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Beaches

Hit the beach

Haul out the hibachi and inflate the inner tube — it’s time to check out O‘ahu’s sand and surf.

Whether you prefer riding the wild surf or basking in the sun, you’ll find many of the world’s finest beaches and parks right here on O‘ahu. And if sharing a family barbecue in the shade of a monkey pod tree is your idea of fun, local beach areas can offer that too.

In fact, the only obstacles to enjoying yourself are finding a good parking spot, avoiding an occasional jellyfish sting or accidentally leaving your favorite “floaties” at home.

With more than 120 beaches and area parks, O‘ahu has plenty to offer, for example:

South shore

Waikiki Ala Moana Beach Park Natatorium

Waikiki on the south shore of O‘ahu is probably one of the most famous stretches of sand in the world and manages to attract upwards of five million tourists a year. Locals, however, go there, too — drawn by the sun and gentle waves as well as great places to eat, shop and hook up with family or friends visiting from out of town. People watching is great and the sunsets are spectacular.

Waikiki is actually made up of seven beaches stretching one-and-a-half miles from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Sans Souci near the base of Diamond Head. You can go there to work on your tan, paddle an outrigger canoe, learn to surf from authentic beach boys, dive to the depths of the ocean in a submarine or watch a free outdoor movie at night from the comfort of your beach chair or blanket.

Even before you drive into Waikiki, cruise through Ala Moana Beach Park, across from Hawai‘i’s largest shopping center (Ala Moana). It’s a local favorite for swimmers, joggers, family reunions, tennis and an occasional ethnic festival at McCoy Pavilion. It even has its own formal area for lawn bowling and several concession stands for food, snacks and ice cream. Small ponds are also available for keiki-kine fishing or launching toy sailboats.

Kapiolani Park at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki was once used to race horses in the late 1800s. Today, the 500-acre park is the site of family picnics, a new bandstand, lighted tennis courts, an archery range, art shows, soccer fields and rugby matches. The park also plays host to outdoor concerts at the Waikiki Shell where folks gather for everything from lilting Hawaiian music to kick-out-the-jams rock concerts under the stars.

Across the street, you’ll find the Honolulu Aquarium, the 42-acre Honolulu Zoo, the Natatorium and Kaimana Beach. The park includes a 3-mile jogging path, which encompasses part of the Honolulu Marathon course.

East shore

Hanauma Bay Makapuu Beach Lanikai Beach

East O‘ahu’s beaches — 14 miles outside of Waikiki — attract a smattering of tourists, but they’re generally left to kama’aina.

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is the busiest and it first attracted the world’s attention as the site of the movie “Blue Hawai‘i,” starring Elvis Presley. Although it has a white sandy beach that stretches some 2,000 feet, most of the action takes place in the water. The collapsed sides of an extinct volcano formed its crescent-shaped bay and its coral bottom is a big hit with snorkelers who come to see the tropical fish, eels and sea urchins.

Just down the road is Sandy Beach, one of the premier bodysurfing spots on O‘ahu. The breaking waves can be treacherous so look for warning flags or check with lifeguards before heading into the water. Local kids hang out at Sandy’s after school and on weekends, while serious kite fliers use the offshore winds to launch their craft.

Makapuu Beach, just below the area’s picturesque lighthouse is one of the only beaches on O‘ahu where both body boarders and bodysurfers can share the waves. This 1,000-foot-long, white sand beach is also known as the location for “In Harms Way,” a John Wayne movie. Waves often reach heights of 12 feet from September through April. That’s when local folks sit back and enjoy the view of nearby Manana (Rabbit Island) or watch hang gliders jump from the cliffs.

Windward O‘ahu Beaches – are among the most tropical on O‘ahu and often earn top spots in the annual ranking of “10 Best Beaches in the World” by Dr. Beach, a professor living in Florida.

Waimanalo Beach Park is the longest beach on O‘ahu and offers nearly four miles of surf and sand for swimming, boogie boarding and uninterrupted strolls along the shore. Local families share barbecues in the shade of ironwood trees and it also provides a great vantage point for catching the first glimpse of an island sunrise.

Kailua Beach offers gentle surf for swimming and building sandcastles. This versatile beach is adjacent to a 30-acre public park where local folks enjoy picnics, wind sailing, kayaking and the annual 4th of July fireworks display.

Nearby Lanikai Beach is hidden behind multi-million dollar estates and old-time beach bungalows, but access is available through narrow right-of-way passages. This family-style area doesn’t have showers, toilets or lifeguards, but it does provide a quite area for enjoying views of the Mokulua Islands, a pair of islands designated as seabird sanctuaries.

North shore

Sunset Beach

The North Shore, stretching from Haleiwa to Turtle Bay, is regarded by many as the surfing capital of the world. Huge winter swells — topping the 30-foot mark — attract world-class competitions, while the summer months are calm enough for swimming and snorkeling.

Among the most popular surfing spots are Ehukai Beach Park, Pipeline and Banzai. All three are known for near perfect waves where experienced surfers “shoot the tube.” Other top surf spots include Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay, which provided the recent movie backdrop for the appropriately named “Blue Crush.”

For snorkeling and day-and-night diving, head out to Shark’s Cove or Three Tables at Pupukea Beach, right on Kamehameha Highway. And just about all of the North Shore beach areas afford a romantic view of the ocean at sunset.

West shore

Yokohama

Leeward O‘ahu is lined with coves, sea cliffs, and pocket beaches with deep-water areas for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Scenic views are among the attractions and it’s a great place for family picnic and seashell hunting. Off shore, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of sailboats and fleets of charter boats heading out to rich fishing grounds.

Perhaps the best known beaches are at Nanakuli, Makaha, Yokohama and Pokai Bay, which play host to fishing derbies and surf meets, such as the Buffalo Kealoha Big Board Competition.

Well-healed tourists and lucky kama’aina bask in the sun out at Ko Olina, which boasts three man-made lagoons and a world-class hotel, but limited public parking.