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Kahala Beach

3.9 (64 reviews)

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Katherine A.

This is another popular beach with the locals in Kahala. The beach is less crowded than the beaches in Waikiki. There is a covered picnic area, washrooms and outdoor showers, lots of picnic tables and plenty of beach to lay out your towels and relax. You have to get there early in the day to grab one of the limited parking spaces. There is some street parking as well. The water is generally calm for kids to swim and play. The beach is a little rocky in some areas, but picturesque. The water is crystal clear and not too deep. People were snorkeling, fishing and paddle boarding. There is no commercial development (except for an upscale hotel) along this part of the beach. This is a great place to watch the sunrise.....but bring your own coffee.

A menace

Got coral cut like a mf out in this bit. No wooden platform to jump off as promised too!! I'm hella pressed

Lentina V.

I am a little hesitant to post this because I want to keep this place secret; it seems many reviewers have been reviewing the beach that's really Waialae Beach Park. I stumbled upon this fabulous beach by accident during one of my walks with my friend Pamela P. and decided to bring the family here for a swim and make beach days a regular thing (I mean, we do live in Hawaii!!) This beach is usually not crowded and is very kid-friendly and swimmable. The water is pretty shallow and waves are manageable. It is a bit of a walk from the public parking lot and bathroom amenities at Waialae Beach Park but so worth it. The sand/ocean floor is soft but can be a bit "slimy" coz of the seaweed. We usually park in the neighborhood and walk-- why waste time and wait in the little parking lot for someone to leave? It's only a five-minute walk, maybe ten, but it's with a nice view and weather. Today on our way back to the car we discovered a shoreline access that takes us to the road after the beach so we wouldn't have to cut across the huge families/gatherings that choose to picnic/cookout at the pavilions. #46

Lily F.

On a Sunday afternoon, we went here with Sam the jack russell terrier dog. Parking is always full but we were lucky that someone was leaving. Some people are inconsiderate that they park in front of other people's car so that driver has room to get out. At area with tables on left, there are people having picnics. On right side, pass the bridge, there is the grassy area where there are also people with picnics. No one was wearing any face masks. We take the precautionary measures by still wearing our facemasks. I love the breeze and seeing the blue ocean. Sam loves to explore new areas. No other place can compare to Hawaii beaches. Fun in the sun. :)

Kahala Beach
Ji Young C.

We have come here time and time again because it's just a unique beach due to the small wooden platform you can swim to, dive off of, and just lounge on. It does get crowded like most nice beaches here, but if you come before 9 AM, especially on the weekdays, it is really empty. We have had the beach all to ourselves for over an hour countless times. The sand is quite soft as far as beaches go on this side, the east side. Most beaches are more for fishing or other water sports, not so much for tender and tiny little feet. This is soft enough for my little ones not to complain about it being too scratchy and just beautiful to sit and watch the waves on. There's a hotel nearby with restaurants to eat at so if you get a bit famished after a fun morning at the beach, you can walk over and grab a bite. We love to order the keiki hot chocolate from Plumeria Beach House as we sit and dry off after hours of water play. It's perfectly warm and yummy.

Beautiful.
Joyce T.

This is an expansive beach stretching from residential houses to a Kahala hotel. Small parking lot, but lots of street parking for multiple beach entries through the residential side. The park does have some tree brush covered tables by the restroom area. There is a shower island right outside. The ocean in general is pretty shallow, whether low or high tide. The sandy stretch of beach area can get easily swallowed up by the tide levels. Lots of creatures, people, dogs, weddings, sports, hobbyists and views await.

Cheryl S.

You really can't go wrong with pretty much any beach on the beautiful island of Oahu, but Kahala Beach is one of my faves for getting some vitamin D. It's rare to see waves of any kind, so this is really a beach for sun bathing, walking dogs, and the occasional fisherman or metal detector. There's usually parking along Kahala Avenue, but it can get busy depending on the time and day. Gorgeous views all the way to Hawai'i Kai and Koko Head. Just sit back, relax, and remember why we pay the extra high cost of living and make way too little money to be in Hawaii!

Tiffany K.

