathrooms, however, due to the presence of shoreline reef the beach is unsuitable for swimming.

O’AHU
LEEWARD COAST

The Leeward coast begins at the low Barbers Point and trends northwest for 22 mi to the prominent Ka’ena Point and its 750 ft high backing ridge. There are 28 mi of shoreline, alternating between sandy beaches, beachrock, raised reefs, and in the north the basalt of the Ka’ena Point region. The 26 beaches occupy 9 mi (33%) of the shore, the majority of which is dominated by rock. The shore’s westerly orientation permits north through west winter swells to reach the shore as well as the southerly summer swells, resulting in year-round low to moderate surf, with the Trades prevailing offshore. Due to the generally deeper inshore reefs, many of the surf breaks are close to shore, with some of the outer reefs capable of housing large winter swells.

O’AHU 153