I love Kahala Beach - very beautiful, nice views, and for the most part, it's always been pretty quiet when I've gone - just gotta head to the beach from the residential area, not the resort part. Just like Crista mentions, it is pretty rocky here on the sand, so it can be hard to walk around, but swimming is good. ALSO, if you go to the right section of the beach, if you find it, there are a couple of black pipes extending from the beachfront out into the water (lined underneath the sand). Not sure what those pipes are for, but if you find the right one, there is a certain specific pipe that is wide enough for you to walk on. If you walk on the pipe, you can walk out into the ocean hundreds of feet (I'll try and post a picture sometime soon). Overall, very nice beach. Just make sure if you come at night, don't get caught up for anything you're not supposed to be doing! =X (such as drinking on the beach).

Beautiful views!!
Meg M.

Kahala beach is a great beach off the beaten path. I like going because it is never really as crowded as Waikiki and you can usually get a parking spot. The lot is safe and the bathrooms are relatively clean for a public space! This beach is located in the wealthy Kahala area, kind of behind the Whole Foods Plaza. I always make a stop at Whole Foods before to get some beach snacks and drinks and then make my way to the beach. There are several great restaurants and bars there in case you are looking for a place to stop after your beach day! Kahala beach has great views of Koko Head and Hawaii Kai. The water is usually clear, although they have been dredging the area lately so during construction times, the water is cloudy. turn around and go to Waikiki if you see construction! The water is calm so it's a good place for paddle boarding! There is an awesome covered area in front of the beach that you can go for shade too! It is also a dog friendly beach- but be sure to pick up after your pet!

Kahala beach
James T.

We used to party at Kahala Beach back in the day. During our summer trips we would go here with the kids versus the crowded Waikiki or Ala Moana. The beach is nice, quiet, great sand, you have a great view of the ocean and to the left is Aina Haina, Koko Head, and Portlock area. and there would be no one around. Unfortunately, I experienced the worst this past September. I walked through the beach trail and saw a graffiti laced wall. A few coats of paint could take of that but the people that were partying there is a different story. There was a family of about 20-25 people to the right of the trail having a picnic or a party. The homes on both sides of the trail are vacant and are either being remodeled or demolished, but the people would walk right on property and just pee like it was their own personal toilet. About 10 minutes later they start to gather up their stuff and are leaving, but they left bottles, cans, trash, and cig butts every where. That was sad. I chat up a local fisherman and he tells me, "they always leave a mess but we make sure to clean up their trash." How is that considered OK? Its a good thing we have great people in Hawaii who respect their aina (land). Besides the trash and the litter they left behind...its still one of the nicest and secluded beaches. You would have no idea where it is, unless you were a local or read revieww on yelp hahaha I recommend this beach to people who don't do well with crowds, but remember to pick up your trash. Aloha

Lianna N.

Gorgeous walk for early in the morning or at an evening sunset. Usually quiet and the ocean is pristine. Great for romantics. Beach Restroom available.

Sharon B.

I love the local scene and the paradisal palm trees. It was windy and there was crap (as in too much seaweed, shells, rocks, etc) in the sand. This beach is also one of the few beaches that dogs are allowed off-leash (?), so umm, yeah sometimes I had to take double takes at what my kids were playing with. Swimming wasn't really fun as I HATE feeling rocks and seaweed on the bottom (gives me the heebee jeebies). The water was cloudy as well. There were also too many sand flies in the parking lot. Gross. I HATE flies as much as flies LOVE shit, so maybe I should rate it a two. However, I love how quiet the beach is without a lot of action.

Looking towards Diamond Head

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Review Highlights - Kahala Beach

The beach is nice, quiet, great sand, you have a great view of the ocean and to the left is Aina Haina, Koko Head, and Portlock area.

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Kaneohe Bay Sandbar

Kaneohe Bay Sandbar

4.8
(133 reviews)
13.5 mi

If you haven't made a visit yet to Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, do it asap because this is a once in a…read morelifetime experience. I had the hesitation to book it due to the fact my son is on the spectrum and wasn't sure how he was going to react during the experience. Took the chance and made a reservation through Hawaii Ocean Sports. They took us on a boat to access the beautiful Sandbar. It's nestled in the middle of the ocean 3 miles stretch of sand. Unfortunately, we ended up doing the afternoon tour where high tides took place water level up to our necks. During our ride there, we were served lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich, fruits, and a cookie. Very filling as we were on to our destination while we listened to live music entertaining us along the way. Snacks, towels, drinks, and a bar are available for additional cost. As we approached the Sandbar, we were required to do a brief safety class before heading into the beautiful water. My kids and I were surprised how magnificent the Sandbar was. Definitely a true paradise where our dreams came true. I didn't think I would ever experience this kind of beauty. My son and I were terrified at first as we entered the water, but our life jackets saved us as we were floating. Lots of activities offered which are part of the package including SUP, kayaking, volleyball, snorkeling, or relaxing at the dock while sipping on drinks. We mainly enjoyed ourselves floating in the ocean. The current did get a little rough as it started to pour rain right before heading back to the marina. One advice is to head out early onto the boat before everyone does because the changing and bathrooms can get wet with dirty grounds. Music was blasting with great hits as we ended the day. Made my son and I stand up desiring to dance. Truly this is an unforgettable magical experience. You bet I will make a reservation again when we return to Oahu next year!

Beautiful place make sure you have enough information about the tides and how high the water is at…read morethe Sandbar Island. Kaneohe Bay Ocean Spots took us there. People who work there have great souls and with them this adventure was great even though the water was high.

Photos
Shortly after I came back, a stand-up paddler I met at the sandbar came back as well
Shortly after I came back, a stand-up paddler I met at the sandbar came back as well
SUP! (Included in "ticket")
SUP! (Included in "ticket")
John strapped the kayak securely to the car

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John strapped the kayak securely to the car
Cromwell's Beach

Cromwell's Beach

4.0
(55 reviews)
1.7 mi

Such an amazing little sneaky spot that my friend took me too, to enjoy a Poké bowl and a quick tip…read morein the ocean. This place, definitely feels like a local hangouts, but during our visit, it was relatively busy. Depending on the time of day, the water could be all the way up to the seawall or out enough for ample beach lounging and tide pool exploring. There's a great little spot near the cove for swimming, but it is a little treacherous getting there. Watch your step on the slippery algae covered rocks. Beyond that, have fun, respect the ocean, and whatever you bring with you make sure it comes back with you. Mahalo!

Cromwell's is one of my favorite beaches that I wish I frequented more often! It's a little…read moreneighborhood spot that is nearby but separated from the bustle of Waikiki. It's a bit rocky and there isn't a ton of sand but lots of tidepools and the most beautiful views. Keep your eye out for little fish, sea anemones, and turtles. Pro tip: you do have to walk on the seawall to get to the sand patch where you can swim. It is a bit of a trek that you need to be careful on, but I do think just about anyone can do it. Parking is street parking that you can find in the neighborhood, but don't park on that main straight that the beach is on -- I saw someone that parked there get a ticket but there are also signs that you will be towed. I see lots of local fisherman here too, it looks like they walk along the rocks and there's a point that they all go fishing.

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Cromwell's Beach
Cromwell's Beach
Cromwells Beach

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Cromwells Beach
Hunakai Beach

Hunakai Beach

4.1
(31 reviews)
0.8 mi

Peaceful and secluded. Definitely not the prettiest beach in the world, but in a place where the…read morecrowds seem to take over pretty much everything, it's nice to find some solace in the sand. And the reason why it's so peaceful?! It's tucked behind a residential neighborhood. Parking is on the street only and there's not much of it. So, it'll be a short journey to get there, but this is what also deters the big crowds. The sand isn't the softest and the views aren't amazing, but the sunsets are pretty and the water feels good. There are no facilities here either (except for one large garbage can near one of the entrances). You gotta pack it in, pack it out, and use the restroom before you go unless you're a local who lives in the area. Had a little picnic here and it was really enjoyable. The few people that I come in contact with were really friendly. Most of them were walking their dogs on the beach, so I feel like this is the local dog beach in town. There's a nice breeze on this side, so it's a great beach to come to when that hawt Hawaii heat attacks. It's also really clean. If you're looking to escape the crowds and don't mind a longer trek, Hunakai Beach will do you right.

Hunakai beach was our third destination to go to a couple of weekends ago. My daughter wanted to go…read moreto the beach. First we went to Ala Moana beach park but there was some paddling competition so there was no parking. Then we drove to Waikiki and there was a craft fair at the park so there was no parking there either. So we just yelped a place closer to home and found Hunakai beach. You just park on the side of the road and walk down a beach access road. It was surprising because there were quite a few people there. People were all spaced out so that was good. The beach itself is very beautiful. There was just a lot of coral and rocks. Not really the best place to go swimming. That didn't stop my daughter though, she just took her floatie and pulled it in the water and kicked her legs so she floated down the ocean. She had a great time. Great for parking and sunbathing but if you want to swim, you should probably try to find a new place.

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Hunakai Beach
Hunakai Beach
Hunakai Beach

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Kahala Beach - beaches - Updated July 2026

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